# Érik Comas

Érik Gilbert Comas (French:; born 28 September 1963) is a French former racing driver. He was the French Formula 3 champion in 1988, and then Formula 3000 champion in 1990, after scoring the same number of points as Jean Alesi in 1989, but losing on a count-back of positions. He participated in 63 Formula One Grands Prix between 1991 and 1994, scoring a total of seven championship points. His last point, in the 1994 German Grand Prix, was also the last one for the Larrousse team. After his F1 career, he won the All-Japan GT Championship for Nismo in the top GT500 class in 1998 and 1999.

## Career
### Formula One
#### 1991 and 1992: Ligier

After his F3000 championship victory in 1990, Comas was selected to drive for the Ligier F1 team in 1991. The Ligier JS35 with its Lamborghini engine proved uncompetitive throughout the season. Comas failed to qualify for the race on his first attempt in Brazil, achieved his first finish with 10th at Imola, and achieved his highest finish of the season with 8th in Canada, scoring no points during the season. Although he failed to qualify on two other occasions and suffered a spectacular crash at Hockenheim, he generally compared well with more experienced teammate Thierry Boutsen who also failed to score any points. Early in 1992, Comas's place in the team was briefly threatened by Alain Prost who tested the team's new Renault-powered car with a view to driving for, and possibly buying the team, with Comas revealing years later that he had not been given any testing mileage during the winter. Ultimately Prost chose not to proceed, and Comas retained his drive alongside Boutsen for the season. The 1992 car, the Ligier JS37 seemed promising, a brand new design featuring the race-winning Renault V10 engine, but it proved to be only inconsistently competitive. Comas scored his first career F1 point with 6th place in Canada, scored 5th at Ligier's home race in France and a further point in Germany during a mid-season revival of the team's fortunes. With four points, he was generally faster than and outscored Boutsen, and finished 11th in the Driver's Championship. At the 1992 Belgian Grand Prix Comas was involved in a severe accident at the Blanchimont corner during Saturday qualifying. Left unconscious in his car beached in the middle of the track with the engine still running at its rev limiter, Comas was rescued by Ayrton Senna who stopped his own car and ran to help Comas, by shutting off the car's screaming engine (which was still pumping fuel and could have blown at any moment starting a fire), and holding the Frenchman's head in a stable position until medical assistance arrived. Comas credited Senna with saving his life.

#### 1993 and 1994: Larrousse

Comas was not retained by Ligier for 1993; he instead signed with the small Larrousse team, running the LH93 chassis powered by Lamborghini V12s. The car was uncompetitive, Comas retiring from half the 16 races of the season, and scoring only one point for 6th at Monza.
Retained by Larrousse in 1994, Comas drove the LH94 car, now powered by more reliable Ford HB engines. Comas scored a point for 6th at the Pacific Grand Prix, and benefited from the retirement of many other cars to take another point at Hockenheim. This was both his and Larrousse's final F1 points finish. For the last race of the season in Australia, Comas relinquished his seat to make way for Jean-Denis Delétraz who brought more funding to the team.
At the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix due to a radio miscommunication Comas was released onto the track during the red flag after Senna had crashed, arriving at the Tamburello corner where he met the workers and vehicles, including an aid helicopter which had landed at the scene. Having had to brake hard to avoid hitting either marshals, their vehicles, or the helicopter Comas declined to participate in the restart of the race, after witnessing medical staff treating the mortally-injured Senna.

### After Formula One

After ending his Formula One career at the end of the 1994 season, Comas went to Japan to continue his racing career in the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship (JGTC), Japan's premiere racing series. He won the GT500 title in 1998 and 1999, and was runner-up in the standings in 2000, all three years driving for Nissan in a factory Nismo-prepared Skyline GT-R. He left the Nismo team in 2002 to join the factory Toyota team the following year. By the end of the 2003 season, he was the most successful driver in the history of the series, with the most career championship points ever scored by a single driver. This was eventually surpassed by another Nismo driver, Satoshi Motoyama.
Comas spent the 2004/2005 seasons with Masahiro Hasemi's privateer Hasemi Sport team, running non-factory Nissan 350Zs in GT500, including inheriting the team's only win (co-driving with Toshihiro Kaneishi) thus far, on the evening of 18 December 2004 at the "All-Star 200" exhibition race on California Speedway's combined oval/road course after the unofficial winners were penalized 60 seconds on their finishing time for a pit window infraction. The race was a non-points scoring event and as such does not count towards the drivers' or teams' official win record.
In the 2006 Super GT championship season (formerly JGTC) he raced for former JGTC driver and 24 Hours of Le Mans team owner Masahiko Kondo's new privateer Nissan 350Z racing team. He also branched out into rallying, competing in various events around the world. Along with this, he created Comas Racing Management (CRM), a firm that focuses on the management and development of young up and coming drivers, primarily from his home country of France.
At the fifth race of the 2006 season at Sportsland SUGO, Comas was replaced by Seiji Ara due to ill health. After returning for the Pokka 1000 km, on 5 September 2006, Comas announced that because of his health, he would not compete in the final three races of the season.
In 2010 and 2011, he won the electric vehicle category of the Rallye Monte Carlo des Véhicules à Énergie Alternative (the opening event of the FIA Alternative Energies Cup) with a Tesla Roadster. In 2014 he won the Carrera Panamericana in a Studebaker. Between 2012 and 2017, he rallied a Lancia Stratos.
Comas has now retired from all forms of racing. He spends his time running Comas Historic Racing, which provides for paying customers to enter historic rallies driving cars from his fleet of blue Alpine automobiles. In 2019 Comas obtained one of the Nissan R390 GT1, a car he competed in the 1998 Le Mans 24 Hours with, and had it restored as well as being made street-legal.

## Racing record
### Career summary

| Season | Series | Team | Races | Wins | Poles | F/Laps | Podiums | Points | Position |
| 1985 | Championnat de France Formule Renault Turbo | Ecurie Elf | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 98 | 4th |
| 1986 | Championnat de France Formule Renault Turbo | Ecurie Elf | 13 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 163 | 1st |
| 1987 | French Supertouring Championship | Sonica | 12 | 3 | ? | ? | ? | ? | 1st |
| 1987 | French Formula Three Championship | Ecurie Elf | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 70 | 6th |
| 1988 | French Formula Three Championship | Ecurie Elf | 12 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 136 | 1st |
| 1988 | Macau Grand Prix | Team KTR | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 10th |
| 1989 | International Formula 3000 | DAMS | 9 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 39 | 2nd |
| 1990 | International Formula 3000 | DAMS | 11 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 51 | 1st |
| 1991 | Formula One | Ligier Gitanes | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC |
| 1992 | Formula One | Ligier Gitanes Blondes | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11th |
| 1993 | Formula One | Larrousse F1 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 20th |
| 1994 | Formula One | Tourtel Larrousse F1 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 23rd |
| 1995 | All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship | Team Cerumo | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 17th |
| 1995 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Société Larbre Compétition | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DNF |
| 1996 | Japanese Touring Car Championship | Team Cerumo | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 52 | 8th |
| 1996 | All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship | TOM'S | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 55 | 3rd |
| 1997 | All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship | NISMO | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 50 | 6th |
| 1997 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | NISMO | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 12th |
| 1998 | All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship | NISMO | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 67 | 1st |
| 1998 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | NISMO | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 6th |
| 1999 | All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship | NISMO | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 77 | 1st |
| 1999 | American Le Mans Series | Team Rafanelli SRL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 48 | 24th |
| 1999 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | NISMO | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | DNF |
| 2000 | All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship | NISMO | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 68 | 2nd |
| 2001 | All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship | NISMO | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 53 | 4th |
| 2002 | All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship | NISMO | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 19 | 19th |
| 2002 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | PlayStation Team Oreca | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 5th |
| 2003 | All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship | TOM'S | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 61 | 5th |
| 2004 | All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship | Hasemi Motorsport | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 50 | 4th |
| 2004 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Pescarolo Sport | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 4th |
| 2005 | Super GT | Hasemi Motorsport | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 42 | 8th |
| 2005 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Pescarolo Sport | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | N/A | 2nd |
| 2005 | European Le Mans Series | Pescarolo Sport | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 14th |
| 2006 | Super GT | Kondo Racing | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 18th |
| 2006 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | Pescarolo Sport | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 5th |
| Sources: ||||||||||

### Complete Macau Grand Prix results

| Year | Team | Chassis/Engine | Qualifying | Race1 | Race2 | Overall ranking | Ref |
| 1988 | KTR Racing | Ralt・VW | 27th | 16 | 8 | 10th | |

### Complete International Formula 3000 results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)
| Year | Entrant | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | DC | Points |
| 1989 | DAMS | SIL 5 | VAL 4 | PAU DNQ | JER 2 | PER Ret | BRH 3 | BIR Ret | SPA 2 | BUG 1 | DIJ 1 | | 2nd | 39 |
| 1990 | DAMS | DON 1 | SIL 2 | PAU Ret | JER 1 | MNZ 1 | PER Ret | HOC 4 | BRH Ret | BIR Ret | BUG 1 | NOG 2 | 1st | 51 |
| Sources: |||||||||||||||

### Complete Formula One results

(key)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | WDC | Points |
| 1991 | Ligier Gitanes | Ligier JS35 | Lamborghini V12 | USA DNQ | BRA Ret | SMR 10 | MON 10 | CAN 8 | MEX DNQ | FRA 11 | GBR DNQ | GER Ret | HUN 10 | BEL Ret | ITA 11 | POR 11 | ESP Ret | JPN Ret | AUS 18 | NC | 0 |
| 1992 | Ligier Gitanes Blondes | Ligier JS37 | Renault V10 | RSA 7 | MEX 9 | BRA Ret | ESP Ret | SMR 9 | MON 10 | CAN 6 | FRA 5 | GBR 8 | GER 6 | HUN Ret | BEL DNQ | ITA Ret | POR Ret | JPN Ret | AUS Ret | 11th | 4 |
| 1993 | Larrousse F1 | Larrousse LH93 | Lamborghini V12 | RSA Ret | BRA 10 | EUR 9 | SMR Ret | ESP 9 | MON Ret | CAN 8 | FRA 16 | GBR Ret | GER Ret | HUN Ret | BEL Ret | ITA 6 | POR 11 | JPN Ret | AUS 12 | 20th | 1 |
| 1994 | Tourtel Larrousse F1 | Larrousse LH94 | Ford V8 | BRA 9 | PAC 6 | SMR Ret | MON 10 | ESP Ret | CAN Ret | FRA Ret | GBR Ret | GER 6 | HUN 8 | BEL Ret | ITA 8 | POR Ret | EUR Ret | JPN 9 | AUS | 23rd | 2 |
| Sources: ||||||||||||||||||||||

### Complete JGTC/Super GT results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | DC | Pts |
| 1995 | Team Cerumo | Toyota Supra | GT1 | SUZ 5 | FUJ 14 | SEN 15 | FUJ Ret | SUG 11 | MIN DSQ | | | | 19th | 8 |
| 1996 | TOM'S | Toyota Supra | GT500 | SUZ 16 | FUJ 4 | SEN 1 | FUJ Ret | SUG 4 | MIN 2 | | | | 3rd | 55 |
| 1997 | NISMO | Nissan Skyline GT-R | GT500 | SUZ 1 | FUJ | SEN 2 | FUJ 10 | MIN 9 | SUG 3 | | | | 6th | 50 |
| 1998 | NISMO | Nissan Skyline GT-R | GT500 | SUZ 1 | FUJ C | SEN 1 | FUJ 10 | MOT 4 | MIN 4 | SUG 6 | | | 1st | 67 |
| 1999 | NISMO | Nissan Skyline GT-R | GT500 | SUZ 2 | FUJ 5 | SUG 6 | MIN 1 | FUJ 3 | TAI 7 | MOT 3 | | | 1st | 77 |
| 2000 | NISMO | Nissan Skyline GT-R | GT500 | MOT 1 | FUJ 6 | SUG Ret | FUJ 4 | TAI 3 | MIN 3 | SUZ 5 | | | 2nd | 68 |
| 2001 | NISMO | Nissan Skyline GT-R | GT500 | TAI 13 | FUJ 4 | SUG 10 | FUJ 2 | MOT Ret | SUZ 3 | MIN 2 | | | 4th | 53 |
| 2002 | NISMO | Nissan Skyline GT-R | GT500 | TAI 12 | FUJ 6 | SUG 4 | SEP 16 | FUJ 14 | MOT 17 | MIN Ret | SUZ 8 | | 19th | 19 |
| 2003 | TOM'S | Toyota Supra | GT500 | TAI 6 | FUJ 10 | SUG 2 | FUJ 7 | FUJ 5 | MOT 2 | AUT 8 | SUZ 8 | | 5th | 61 |
| 2004 | Hasemi Motorsport | Nissan Z | GT500 | TAI 6 | SUG 6 | SEP 4 | TOK 3 | MOT 7 | AUT Ret | SUZ 3 | | | 4th | 50 |
| 2005 | Hasemi Motorsport | Nissan Z | GT500 | OKA 3 | FUJ 9 | SEP Ret | SUG 15 | MOT 13 | FUJ 4 | AUT 3 | SUZ 4 | | 8th | 42 |
| 2006 | Kondo Racing | Nissan Z | GT500 | SUZ 10 | OKA 10 | FUJ 10 | SEP 8 | SUG | SUZ 5 | MOT | AUT | FUJ | 18th | 18 |
| Sources: |||||||||||||||

### 24 Hours of Le Mans results

| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
| 1995 | Société Larbre Compétition | Jean-Pierre Jarier Jesús Pareja | Porsche 911 GT2 Evo | GT1 | 64 | DNF | DNF |
| 1997 | NISMO | Kazuyoshi Hoshino Masahiko Kageyama | Nissan R390 GT1 | GT1 | 294 | 12th | 5th |
| 1998 | NISMO | Jan Lammers Andrea Montermini | Nissan R390 GT1 | GT1 | 342 | 6th | 6th |
| 1999 | NISMO | Michael Krumm Satoshi Motoyama | Nissan R391 | LMP | 110 | DNF | DNF |
| 2002 | PlayStation Team Oreca | Olivier Beretta Pedro Lamy | Dallara SP1-Judd | LMP900 | 359 | 5th | 4th |
| 2004 | Pescarolo Sport | Soheil Ayari Benoît Tréluyer | Pescarolo C60-Judd | LMP1 | 361 | 4th | 4th |
| 2005 | Pescarolo Sport | Emmanuel Collard Jean-Christophe Boullion | Pescarolo C60 Hybrid-Judd | LMP1 | 368 | 2nd | 2nd |
| 2006 | Pescarolo Sport | Emmanuel Collard Nicolas Minassian | Pescarolo C60 Hybrid-Judd | LMP1 | 352 | 5th | 4th |
| Sources: ||||||||

### Complete JTCC results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | DC | Pts |
| 1996 | Team Cerumo | Toyota Corona EXiV | FUJ 1 18 | FUJ 2 6 | SUG 1 6 | SUG 2 10 | SUZ 1 Ret | SUZ 2 Ret | MIN 1 13 | MIN 2 8 | SEN 1 5 | SEN 2 6 | TOK 1 Ret | TOK 2 8 | FUJ 1 1 | FUJ 2 3 | 8th | 52 |
| Sources: |||||||||||||||||||

### World Rally Championship results

| Year | Entrant | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | WDC | Points |
| 2000 | Éric Comas | Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI | MON | SWE | KEN | POR | ESP | ARG | GRC | NZL | FIN | CYP | FRA | ITA | AUS Ret | GBR | - | 0 |
| Sources: |||||||||||||||||||