WORDS BY ROB HANSFORD | IMAGES BY LEGENDS OF MOTORSPORT/PORSCHE
Sportscar racer Vic Elford has sadly passed away at the age of 86.
Elford was a versatile driver, and he initially made his name in rallying, winning the 1967 European Rally Championship.
He then went on to win the Monte Carlo Rally the following year, and subsequently went on incredible winning streak, claiming victory in the 1968 Daytona 24 Hours, the Targa Florio and the Nurburgring 1000km.
He also made his Formula 1 debut that year and immediately impressed, finishing fourth in the French Grand Prix driving a Cooper-BRM.
That season pushed Elford on to a path in the world of sportscar racing, and despite a number of attempts, he failed to win the coveted Le Mans 24 Hours.
Elfords’ most famous entry in the race was in 1969, driving a Porsche 917 alongside Richard Attwood.
It was the 917s debut and they came close to winning the event outright, but 22 hours into the race, the gearbox failed, forcing them to retire from the event.
Despite his lack of overall victories in the race, Elford did achieve two class wins, in 1967 and 1973, and away from sportscars he also claimed another accolade, becoming the first winner of a rallycross event at Lydden Hill in 1967.
Elford spent the last year of his life battling prostate cancer, but sadly passed away on March 13.
