Walt Hansgen

Walter Edwin Hansgen (28 October 1919 – 7 April 1966) was an American racing driver and four-time SCCA road-racing champion. He did not make his Grand Prix debut until the age of 41, yet became one of America’s leading road racers before dying from injuries sustained during testing for the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Driver Bio

Nationality	American
Birthplace	Westfield, New Jersey, USA
Born	28 October 1919
Died	7 April 1966
First Grand Prix	1961 United States Grand Prix
Last Grand Prix	1964 United States Grand Prix
Years Active	1961, 1964
Current/Last Team	Lotus

Racing career

Hansgen built his reputation on American road courses during the 1950s and early 1960s. He was particularly successful at Virginia International Raceway, Bridgehampton and Watkins Glen, collecting numerous victories and four SCCA championship titles.

His career included spells with two major American entrants, Briggs Cunningham and John Mecom. Hansgen was also credited with helping Mark Donohue enter professional road racing, beginning the career of a driver who would later become one of the country’s finest competitors.

At the inaugural United States Grand Prix meeting in Sebring on 12 December 1959, Hansgen won the supporting Formula Junior race in a Stanguellini.

Formula One arrived relatively late. He entered two World Championship Grands Prix, making his debut at Watkins Glen on 8 October 1961, and scored two championship points.

Hansgen also tackled the Indianapolis 500. In 1964, he drove Kjell Qvale’s Offenhauser-powered MG Liquid Suspension Special to 13th place. He returned a year later in an MG-Huffaker-Offenhauser and finished 14th.

Although capable in single-seaters, road racing remained his natural territory. Hansgen competed repeatedly in America and Europe, appearing at the 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Le Mans.

One of his final major victories came on 17 October 1965, when he won the Monterey Grand Prix at Laguna Seca in John Mecom’s Ford-powered Lola T70.

Fatal accident

On 3 April 1966, Hansgen was testing a seven-litre Holman & Moody Ford GT40 Mk II at Le Mans when he crashed in heavy rain.

Accounts of the accident differ. A Ford representative said the car appeared to have aquaplaned, leaving Hansgen unable to control it. Team members later recalled that he had continued driving aggressively in the wet despite manager Carroll Smith advising caution.

Mark Donohue offered another explanation in his book The Unfair Advantage. According to Donohue, Hansgen attempted to use an escape road but discovered too late that officials had blocked it with a barrier to protect spectators.

Hansgen suffered critical injuries in the crash and died four days later, on 7 April 1966. He was 46.

Grand Prix Stats

Race Entries	2
Race Starts	2
Did Not Start	0
Best Race Start	14th
Best Race Finish	5th
Retirements	1
First-Lap Retirements	0
Not Classified	0
Disqualified	0
Did Not Qualify	0

Qualifying

Qualifying Sessions	2
Reached Q3	0
Q2 Eliminations	0
Q1 Eliminations	0
Did Not Qualify	0

Points

Points Scored	2
Points Finishes	1
Most Points in a Single Season	2 (1964)
Seasons with Points	1 (1964)

Stats by Season

Year	Constructor	Entries	Starts	Wins	Podiums	Poles	Fastest Laps	Front Rows	DNF	Best Start	Best Result	Pts Finishes	Points	Championship
1961	Cooper	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	14th	–	0	0	NC
1964	Lotus	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	17th	5th	1	2	16th

Stats by Constructor

Constructor	Years	Entries	Starts	Wins	Podiums	Poles	Fastest Laps	Front Rows	DNF	Best Start	Best Result	Pts Finishes	Points
Cooper	1961	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	14th	–	0	0
Lotus	1964	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	17th	5th	1	2

Teammates & Qualifying Head-to-Head

Teammate	Years	Races	Qualifying H2H
Mike Spence	1964	1	0-1
Jim Clark	1964	1	0-1