BELL, DEREK in Formula 1

 

Born 10/31/1941, Pinner, Middlesex, England

Starts:9

Points: 1

Wins:0

Poles:0

Fastest Laps:0

Bell had been around Formula 2 for sometime when he was hired by Ferrari as a Formula 2 driver in 1968. Eventually he got the chance of a lifetime, debuting in F-1 with the Prancing Horse’s cars. He qualified well (for a rookie) in Italy (8th), but retired, while the going was even tougher in USA (qualified 15th, retired as well). He got no further offers to drive Ferraris in F-1, but was hired to handle the four wheel drive McLaren in the 1969 British GP, an outing that ended in retirement as well. In 1970, Bell finished as runner up in the European Formula 2 championship, and debuted in Sports cars. His F-2 entrant, Tom Wheatcroft, put together a deal for Bell to drive a Brabham in the Belgian GP, where Bell retired. John Surtees also gave Bell a chance in the US GP, where Derek got his single Formula 1 point, finishing 6th. Surtees would give Bell other chances, including an entry in the 1971 British GP, where Bell retired. Then for 1972 Bell was retained by Tecno, as one of the PA123’s drivers. This turned out to be a total dud, and Tecno miserably failed to reach the success it had achieved in F3 and F2. The Martini sponsored cars were heavy, the proprietary 12 cylinder engines down on power and unreliable, and Bell continued to further damage his reputation as a single seater driver. Bell persevered in F2 for two more years, 1973 and 1974, while racing a wide range of machines, from touring cars to sports cars and, Formula 5000 and Can Am racers. John Surtees gave him a last GP chance in 1974. Derek was entered in five races, but the TS16 was a tough nut to crack. Bell finished 11th in Germany, but failed to qualify four other times. It became clear to Bell that pursuing a top level single seater career would no longer be possible, and he concentrated in Sports Cars, where he became one of the most successful drivers ever, including five Le Mans victories. He also became a successful broadcaster, and occasionally still races in the USA.

OUTSIDE OF FORMULA 1

Derek has had one of the most diversified careers out of Formula 1, having driven a large number of cars during four decades of racing:

Formula 1 (Non championship): march

Formula 2: Brabham, Ferrari, March, Surtees, BMW

Formula 5000/Group 8: Lola, Penske, Surtees

Formula 3: Brabham

Can-Am/Interserie: Mclaren

Sports cars: Ferrari, Porsche (917, 908, 935, 962, 936, 934, 956, 962, 924), BMW M-1, Abarth, Alpine-Renault, Mirage, Alfa Romeo, McLaren, Kremer-Porsche, Courage, Aston-Martin, Ford M10, Mazda RX7 , BMW 320 Group 5.

Touring cars: Jaguar, BMW, Volvo, Mazda 323