Gérard Larrousse: Porsche Legend Turns 85 With Le Mans Glory
Rallies, race tracks and gruelling endurance contests challenged Gérard Larrousse, yet he mastered each with precision and unmistakable French flair. From Sebring to the Nürburgring and the winding asphalt of the Tour de Corse, the versatile French racing driver claimed victories that confirmed him as an authentic motorsport great and paved the way for his 85th birthday on 23 May 2025.
Quiet yet relentless, Larrousse chose to shape history rather than narrate it. “Gérard Larrousse has always embodied the spirit of Porsche – courageous, precise, passionate,” says Dr. Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board responsible for Research and Development. The Porsche factory ace, twice a Le Mans winner, set performance benchmarks that rivals struggled to match.
Gérard Gilles Marie Armand Larrousse entered the world in Lyon on 23 May 1940. He studied economics, then joined a military unit specialising in high-speed vehicles. In 1966, he turned professional, first as a works driver for NSU France and later with Automobiles Alpine. “First, I became an official works driver at NSU France, then I spent two successful years at Automobiles Alpine,” he recalls. His crisp driving and sharp strategy delivered a Tour de Corse win, second place in the 1969 European Rally Championship, victory in the Rallye du Maroc, and podium finishes at the Monte Carlo Rally and Tour de Corse, underscoring his all-around talent.
At the 1969 Monte Carlo Rally, officials disqualified him and co-driver Jean-Claude Perramond because their Renault’s headlights breached the rules, yet the setback reinforced his reputation as a fighter. On Vic Elford’s recommendation, that season, he joined the Porsche works squad and, alongside Hans Herrmann, missed overall victory at Le Mans by just 120 metres in one of the race’s closest finishes. He finished runner-up again in 1970, but competitors already saw him as the man to beat.
Larrousse and Elford seized the 1971 12 Hours of Sebring in the Porsche 917 and dominated the Nürburgring 1,000 Kilometres in a 908/03 Spyder. Partnering Henri Pescarolo, he conquered the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1973 and 1974 with Matra-Simca, securing his place in endurance racing folklore.
He carried the same vision into management, guiding Ligier and, with lawyer Didier Calmels, founding the Larrousse Calmels Formula 1 team in 1986. His success away from the steering wheel proved that strategic insight counts as much as raw speed.
Now based in Marseille, Larrousse collaborates with Porsche and remains a favoured voice for journalists covering historic motorsport. He thrilled fans during the 2015 Tour de Corse Historique and continues to share vivid stories that define an era when technology, bravery and humanity intertwined on every circuit.
