Olivier Gendebien

Olivier Gendebien was a Belgian racing driver whose name is etched into the history of motorsport. Best remembered as a master of endurance racing, Gendebien claimed four victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Ferrari, three wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring, and three triumphs in the legendary Targa Florio. While his Formula One outings were more sporadic, he remains one of the most respected figures of the golden age of racing, both for his speed and his impeccable manners.

Nationality	Belgian
Born	Olivier Jean Marie Fernand Gendebien 12 January 1924 Brussels, Belgium
Died	2 October 1998 (aged 74) Les Baux-de-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône, France

Born in Brussels, Gendebien led an unconventional path into motorsport. Before he ever set foot on a European racing circuit, he worked as a forester in the Belgian Congo. Returning to Europe in 1952, he threw himself into rallying, quickly showing natural flair behind the wheel. His first major success came at the 1954 Tulip Rally, where he and co-driver Pierre Stasse took victory in an Alfa Romeo 1900 TI. More wins followed: the Liège–Rome–Liège Rally, the Dolomites Gold Cup, and the Rally Stella Alpina in 1955, this time with a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. The results caught the eye of none other than Enzo Ferrari, who brought the young Belgian into the Scuderia in 1956.

That same year, Gendebien made his Formula One debut at the 1956 Argentine Grand Prix. Though never a full-time Grand Prix driver, he was respected as Ferrari’s consummate “gentleman racer.” Over the course of just 14 starts, he collected points in five races. His finest F1 results came in 1960 with the British Racing Partnership: a second place at the French Grand Prix and a third place at his home race in Belgium. Tragically, that Belgian Grand Prix was marred by the death of his teammate Chris Bristow. Gendebien himself would survive a terrifying accident at Watkins Glen in 1961 when his Lotus-Climax flipped in practice, tearing his shoes clean off in the impact.

But Formula One was only part of the story. It was in endurance racing that Olivier Gendebien truly shone. In 1956, he partnered with Maurice Trintignant to finish third at Le Mans, and two years later, he took his first outright win at the Circuit de la Sarthe, driving alongside American Phil Hill. Together, Hill and Gendebien became one of the sport’s most formidable duos, adding further victories in 1961 and 1962. Gendebien also triumphed in 1960 with fellow Belgian Paul Frère, making him a four-time Le Mans champion, a record that stood until Jacky Ickx topped it in 1981.

Beyond Le Mans, his CV reads like a catalogue of endurance classics:

• Targa Florio winner (1958, 1961, 1962)
• 12 Hours of Sebring champion (1959, 1960, 1961)
• Reims 12 Hours (1957, 1958)
• Tour de France Automobile (1957, 1958, 1959)
• 1000 km Nürburgring (1962)

Gendebien once summed up his driving philosophy with typical understatement: “It is a matter of taking the corners a little faster than one would want.” At Sebring, his brilliance was so admired that Turn 15 was named in his honour.

By 1962, at the age of 38 and with a fourth Le Mans win to his name, Gendebien bowed out of racing. His wife had long urged him to leave the sport, which had already claimed the lives of many friends and rivals. Financially secure and deeply devoted to skiing, tennis, and equestrian pursuits, he embraced a quieter life, running various businesses.

In recognition of his contribution to Belgian sport, King Albert II awarded him the Order of the Crown in 1998.

Olivier Gendebien passed away that same year at his home in Les Baux-de-Provence, France. Remembered as both a fierce competitor and a man of rare elegance, he remains one of the true greats of endurance racing —the Belgian “gentleman driver” who conquered the world’s toughest tracks.

Olivier Gendebien’s Formula One World Championship Career

Active years	1955–1956, 1958–1961
Teams	ENB, Ferrari, BRP
Entries	18 (14 Starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podiums	2
Career points	18
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First entry	1956 Argentine Grand Prix
Last entry	1961 United States Grand Prix

Olivier Gendebien Teammates

19 drivers	Involvement	First Year	Last Year
Juan Manuel Fangio	3	1956
Luigi Musso	2	1956	1958
Eugenio Castellotti	3	1956
Peter Collins	4	1956	1958
Alfonso de Portago	2	1956
Mike Hawthorn	3	1958
Wolfgang von Trips	3	1958	1961
Phil Hill	7	1958	1961
Dan Gurney	2	1959
Jean Behra	1	1959
Tony Brooks	6	1959	1960
Cliff Allison	2	1959	1960
Jose-Froilan Gonzalez	1	1960
Chris Bristow	1	1960
Henry Taylor	4	1960
Bruce Halford	1	1960
Lucien Bianchi	1	1961
Richie Ginther	1	1961
Masten Gregory	1	1961

Olivier Gendebien Complete Formula One Results

Year	Entrant	Chassis	Engine	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	WDC	Points
1955	Equipe Nationale Belge	Ferrari 625	Ferrari Straight-4	ARG	MON	500	BEL DNA	NED	GBR	ITA					NC	0
1956	Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari 555	Ferrari L4	ARG 5	MON	500	BEL								23rd	2
		Lancia – Ferrari D50	Lancia V8					FRA Ret	GBR DNA	GER	ITA
1958	Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari Dino 246	Ferrari V6	ARG	MON	NED	500	BEL 6	FRA	GBR	GER	POR	ITA Ret	MOR Ret	NC	0
1959	Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari Dino 246	Ferrari V6	MON	500	NED	FRA 4	GBR	GER	POR	ITA 6	USA			15th	3
1960	Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari Dino 246	Ferrari V6	ARG DNA	MON	500	NED								6th	10
	Yeoman Credit Racing Team	Cooper T51	Climax L4					BEL 3	FRA 2	GBR 9	POR 7	ITA	USA 12
1961	Equipe Nationale Belge	Emeryson Mk2	Maserati L4	MON DNQ	NED										14th	3
	Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari 156	Ferrari V6			BEL 4	FRA	GBR	GER	ITA
	UDT-Laystall Racing Team	Lotus 18/21	Climax L4								USA 11