Few drivers can claim rallying, F1 and endurance endeavours on the same CV. But that's how good Vic Elford was…
By John Howell / Monday, March 14, 2022 / Loading comments
Time for some comment on the sad passing of Vic Elford, who died yesterday aged 86. He may not be up there with the likes of Clarke and Moss in terms of celebrity, but he was still a legend of motorsport thanks to his adaptability behind the wheel.
Elford grew up in London and started his motorsport career in the early 1960s co-driving in rallies alongside David Seigle-Morris in a Triumph TR3A. After plucking up the courage to swap seats, he began his own rally driving career. This was again at the wheel of a Triumph, but he moved to Ford and had some success piloting a Cortina.
This was duly noted by the Porsche factory team, who signed him to drive a 911 and he duly repaid them with victory in the 1967 European Rally Championship. The following year he won the Monte Carlo Rally alongside his co-driver, David Stone, and within a week he had transferred to a Porsche 907 and competed at the Daytona 24 Hours. He won that, too.
He didn’t stop there. Not long after Daytona he was back in a 907 at the Targa Florio – teamed with Umberto Maglioli. After a tyre failure on the opening lap lost him 18 minutes, he produced one of those iconic drives that only great drivers can conjure, chalking up another endurance car race win on the 45-mile circuit in Sicily. He later said that he enjoyed ‘real tracks’ like the Targa Florio and Nürburgring the most.
His Formula One debut came at the 1968 French Grand Prix. In wet conditions, he battled to fourth in his Cooper T86. That proved to be his best finish, although his three seasons in F1 included many retirements. However, in the races he did see the chequered flag he ended up in the top ten on all but one occasion – an 11th place at the 1971 German Grand Prix – driving either a Cooper, McLaren or BRM.
But sportscars was his most fruitful hunting ground. Elford held lap records at many of the iconic circuits, including the Targa Florio, Nürburgring, Daytona, Sebring, Monza, Laguna Seca and Le Mans. He came so close to overall victory at the 1969 Le Mans 24 Hours alongside Richard Attwood in the fearsome 917. He also claimed pole in 1970 and, again, was on target for a win until thwarted by engine failure. In the end, his best overall result was sixth place in 1973, which was another class victory to go with his first, achieved back in 1967. Nevertheless, he did take the Porsche 917K to victory at the 1971 Sebring 12 Hours along with wins at the Nürburgring 1000km.
It was at Le Mans, in 1972, that his courage earned him Knight of the National Order of Merit, awarded by French President Georges Pompidou. Elford came across the aftermath of a crash between Swiss amateur racer Florian Vetsch and Swede Jo Bonnier. Vetsch’s Ferrari Daytona was ablaze on the track and Elford stopped to check the driver was okay. Luckily, Vetsch had escaped. It was only then the Elford noticed the remains of Bonnier’s Lola lurking among the trees beyond the Armco barrier. Despite his efforts, sadly there was nothing Elford could do to save him.
He also won the 84 Hour Marathon de la Route held at the Nürburgring and in demonstrating an ability to shine with whatever machinery he was given and whatever type of racing he undertook; he even won the first ever Rallycross event held at Lydden Hill. For good measure, he also competed in CanAm and NASCAR, and drove for numerous manufacturers along the way, including greats such as Alfa Romeo and Ferrari, although he was most associated with Porsche, and formed a close relationship then motorsport boss Ferdinand Piech. After retiring, he lived out his remaining years in South Florida and had been battling cancer for the past year. Our condolences to his friends and family.
- Watch Elford discuss his legacy at Daytona here
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