Derek Bell (racin driver)

Derek Reginald Bell MBE (born 31 October 1941 in Pinner, Middlesex) is a umwhile racin driver frae Ingland wha wis extremely sonsie in sportscaur racing, winnin 5 times at Le Mans.  He raced in Formula Ane for the Ferrari, McLaren, Surtees an Tecno teams. He haes been describit bi fellae racer Hans-Joachim Stuck as ane o the maist liked drivers o his generation.


He grew up on a ferm an helpit wi rinnin a caravan site near Pagham Harbour afore bein encouraged bi his stepfaither Bernard Hender tae tak up racin in 1964 wi Lotus Seven. He graduate tae Formula 3 in the follaein year in a Lotus 31 an in 1966 switched tae a Lotus 41 scorin his first victory at Goodwood. In 1967 he enjoyed seiven wins. He entered Formula 2 in a privateer Brabham BT23C fielded bi his stepfather's Kirk Farm Racing team an haed several promising performances, which caught Ferrari's ee an made his Grand Prix debut at Monza. In 1969 he raced at Silverstone wi Ferrari an an aa raced the fower-wheel-drive McLaren M9A in its anly race in the Breetish Grand Prix.

Bell wis ane o mony drivers tae tak pairt in the filmin o Le Mans (1970) starring Steve McQueen. Bell haed a lucky escape in the makkin o the film. The Ferrari 512 he wis drivin suddent caucht fire while gettin intae poseetion for a filmin ettle. He managed tae get oot the caur jist afore it wis engulfed in flames an suffered minor burns. The caur wis badly damaged but later rebuilt.

Bell wis a runner in the 1970 European Formula 2 Championship drivin a Mairch. In 1972 he got the drive in the Tecno F1 team, alang wi Nanni Galli. He later raced a feck o times for the Surtees team an biggit a strang reputation as a fine sports caur racer. 
200px|right|Derek Bell in a Mirage GR7 at Nürburgring in 1974
He won twa World Sportscar Championship titles in 1985-86, the 24 Hours o Daytona three times in 1986-87 an 1989 an Le Mans five times in 1975, 1981, 1982, 1986 an 1987, maistly teamed wi Jacky Ickx in ane o the Porsche 936 an Porsche 956/Porsche 962 models. Ickx/Bell is thir adays conseidert as ane o the maist famous pairings in motorsport heestory.

Bell wis awairdit the MBE in 1986 for services tae motorsport.

Bell wis hired as chairman for the failed Spectre R42 project atween 1996 tae its demise in 1997 an wis hired tae consult for the Bentley team in 2001, helpin them win Le Mans twa year later. He nou splits his time atween the Unitit States an Bognor Regis, an commentates on Formula Ane races which he haes duin for an drives in heestoric events, as weel as performin an ambassadorial role for Porsche. Bell is currently an operating pairtner o Bentley Naples in Naples, Florida.

His son, Justin Bell is a racer an aw. The twa raced thegither in the 1991 24 Hours o Daytona, an the 1992 24 Hours o Le Mans. Bell wis tae race in the 2008 Daytona 24 oors wi Justin, housomever the caur droppit oot o the race early an Derek didna get tae rin in the race.

Complete World Championship Formula One results
(key)
 Year Entrant Chassis Ingine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 WDC Pts 1968 Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 312/68 Ferrari V12 RSA ESP MON BEL NED FRA GBR GER ITARet CAN USARet MEX NC 0 1969 Bruce McLaren Motor Racing McLaren M9A Cosworth V8 RSA ESP MON NED FRA GBRRet GER ITA CAN USA MEX NC 0 1970 Tom Wheatcroft Racing Brabham BT26A Cosworth V8 RSA ESP MON BELRet NED FRA GBR GER AUT ITA CAN 22nt 1 Team Surtees Surtees TS7 USA6 MEX 1971 Team Surtees Surtees TS9 Cosworth V8 RSA ESP MON NED FRA GBRRet GER AUT ITA CAN USA NC 0 1972 Martini Racing Team Tecno PA123 TecnoFlat-12 ARG RSA ESP MON BEL FRADNQ GBR GERRet AUT ITADNQ CANDNS USARet NC 0 1974 Bang & Olufsen Team Surtees Surtees TS16 Cosworth V8 ARG BRA RSA ESP BEL MON SWE NED FRA GBRDNQ GER11 NC 0 Team Surtees AUTDNQ ITADNQ CANDNQ USA

References

Category:1941 births
Category:Livin fowk
Category:Old Vigornians
Category:Inglis racin drivers
Category:Inglis Formula Ane drivers
Category:Ferrari Formula Ane drivers
Category:McLaren Formula Ane drivers
Category:24 Oors o Le Mans drivers
Category:International Race of Champions drivers
Category:European Formula Two Championship drivers
Category:Tasman Series drivers
Category:Brighton Speed Trials fowk
Category:Fowk frae Pinner
Category:BRDC Gold Star winners
Category:Members o the Order o the Breetish Empire
Category:24 Oors o Daytona drivers