The world of motorsport mourns the passing of Hans Herrmann, a German racing legend whose remarkable career was defined by a triumphant victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and a series of astonishing, death-defying crashes. Herrmann, who has died at the age of 97, was a versatile competitor who excelled in both Formula One and the gruelling world of endurance racing, leaving an indelible mark on the sport.
A Promise Kept: The 1970 Le Mans Victory
In the summer of 1970, before departing his Stuttgart home for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Hans Herrmann made a solemn promise to his wife, Magdalena. He vowed that if he emerged victorious from the French classic, he would retire from professional driving. At 42 years old and on his 14th attempt, it was a pledge he did not expect to honour. Yet, in a dramatic race run on a rain-drenched and treacherous track, Herrmann and his co-driver, Richard Attwood, a former Jaguar apprentice, secured a historic win.
Their Porsche 917K held the lead for the final 12 hours of the event, which proved so challenging that only seven of the 51 starting cars managed to reach the finish line. This victory marked the perfect, poignant conclusion to a storied career, compelling Herrmann to keep his word and step away from the cockpit for good.
A Career of Speed and Spectacle
Hans Herrmann's journey in motorsport was both illustrious and perilous. He competed in 19 Formula One grands prix for various teams, most notably Mercedes-Benz. His standout F1 performance came at the 1954 Swiss Grand Prix on the fast and tricky Bremgarten circuit in Bern, where he secured a third-place finish. However, it was in the great endurance races that he truly excelled.
Beyond his Le Mans triumph, Herrmann's trophy cabinet included outright victories in the Targa Florio, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and the Daytona 24 Hours. He also claimed two class wins in the legendary Mille Miglia. His partnership with Porsche was particularly fruitful, contributing significantly to the manufacturer's success in sports car racing.
Spectacular Crashes and Miraculous Escapes
Herrmann's career was punctuated by several spectacular accidents that cemented his reputation for incredible luck and resilience. One of the most dramatic occurred during the 1959 German Grand Prix at the superfast Avus circuit in Berlin. As he neared the end of a three-mile straight at approximately 180mph, the brakes on his BRM failed catastrophically.
The car somersaulted multiple times, destroying itself completely. In an era before the widespread use of safety belts, Herrmann was thrown from the cockpit. "I knew I was a dead man," he later recalled. Astonishingly, he walked away with only cuts and bruises, leaving spectators amazed.
Another celebrated near-miss happened during the 1954 Mille Miglia. While leading his class in an open-cockpit Porsche, Herrmann approached a level crossing just as the barrier was being lowered. With a train imminent, he banged his co-driver in the back to force him to duck, lowered his own head, and shot the car under the barrier with only seconds to spare.
From Wartime Conscript to Racing Prodigy
Born in Stuttgart in 1928 into a family that owned a cafe and bar, Hans Herrmann's early life was shaped by the Second World War. At 17, in the conflict's final weeks, he was drafted into the Waffen-SS. He managed to escape en route to his posting, along with several other teenage conscripts, and made his way back home. There, he began work as an apprentice baker and pastry cook.
His passion for cars and racing soon took over. He acquired his first vehicle, a pre-war BMW, via the black market. His competition debut came in 1952 at a regional rally, driving a new Porsche 356 coupe. His talent was quickly evident, and he soon began winning his class in events like the Deutschland rally.
The Porsche and Mercedes-Benz Years
The official Porsche team took notice of his skill, and it was with their 550RS sports cars that he secured his class wins in the 1953 and 1954 Mille Miglia races. These performances attracted the attention of Alfred Neubauer, the legendary Mercedes-Benz team manager, who was overseeing the company's postwar return to top-tier motorsport.
Herrmann was added to the Mercedes roster for 1954. At that year's French Grand Prix, he was the third driver as the team made its spectacular return with a trio of streamlined W196 cars. While Juan Manuel Fangio and Karl Kling finished first and second, Herrmann set the fastest lap before retiring with engine issues. He raced in four more grands prix that year, achieving a third place in Bern and a fourth at Monza.
The arrival of Stirling Moss in 1955 pushed Herrmann down the pecking order at Mercedes. A severe crash during practice at Monaco left him with cracked vertebrae and broken ribs. Following Mercedes' withdrawal at the end of that season, he rejoined Porsche, beginning a long and successful association with the marque in sports car racing.
Endurance Racing Excellence and a Final Duel
While his Formula One career gradually faded, Hans Herrmann remained a formidable force in sports cars and hill climbs. Rejoining Porsche in 1960 after a stint with Abarth, he teamed up with Jo Bonnier to win the Targa Florio and with Olivier Gendebien to triumph at Sebring. In 1968, he won at Sebring with Jo Siffert and was part of the five-driver team that won the 24-hour race at Daytona in a Porsche 907.
His 1970 Le Mans glory was preceded by an epic duel in the 1969 race. In the final hour, Herrmann's Porsche 908 battled Jacky Ickx's Ford GT40 for the lead. The contest ended with Ickx victorious by a mere 120 metres after almost 5,000 km of racing – the closest finish in the event's history. Herrmann's revenge came a year later in the Porsche Salzburg-entered 917K, painted in Austrian red and white. This win marked the first of Porsche's 19 victories at the world's most famous sports car race.
Life After Racing and Personal Legacy
After retiring from the track, Hans Herrmann established a successful car accessories company. He remained a beloved figure in the motorsport community, often appearing at historic events like the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the recreated Mille Miglia, where he demonstrated the Mercedes and Porsches that made him famous.
His life was not without drama away from the circuit. In 1991, he and his wife were kidnapped and released after a ransom was paid; the kidnappers were never identified. He was introduced to Magdalena by his fellow driver Wolfgang von Trips at the Nürburgring in 1960. She survives him, along with their sons, Dino and Kai, and a grandson.
Hans Herrmann's story is one of extraordinary skill, breathtaking bravery, and a profound love for racing. From his miraculous escapes to his hard-earned victories, he embodied the daring spirit of a bygone era in motorsport, leaving behind a legacy that will be celebrated for generations to come.
