24 Heures du Mans - Jonathan Williams (1942-2014) of the film "Le Mans"
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24 Heures du Mans - Jonathan Williams (1942-2014) of the film "Le Mans"

You don't recognize the name? Yet in 1970, he contributed - as did his teammate Herbert Linge - to the legend of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the film "Le Mans" thanks to the camera-car, the Porsche 908/2 entered by Solar Productions, Steve McQueen's movie production company. Jonathan Williams passed away Sunday evening at 71 years of age.

Former official Ferrari driver, Jonathan Williams only competed in one F1 Grand Prix, in 1967 in Mexico. Enzo Ferrari, needing drivers, called upon him to support Chris Amon. The latter experiencing technical issues at the practice, Williams gave him his car. In the race on Sunday, Williams finished just ahead of...Amon!

Despite his successful stint, the British driver returned to F2, the American CanAm championship, and to endurance, taking the start of the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans for the team of the film "Le Mans." That year it was a disaster among the competitors, with only seven out of 51 cars managing to rank. Though the No. 29 Porsche did not rank (it failed to race the minimum distance), it still finished in ninth place!

Deeply affected by the death of his friend Piers Courage at the 1970 Grand Prix of the Netherlands, Williams abandoned motorsports to become a corporate airline pilot. Since retired, he could still sometimes be found pacing the F1 paddocks.

To his family and loved ones, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest expresses its sincerest condolences.

Cécile Bonardel /ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

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