Bob Wollek, 10 years old already

March 16, 2001. The test session has just ended. Bob Wollek leaves the Sebring circuit to return to his hotel by bike. At 57 years old, this accomplished cyclist (he was accustomed, at each edition of the 24 Hours, to join Le Mans from Strabourg on his two wheels) is taking care of his physical condition in view of the event which he won in 1985 and which he must compete at the wheel of a Porsche 996 GT3 RS from Petersen Motorsport, with Johnny Mowlem and Michael Petersen. Unfortunately, he will never return to his room. Around 16:30 p.m., a motorhome ran over him during the trip, on Highway 98, and the Alsatian died instantly. It was ten years ago.

Former military and university world champion in skiing, Bob Wollek began motorsport in 1969 after an injury which kept him from snowy slopes. On the asphalt circuits of the four corners of the world, he will soon become a specialist in endurance and the Porsche brand, setting the victory record in the Porsche Cup (award distributed since 1970 to the best private Porsche driver of the year). ) with seven titles in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1989. In addition to the 12 Hours of Sebring, he won the 24 Hours of Daytona four times (1983, 85, 89 and 91), and won two crowns in the German Group 5 championship. Among his successes only the 24 Hours of Le Mans is missing. In thirty participations, he has never climbed to the highest step of the podium in the general classification, failing in 1978, 95, 96 and 98 in second place. Finally, if the name of Wollek is closely linked to the Stuttgart firm, he, during his career, made the heyday ofAlpine, Matra, Lancia, Jaguar and Toyota.