Derek Bell (auto racer)
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Bell in 2008
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| Born |
31 October 1941 Pinner, Middlesex, England, UK |
|---|---|
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |
 British |
| Active years | 1968–1972, 1974 |
| Teams | Ferrari, McLaren, Surtees, Tecno |
| Entries | 16 (9 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 1 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1968 Italian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1974 Canadian Grand Prix |
| 24 Hours of Le Mans career | |
|---|---|
| Participating years | 1970–1983, 1985–1996 |
| Teams |
Scuderia Ferrari John Wyer Automotive Ecurie Francorchamps Gulf Racing Grand Touring Cars Renault Sport Porsche System Rothmans Porsche Richard Lloyd Racing Joest Porsche Racing ADA Engineering Courage Compétition Gulf Oil Racing David Price Racing |
| Best finish | 1st (1975, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987) |
| Class wins | 5 (1975, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987) |
Derek Reginald Bell MBE (born 31 October 1941 in Pinner, Middlesex, England) is a British racing driver who was extremely successful in sportscar racing, winning the Le Mans 24 hours five times, the Daytona 24 three times and the World Sportscar Championship twice. He also raced in Formula One for the Ferrari, Wheatcroft, McLaren, Surtees and Tecno teams. He has been described by fellow racer Hans-Joachim Stuck as one of the most liked drivers of his generation.
Bell grew up on a farm and helped to run the Church Farm caravan site, complete with its own pub, near Pagham Harbour before being encouraged by his stepfather Bernard Hender to take up racing with a Lotus Seven in 1964. He won his first race in the Lotus at Goodwood in March of that year. He graduated to Formula Three in the following year racing a Lotus 31 and in 1966 switched to a Lotus 41 scoring his first victory, again at Goodwood. In 1967 he enjoyed seven wins. He entered Formula Two in a privateer Brabham BT23C fielded by his stepfather's Church Farm Racing team and after several promising performances, which caught Enzo Ferrari's eye, made his Formula One Grand Prix debut for Ferrari at Monza in 1968. He contested the 1969 Tasman Series in a 2.4 Dino Ferrari and was second at Lakeside to Amon and Rindt at Warwick Farm. In 1969 he raced the four-wheel-drive McLaren M9A in its only ever race at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
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