Jean Lucas

Born in 1917, Jean Lucas began competing immediately after World War II in local rallies. He also drove an Alfa Romeo 8C Monza in several national races in 1946 and by the end of the decade was driving Luigi Chinetti’s Ferrari 166MM in endurance events.

In 1949 he contested Le Mans and the Spa 24-hour race though unfortunately at Le Mans his co-driver, Pierre Louis-Dreyfus (who raced as ‘Heldé’) crashed during the race. However, at Spa, he and Luigi Chinetti were victorious in their Ferrari 166 MM in what would be the major success of his racing career. But, during the race, L.Chinetti hit an oil patch from another driver’s car and the Ferrari slid out of control, knocked down a woman spectator and hit a house. Obviously shaken, he leapt and rendered first aid to the injured woman, then got in the car again and drove slowly to his pit. The car was hastily examined and then set to limp round for the two more laps necessary to win the race, finishing at 78.7 m.p.h. for 1,886.03 miles, a record for this race, in a rather battered condition. The year would also see him win at Montlhéry.

Subject ID: 21588

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Born in 1917, Jean Lucas began competing immediately after World War II in local rallies. He also drove an Alfa Romeo 8C Monza in several national races in 1946 and by the end of the decade was driving Luigi Chinetti’s Ferrari 166MM in endurance events.

In 1949 he contested Le Mans and the Spa 24-hour race though unfortunately at Le Mans his co-driver, Pierre Louis-Dreyfus (who raced as ‘Heldé’) crashed during the race. However, at Spa, he and Luigi Chinetti were victorious in their Ferrari 166 MM in what would be the major success of his racing career. But, during the race, L.Chinetti hit an oil patch from another driver’s car and the Ferrari slid out of control, knocked down a woman spectator and hit a house. Obviously shaken, he leapt and rendered first aid to the injured woman, then got in the car again and drove slowly to his pit. The car was hastily examined and then set to limp round for the two more laps necessary to win the race, finishing at 78.7 m.p.h. for 1,886.03 miles, a record for this race, in a rather battered condition. The year would also see him win at Montlhéry.

Subject ID: 21588

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