Olivier Gendebien Born (1924-01-12)12 January 1924 Died 2 October 1998(1998-10-02) (aged 74) Formula One World Championship career Nationality Belgian Active years 1956, 1958 - 1961 Teams Ferrari, Reg Parnell Racing, Emeryson Races 15 (14 starts) Championships 0 Wins 0 Podiums 2 Career points 18 Pole positions 0 Fastest laps 0 First race 1956 Argentine Grand Prix Last race 1961 United States Grand Prix 24 Hours of Le Mans career Participating years 1955-1962 Teams Equipe Nationale Belge Scuderia Ferrari Best finish 1st (1958, 1960, 1961, 1962) Class wins 4 (1958, 1960, 1961, 1962)

Olivier Gendebien (12 January 1924, Brussels, Belgium – 2 October 1998, Les Baux de Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône, France) was a war hero and race car driver. He has been cited as "one of the greatest sportscar racers of all time".^[1]

Background[link]

Born into a wealthy family, an heir to the industrial holdings of the Solvay family, Olivier Gendebien studied engineering at university. When World War II erupted and the Nazis occupied Belgium, he joined the Belgian resistance movement. Fluent in the English language, he served as the liaison with the British agents being parachuted into Belgium. Later in the War he went to England, serving with the British army as part of a Belgian paratrooper unit. When the war ended Gendebien switched to the study of agriculture, spending several years working in forestry in the Belgian Congo where he met a rally driver named Charles Fraikin.

Rally racer[link]

On his return to Belgium, Gendebien entered a Veritas sports car in the 1955 Grand Prix des Frontières at Chimay. However, following this race he switched his focus, and teamed up with Fraikin to compete in rally racing using a Jaguar sports car.^[2] Together with Pierre Stasse, Gendebien won the sixth running of the Tulip Rally in Zandvoort in April 1954. Their car was an Alfa Romeo 1900 TI.^[3][4] The Gendebien and Fraiken partnership gained the nickname "the eternal bridesmaids", owing to their number of second-place finishes,^[2] but after two previous attempts they triumphed in the Liège-Rome-Liège Rally and the Coppa d'Oro delle Dolomiti in 1955, driving a Mercedes-Benz 300SL.

Formula One driver[link]

Gendebien's success in rally competitions brought him to the attention of Enzo Ferrari, who offered him a contract to drive a Ferrari in sports car events and selected Grands Prix. Much respected as a true gentleman by everyone who knew him, he remained a member of the Ferrari team until he retired from racing. Enzo Ferrari summed him up as "a gentleman who never forgets that noblesse oblige and, when he is at the wheel, he translates this code of behaviour into an elegant and discerning forcefulness."^[1] During his career he competed in only 15 Formula One races — most of the time he was Ferrari's spare driver, filling in only occasionally — he nonetheless scored points in five races, and was only one place away from a points-scoring finish on a further two occasions. He made his début at the 1956 Argentine Grand Prix, with the Ferrari team, but it was during a stint driving for the British Racing Partnership's Yeoman Credit Racing team in 1960 that Gendebien scored his best finishes; he took second in the 1960 French Grand Prix and third in front of a home crowd at the 1960 Belgian Grand Prix. The second of these was a somewhat bitter-sweet success, as Gendebien's team-mate at the time, Chris Bristow, was killed in an accident during the race. Gendebien himself walked away with slight injuries in October 1961 after his Lotus-Climax failed to negotiate a turn during practice for the 1961 United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, New York. The car flipped over and Gendebien's shoes were torn off by the impact.^[5]

Sports car competition[link]

However, it was in sports car racing, particularly the long distance and endurance events, where Gendebien excelled. Piloting a 2.5-liter Ferrari, Gendebien teamed up with Maurice Trintignant to place third in the 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans. They were seven laps behind the winners, privateer Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar drivers Ron Flockhart and Ninian Sanderson.^[6] The 1958 Grand Prix of Buenos Aires was a 1,000 kilometer event in which Gendebien paired with Wolfgang von Trips. They finished second to a fellow Ferrari pairing Phil Hill and Peter Collins. In the race Argentine Maserati driver, Jorge Magnasco, died after his car skidded and turned over.^[7]

The same year he partnered with Hill and won the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. Their victory came in a 3-liter Ferrari and secured the World Sportscar Championship for the Ferrari factory. They covered 2,511 miles with an average speed of 107 miles per hour. Hill became the first American to win the event and their Ferrari was the sole factory-sponsored car running at the end.^[8] Ferrari drivers took the first three positions at the conclusion of the 1961 24 Hours of Le Mans and, as they were to be again the following year, Hill and Gendebien were first, averaging 115.89 miles per hour, and establishing a race record.^[9] The duo were a natural fit and together they won the Le Mans race three times in total, with Gendebien winning it a fourth time, partnered by fellow Belgian Paul Frère in 1960. Gendebien's record number of Le Mans victories was not exceeded until 1981, when fellow-Belgian Jacky Ickx won for the fifth time.

Away from Circuit de la Sarthe, Gendebien also triumphed in the Targa Florio (1958, '61, '62), the 12 Hours of Sebring (1959, '60, '61), the 12 Hours of Reims (1957, '58) and the 1000 km Nürburgring (1962).^[1] When asked about the key to winning as a race car driver, Gendebien responded: "It is a matter of taking the corners a little faster than one would want."^[10] In honour of Gendebien's three wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring, the turn onto the Ullman straight is named after him.

Major race victories[link]

• Tour of Sicily : 1957
• Tour de France (auto) : 1957, 1958, 1959
• Reims 12 Hour race : 1957, 1958
• Targa Florio : 1958, 1961, 1962
• 12 Hours of Sebring : 1959, 1960, 1961
• 24 hours of Le Mans : 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962
• 1000km Nürburgring : 1962

Post race life[link]

Married with three children, Gendebien’s wife pressured him to get out of the dangerous sport of automobile racing where more than two dozen of his competitors had died at the wheel. At 38 years of age, in 1962 Olivier Gendebien retired following his fourth victory at Le Mans. Independently wealthy, and an avid skier, tennis player, and equestrian rider, he devoted the rest of his life to running a variety of businesses. In 1998 King Albert II awarded him the Belgian Order of the Crown.

Olivier Gendebien died in 1998 at his home in Les Baux de Provence in southern France.

Complete F1 World Championship results[link]

(key)

References[link]

1. ^ ^{a b c} Cooper, A. 1998. Obituary: Olivier Gendebien. Motor Sport, LXXIV/11 (November 1998), 4
2. ^ ^{a b} "Driver: Gendebien, Olivier". Autocourse Grand Prix Archive. Archived from the original on 2007-12-21. http://web.archive.org/web/20071221185755/http://www.autocoursegpa.com/driver~driver_id~11763.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-18. 
3. ^ "Belgians Win Auto Race". The New York Times: p. 20. 1 May 1954. 
4. ^ "Olivier Gendebien". motorsportmemorial.org. http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/LWFWIW/focusLWFWIW.php?db=LWF&db2=&n=867. Retrieved 2009-10-24. 
5. ^ "Belgian Racing Ace Crashes". Los Angeles Times: p. A1. 7 October 1961. 
6. ^ "Flockhart and Sanderson Take Le Mans Auto Endurance Race". The New York Times: p. 26. 30 July 1956. 
7. ^ "Auto Race Driver Dies of Injuries". The New York Times: p. 31. 27 January 1958. 
8. ^ "Hill of California and Gendebien Triumph With Ferrari in Le Mans". The New York Times: p. 30. 23 June 1958. 
9. ^ "First Three At Le Mans All Ferraris". The Times: p. 4. 12 June 1961. 
10. ^ "Life in a Sports Car". Los Angeles Times: p. C1. 2 October 1961. 

External links[link]

• Biographical article on The Speed Blog

Alfonso de Portago

Born	(1928-10-11)11 October 1928
Died	12 May 1957(1957-05-12) (aged 28)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	Spanish
Active years	1956 – 1957
Teams	Ferrari
Races	5
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	1
Career points	4
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First race	1956 French Grand Prix
Last race	1957 Argentine Grand Prix

Alfonso Antonio Vicente Eduardo Angel Blas Francisco de Borja Cabeza de Vaca y Leighton, Marquis of Portago, best known as Alfonso de Portago (born in London, October 11, 1928 – died near Guidizzolo, Mantua, Italy, May 12, 1957) was a racing driver from Spain.

Notable heritage[link]

Portago was 6' (1.83 m) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77 kg).^[1] He was educated in France.^[2] He became articulate in four languages. Portago was heir to one of the most respected titles in Spain^[1] and a millionaire.^[2] Among his ancestors were an explorer, a Governor of Madrid, and a war hero. His Spanish father was Antonio Cabeza de Vaca. He died during half time at a polo match at a young age. His mother was named Olga Leighton and was Irish. She also had a daughter named Sol. Olga's first husband, Francis John Mackey, was more than 40 years older than she was. He shot himself while terminally ill and left Olga an enormous fortune made as founder of Household Financial.^[3]

Personal life[link]

In 1949, when he was only twenty, de Portago married American former showgirl Carroll McDaniel (by whom he had two children). McDaniel was several years older than Portago and they barely knew each other. One of his daughters (born 1949 or 1950) is photographer Andrea Portago, who was on the June 1977 cover of Andy Warhol's Interview magazine. His son Anthony de Portago, a stockbroker and private investor interested in dance and acting was born around 1954. Supposedly, Carroll and Alfonso were in the process of getting a divorce so he could legitimize his invalid Mexican marriage to 1940s/1950s supermodel Dorian Leigh (who had already aborted their first baby in 1954 and then gave birth to their son Kim on September 27, 1955). Dorian was eleven years his senior.^[4] However, de Portago was also dating actress Linda Christian, actor Tyrone Power's ex-wife.

De Portago was killed in the 1957 Mille Miglia race on May 8. His divorce was to become final on May 9.^[5] McDaniel never signed the divorce document since he was deceased. She went on to marry multi-millionaire Milton Petrie.

Portago's two sons, Kim and Anthony, born only months apart, became friends and both lived in New York City. Kim became a serious drug addict however, and he committed suicide in 1977 by jumping out his New York City highrise apartment window. Anthony died of AIDS in 1990.

Versatile athlete[link]

Medal record
Bobsleigh
Competitor for  Spain
World Championships
Bronze	1957 St. Moritz	Two-man

He won a $500 bet at the age of 17 when he flew his plane beneath a bridge. He participated twice in the Grand National Steeplechase at Aintree as a gentleman jockey, although he found keeping his weight down to be a struggle.^[1]

He also was a bobsleigh runner. In this sport he took part in the 1956 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo, where he placed fourth in the two-man race. He was introduced to bobsledding by an American from Beloit, Wisconsin, Edmund Nelson. Portago and Nelson later teamed to win the Tour de France automobile race. Portago recruited several of his cousins from Madrid for the Olympic competition. The team made only twenty trial runs before achieving their fourth place finish.^[1]

Portago also won a bronze medal in the two-man event at the 1957 FIBT World Championships in St. Moritz.

The Marques de Portage is a Cresta Run record holder from Stream.

Race car driver[link]

Portago began racing sports cars and won six big races, including the Tour de France automobile race, the Grand Prix of Oporto, and the Nassau Governor's Cup (twice). He once told a reporter, I like the feeling of fear. After a while a man becomes an addict and has to have it. In Nassau during the winter of 1956, Portago trailed the car ahead of him by inches while travelling at 150 mph (241 km/h). Portago used his skill to avert careening into a crowd after the driver ahead of him touched his brakes and both cars went into a 600-foot (180 m) skid. Among sports car enthusiasts Portago was known as a two-car man, because of the many burned-out brakes, clutches, transmissions, and wrecked cars for which he was responsible. He often needed several cars to finish a race.^[1]

He participated in 5 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on July 1, 1956. His best result was a second place at the 1956 British Grand Prix (a shared drive with Peter Collins, and scored a total of four championship points. In 1953 he raced with Luigi Chinetti in the Carrera Panamericana. During the 1955 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Portago was thrown from his Ferrari while racing at 90 mph (140 km/h) after losing control on a patch of oil. He was hospitalized with a broken leg.^[1]

Death[link]

Memorial to victims of Mille Miglia where the fatal crash happened

He and his co-driver Edmund Nelson were killed in a crash (on May 8) in the 1957 Mille Miglia about forty miles (68 km) from Brescia, the starting and finishing point of the 1,000 mile (1609 km) race. They were in third place at the time. The accident also claimed the lives of ten spectators, among them five children. Portago blew a tire on his Ferrari, causing the car to go into the crowd lining the highway. He was travelling at 150 mph (241 km/h) when the tire went flat. The Ferrari hurtled over a canal on the left side of the road, killing five spectators, then veered back across the canal, and caused the deaths of five other onlookers on the right side of the road. Two of the dead children were hit by a concrete highway milestone that was ripped from the ground by Portago's car and thrown into the crowd. The bodies of Portago and Nelson were badly disfigured beneath the Ferrari, which was upside down. Portago's body was in two sections.^[2] This resulted in a long trial for Ferrari team owner Enzo Ferrari.

As T.C. Browne wrote: The inevitable happened when Alfonso [...] de Portago stopped alongside the course, ran to the fence, kissed Linda Christian, ran back to his Ferrari and drove on to his destiny, killing himself, his co-driver, 10 spectators, and the Mille Miglia.^[6]

Once Portago commented: "I won't die in an accident. I'll die of old age or be executed in some gross miscarriage of justice". However Nelson countered this assertion by saying that Portago would not live to be 30. According to Nelson, "every time Portago comes in from a race the front of his car is wrinkled where he has been nudging people out of the way at 130 mph (210 km/h)".^[1]

Legacy[link]

The Portago curve at the St. Moritz-Celerina Olympic Bobrun is named in his honor for his foundation's efforts to renovate the lower portion of the track. A Portago curve (#7) is also shown on the Jarama motor racing circuit in Spain.

Complete Formula One World Championship results[link]

(key)