# Johnny Claes

Octave John Claes (/kleɪz/; 11 August 1916 – 3 February 1956) was a British-born racing driver who competed for Belgium. Before his fame as a racing driver, Claes was also a jazz trumpeter and successful bandleader in Britain.

## Early life and jazz career

Claes was born in London to a Scottish mother and Belgian father. He was educated in England at Lord Williams's School. In England, he began playing trumpet in a jazz band that included Max Jones on reeds, and another with Billy Mason on piano. In the 1930s he moved to the Netherlands, where he worked with Valaida Snow and Coleman Hawkins. He also worked with Jack Kluger's band in Belgium. Returning to England, he led his own group, the Claepigeons, making a recording in 1942. In the late 1940s he abandoned his jazz career and settled in Belgium as a professional racing driver.

## Racing career

Claes was one of several gentlemen drivers who took part in Grand Prix racing of post-World War II. His first contact with racing was at the 1947 French Grand Prix, where he served as interpreter for British drivers. He made his debut in 1948, in his own Talbot-Lago, raced under the Écurie Belge banner. Although Claes never scored any points in the World Drivers Championship, he was, like many of his contemporaries, very active in non-Championship Grand Prix races and sports car races. His first win was at the 1950 Grand Prix des Frontières, held at the Chimay race track.
In April 1951 Claes crashed into a crowd while practicing at San Remo Grand Prix in Sanremo, Italy. He was uninjured but an observer was killed and three onlookers were seriously injured. In 1952 he exchanged his outdated Talbot for a Gordini, and later for a Connaught, always with the Écurie Belge colours, but he also raced occasionally for works teams, including Gordini and Maserati. He also won the 1953 Liège–Rome–Liège Rally and took a class win at the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans. Claes teamed with Pierre Stasse to finish 12th in the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans. They drove a Porsche. Together with compatriot Jacques Swaters, Claes finished third in the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Later in 1955 Claes' health problems worsened, as he had contracted tuberculosis. Claes sold his outfit to Swaters, who merged it with his own Écurie Francorchamps to form Écurie Nationale Belge. Claes entered occasional events until the end of the year, but finally succumbed to the disease in Brussels in 1956, aged 39.

## Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | WDC | Pts. |
| 1950 | Écurie Belge | Talbot-Lago T26C | Talbot L6 | GBR 11 | MON 7 | 500 | SUI 10 | BEL 8 | FRA Ret | ITA Ret | | | NC | 0 |
| 1951 | Écurie Belge | Talbot-Lago T26C-DA | Talbot L6 | SUI 13 | 500 | BEL 7 | FRA Ret | GBR 13 | GER 11 | ITA Ret | ESP Ret | | NC | 0 |
| 1952 | Équipe Gordini | Gordini T16 | Gordini L6 | SUI | 500 | BEL 8 | | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1952 | Écurie Belge | Simca-Gordini T15 | Simca-Gordini L4 | | | | FRA Ret | GBR 14 | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1952 | HW Motors | HWM 52 | Alta L4 | | | | | | GER 10 | NED | | | NC | 0 |
| 1952 | Vicomtesse de Walckiers | Simca-Gordini T15 | Simca-Gordini L4 | | | | | | | | ITA DNQ | | NC | 0 |
| 1953 | Écurie Belge | Connaught Type A | Lea-Francis L4 | ARG | 500 | NED Ret | | FRA 12 | GBR | GER Ret | SUI | ITA Ret | NC | 0 |
| 1953 | Officine Alfieri Maserati | Maserati A6GCM | Maserati L6 | | | | BEL Ret | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1955 | Stirling Moss Ltd. | Maserati 250F | Maserati L6 | ARG | MON | 500 | BEL DNS | | | | | | NC | 0 |
| 1955 | Écurie Nationale Belge | Ferrari 500 | Ferrari L4 | | | | | NED 11 | GBR | ITA | | | NC | 0 |

### Non-championship Formula One results

(key)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 |
| 1950 | Johnny Claes | Talbot-Lago T26C | Talbot L6 | PAU | RIC | SRM | PAR DNA | EMP | BAR 8 | JER | ALB NC | NED Ret | NAT Ret | NOT | ULS | PES | STT | INT Ret | GOO Ret | PEN Ret |
| 1951 | Johnny Claes | Talbot-Lago T26C-DA | Talbot L6 | SYR | PAU | RIC 4 | SRM DNS | BOR | INT 8 | PAR | ULS 9 | SCO | NED Ret | ALB 5 | PES | BAR 8 | GOO |
| 1952 | Johnny Claes | Talbot-Lago T26C-DA | Talbot L6 | RIO | SYR | VAL 6 | RIC | LAV | PAU Ret | IBS | | | | | | | | | | ULS DNA | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1952 | Johnny Claes | Simca-Gordini T15 | Simca-Gordini L4 | | | | | | | | MAR 3 | AST | INT 8 | ELÄ | NAP | EIF DNA | PAR Ret | ALB | FRO Ret | | | | | MAR 6 | SAB 3 | CAE | DAI | COM Ret | NAT | BAU 8 | MOD NC | CAD | SKA | MAD | AVU | JOE | NEW Ret | RIO |
| 1952 | Johnny Claes | HWM 52 | Alta L4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | MNZ NC | LAC | ESS |
| 1953 | Johny Claes | Connaught Type A | Lea-Francis L4 | SYR | PAU Ret | LAV | AST | BOR 6 | INT 15 | ELÄ | NAP | ULS | WIN | FRO NC | COR | EIF | ALB 6 | PRI | ESS | MID | ROU Ret | CRY | AVU 6 | USF | LAC | BRI | CHE | SAB Ret | NEW | CAD | RED | SKA | LON | MOD NC | MAD | JOE | CUR |