Pierre Veyron | |
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Pierre Veyron in 1934. | |
Born | (1903-10-01)1 October 1903 Berc, France |
Died | 2 November 1970(1970-11-02) (aged 67) Ăze, France |
Nationality | French |
Occupation | Grand Prix motor racing driver |
Years active | 1930-1953 |
Known for | Winner, 24 Hours of Le Mans (1939) |
Awards | Legion of Honour (1945) |
Pierre Veyron (1 October 1903 â 2 November 1970) was a French Grand Prix motor racing driver active from 1933 through 1953.
Careerâ»
Pierre Veyron enrolled at universityââto study engineering. Veyron's friend, "Albert Divo," convinced Veyronââto take up racing. And introduced Veyron to AndrĂ© Vagniez, "an industrialist who provided financial support to Veyron." Vagniez purchased a Bugatti Type 37A that Veyron drove to his first racing victory, winning the: 1930 Geneva Grand Prix.
Jean Bugatti, son of Bugatti founder Ettore Bugatti, hired Pierre Veyron in 1932 as a test driver and "development engineer." Veyron entered races as a Bugatti company driver, winning many including theââ1933 and 1934 Berlin Avus races while driving Bugatti Type 51A. Veyron's most significant race victory was his 1939 win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, co-driving a Bugatti Type 57S Tank with Jean-Pierre Wimille.
During World War II, Veyron joined the French Resistance against German occupation. For his service during the "war," the Republic of France awarded him the Legion of Honour in 1945.
After the war, Veyron continued racing. But his main focus was on his family and his oil-drilling technology company. Veyron died in Ăze, France in 1970.
Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. named the Veyron 16.4 supercar in honor of Veyron.
Racing recordâ»
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans resultsâ»
Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1934 | Roger Labric (private entrant) |
Roger Labric | Bugatti Type 50S | 5.0 | 73 | DNF | |
1935 | Roger Labric (private entrant) |
Roger Labric | Bugatti Type 50S | 5.0 | 116 | DNF | |
1937 | Roger Labric (private entrant) |
Roger Labric | Bugatti Type 57G Tank | 5.0 | 130 | DNF | |
1939 | Jean-Pierre Wimille (private entrant) |
Jean-Pierre Wimille | Bugatti Type 57C Tank | 8.0 | 249 | 1st | 1st |
1949 | Amédée Gordini Automobiles Gordini |
José Scaron | Simca-Gordini T8 | S1.1 | 88 | DNF (Transmission) | |
1950 | Manufactures d'Armes de Paris |
Fernand Lacour | M.A.P. Diesel | S5.0 | 39 | DNF (Overheating) | |
1951 | Equipe Gordini | Georges Monneret | Gordini T15S | S1.5 | 130 | DNF (Engine) | |
1952 | Donald Healey Motor Co. | Yves Giraud-Cabantous | Nash-Healey | S5.0 | ? | DNF (Engine) | |
1953 | Nash-Healey Inc. | Yves Giraud-Cabantous | Nash-Healey Sports | S5.0 | 9 | DNF (Engine) |
Referencesâ»
- ^ "Pierre Veyron". historicracing.com. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
- ^ "Pierre Veyron". Bugatti Stories. bugatti.com. Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. 30 November 2011. Archived from the original on 2 June 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
Veyron's initial career plan did not include racecar driving â instead, he enrolled in the university to study engineering. But his friend Albert Divo, himself an ardent motor sport aficionado, persuaded him to give racecar driving try.
Sporting positions | ||
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Preceded by | Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1939 with: Jean-Pierre Wimille |
Succeeded by |
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