Hans Herrmann, Porsche’s first Le Mans winner, died at the age of 97 on the morning of last Friday (9).
The former German driver, who became famous for being one of Porsche’s first winners at Le Mans, amassed several rally victories in his Porsche 356.
After his victory in the 1954 Mille Miglia 1,000-mile race, Herrmann caught the attention of Mercedes-Benz, which signed him as a driver for the next two F1 seasons.
After his time in F1 during the 1950s, he returned as a representative of Mercedes-Benz Heritage, where he worked to preserve the legacy of Mercedes-Benz’s racing era.
“We remember Hans Herrmann with great gratitude, an outstanding racing driver who had a decisive influence on the history of Mercedes-Benz,” said Marcus Breitschwerdt, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Heritage GmbH.
In his second year racing for Porsche, Herrmann and Richard Attwood delivered the manufacturer’s first victory at Le Mans. However, after this great achievement, he decided to step away from racing, honoring a promise made to his wife, Magdalena.
He reportedly told her that if he won, he would never race again. He kept his promise, retired from competition in 1970, and devoted the rest of his life to his automotive accessories business.
Photos: Instagram @porsche.motorsport. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
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