Daytona and Sebring winner Bob Garretson has died

The American driver, who also owned his own structure until 1982, was especially renowned for his exploits behind the wheel of Porsche 935. He was notably the one who drove the only car sponsored by the Apple brand, which decorated the 935 that he shared with Bobby Rahal and Allan Moffat during the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1980. Garretson has five starts in the biggest race ofEndurance in the world, with a best result of sixth place in 1981. Second in the class IMSA GTX, Garretson had his most prolific season that year.

Winner earlier that year, again in a Porsche 935, of the 24 Hours of Daytona with Bobby Rahal and Brian Redman, Garretson became the first World Drivers' Champion in the history of endurance racing in 1981. It was in that year that the FIA ​​decided to create a World Drivers' Championship within its World Sportscar Championship. In recognition of his success, Bob Garretson was inducted into the FIA ​​Hall of Fame in Paris in 2019.

In 1978, Garretson won the 12 Hours of Sebring, thus securing the two greatest endurance classics in his career across the Atlantic. The entire AUTOhebdo team extends its sincere condolences to his loved ones.

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