Hans Joachim STUCK

A German driver

Hans-Joachim Stuck was born in 1951, and is the son of Hans Stuck, one of the most famous pre-war German drivers.

Hans-Joachim was a brilliant driver and joined the Formula 1 circuit in 1974. His spectacular performance in the rain at Watkins Glen at the end of the 1977 season was impressive, however it ended with an exit from the track when he was in the lead. His tall size (1.94m) never allowed him to showcase all of his talent in the tight bucket of single-seaters.

Hans-Joachim Stuck turned to endurance events once his career in Formula 1 was over, and he became one of the best drivers in the specialty. He went on to win two world championship titles in 1985 and 1986 and triumphed at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1986 and 1987, associated with Derek Bell on both occasions.

He was driving a BMW that he shared with a young Tom Kristensen for his final race at Le Mans in 1998.

Hans-Joachim Stuck is the German driver with the most appearance in the 24 Hour race having started nineteen times. The man with the starry helmet set himself an unbeatable record back in 1985: a circuit lap at an average speed of 251.815 km/h.

“My greatest moment at Le Mans was 3 minutes and 14.8 seconds. It was a pole position with the Porsche 962C on a perfect lap. This will probably be a record for posterity as some chicanes have since been added on the Hunaudières straight."

In 1985, the year of Stuck's speed record, Manceau Jean Rondeau, who was the winner in 1980 behind the wheel of a car he built himself, took part in the 24 Hours at Le Mans for the final time.