Dries van der Lof
Andres "Dries" van der Lof (born 23rd of August 1919 in Emmen, died 3rd of June 1956 in Rouen) was a Dutch racing driver who competed in Formula 1 from 1951 to 1956. He is often regarded as one of the best drivers to have never won a World Championship.
van der Lof started with two poor seasons in 1951 and 1952, with a best result of 17th. However, it all changed in 1953, when he was finally able to obtain his first points: they were at the 1953 Belgian Grand Prix, where he also obtained his first podium. He scored more points in the Swiss Grand Prix, finishing 5th.
In 1954, he started to show his true pace, being the only driver to have won two races that year. However, he wasn't as consistent as teammate B. Bira, who ended up taking the title that year. He finished 2nd.
1955 looked promising: he started out with a win at the Monaco Grand Prix. However, he and his teammate B. Bira were attacked outside their hotel following the 1955 British Grand Prix, and as a result of this, he was left out of the season.
1956 started out dissapointing for the Dutch superstar, retiring from the Monaco Grand Prix. However, while running on the points in the 1956 French Grand Prix, his rear suspension gave up, then his car veers left into the earth bank and catches fire immediately. Debris from the Lotus flies into the crowd. Dries van der Lof died from his burns at only 36 years old. Another 8 spectactors were also pronounced death, as well as many others injured.
Complete Alternate Formula One results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | WDC | Pts. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1951 | Scuderia Commesso | Kurtis Kraft 2000 | Ferrari 375 4.5 V12 | MON | 500 17 |
BEL | FRA | GBR | GER | ITA | NC | 0 | |||
Maserati 4CLT/48 | NED DNQ |
||||||||||||||
1952 | Scuderia Commesso | Maserati 4CLT/48 | Ferrari 375 4.5 V12 | MON | ENG | BEL 17 |
FRA | GBR | GER | NED DNQ |
ITA | USA | AUS | NC | 0 |
1953 | Asso di Fori | Aston Martin AM-04 | Jaguar JFE-2 4.5 V12 | MON | NED Ret |
BEL 3 |
FRA 9 |
GBR | GER | SUI 5 |
ITA | USA 13 |
12th | 6 | |
1954 | Asso di Fori | Aston Martin AM-04 | Jaguar JFE-2 4.5 V12 | MON Ret |
FRA Ret |
2nd | 24 | ||||||||
Jaguar - Aston Martin Racing | BEL 5 |
NED Ret |
GBR 1 |
SUI 3 |
GER 1 |
USA Ret |
ITA Ret |
||||||||
1955 | Jaguar - Aston Martin Racing | Aston Martin AM-04 | Jaguar JFE-2 4.5 V12 | MON 1 |
FRA Ret |
BEL Ret |
GBR Ret |
SCO | SOV | ITA | 9th | 9 | |||
1956 | Team Lotus | Lotus 10 | B.C.M.A. A/AS Griffin 2.5 L6 | MON Ret |
FRA Ret |
BEL | GER |
GDR |
IRL |
SCO |
GBR |
ITA |
THA |
NC | 0 |