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Pierre Veyron

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pierre Veyron
Pierre Veyron in 1934.
Born(1903-10-01)1 October 1903
Berc, France[1]
Died2 November 1970(1970-11-02) (aged 67)
Èze, France[1]
NationalityFrench
OccupationGrand Prix motor racing driver
Years active1930-1953
Known forWinner, 24 Hours of Le Mans (1939)
AwardsLegion of Honour (1945)

Pierre Veyron (1 October 1903 – 2 November 1970) was a French Grand Prix motor racing driver active from 1933 through 1953.

Career

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Pierre Veyron enrolled at university to study engineering. Veyron's friend, Albert Divo, convinced Veyron to take up racing and introduced Veyron to André Vagniez, an industrialist who provided financial support to Veyron. Vagniez purchased a Bugatti Type 37A that Veyron drove to his first racing victory, winning the 1930 Geneva Grand Prix.[2]

Jean Bugatti, son of Bugatti founder Ettore Bugatti, hired Pierre Veyron in 1932 as a test driver and development engineer. Veyron entered races as a Bugatti company driver, winning many including the 1933 and 1934 Berlin Avus races while driving a Bugatti Type 51A. Veyron's most significant race victory was his 1939 win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, co-driving a Bugatti Type 57S Tank with Jean-Pierre Wimille.[2]

During World War II, Veyron joined the French Resistance against German occupation. For his service during the war, the Republic of France awarded him the Legion of Honour in 1945.[2]

After the war, Veyron continued racing, but his main focus was on his family and his oil-drilling technology company. Veyron died in Èze, France in 1970.[2]

Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. named the Veyron 16.4 supercar in honor of Veyron.[2]

Racing record

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Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

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Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1934 France Roger Labric
(private entrant)
France Roger Labric Bugatti Type 50S 5.0 73 DNF
1935 France Roger Labric
(private entrant)
France Roger Labric Bugatti Type 50S 5.0 116 DNF
1937 France Roger Labric
(private entrant)
France Roger Labric Bugatti Type 57G Tank 5.0 130 DNF
1939 France Jean-Pierre Wimille
(private entrant)
France Jean-Pierre Wimille Bugatti Type 57C Tank 8.0 249 1st 1st
1949 France Amédée Gordini
France Automobiles Gordini
France José Scaron Simca-Gordini T8 S1.1 88 DNF
(Transmission)
1950 France Manufactures
d'Armes de Paris
France Fernand Lacour M.A.P. Diesel S5.0 39 DNF
(Overheating)
1951 France Equipe Gordini France Georges Monneret Gordini T15S S1.5 130 DNF
(Engine)
1952 United Kingdom Donald Healey Motor Co. France Yves Giraud-Cabantous Nash-Healey S5.0 ? DNF
(Engine)
1953 United Kingdom Nash-Healey Inc. France Yves Giraud-Cabantous Nash-Healey Sports S5.0 9 DNF
(Engine)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Pierre Veyron". historicracing.com. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Pierre Veyron". Bugatti Stories. bugatti.com. Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. 30 November 2011. Archived from the original on 2 June 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2022. Veyron's initial career plan did not include racecar driving – instead, he enrolled in the university to study engineering. But his friend Albert Divo, himself an ardent motor sport aficionado, persuaded him to give racecar driving a try.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1939 with:
Jean-Pierre Wimille
Succeeded by