Difference between revisions of "Jochen Mass"

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Jochen Richard Mass (born 30 September 1946 in Dorfen, Bavaria, Germany) is German former racing driver most notable for his appearances in Formula One. Outside of racing, his work received the "Best In Show" award at the 1990 International Ceramics Festival.

Jochen Mass, pictured as a Mercedes-Benz driver in 1989.

Formula One

1976

Jochen Mass raced for Marlboro Team McLaren in 1976 at the wheel of their venerable McLaren M23 alongside Argentinian Carlos Reutemann.

Mass took three third places over the course of the season - taking podiums at the season opening Argentine Grand Prix, the Spanish Grand Prix and the Belgian Grand Prix.

Mass was reportedly relieved of his driving duties on the evening after qualifying for the British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch, but opted to keep him for the race the following day. He retired from the Grand Prix with a blown engine.

Jochen Mass was replaced by American Tom Sneva at the following German Grand Prix. Mass failed to make another appearance in 1976.

Touring Car racing

1977

After being fired by McLaren, Mass joined an amateur pottery club in his native Dorfen, Bavaria. He showed aptitude, crafting an accurate model of Tom Sneva's McLaren, which witness say was destroyed in a rare bout of anger. After missing out on a drive for the 1977 Formula One season, he signed with Luigi Racing's BMW squad in the European Touring Car Championship. He continued to work clay in his spare time.

1988

In 1988, Mercedes-Benz entered the newly-formed World Touring Car Masters with a four-car team consisting of Jerry Mahony, Luis Perez-Sala, Roland Asch and Armin Hahne.

Over the course of the season, Mahony's performances disappointed the Mercedes-Benz hierarchy which saw him being dismissed ahead of the fourth round at the Norisring, being replaced by F3000 frontrunner Bernd Schneider. As Schneider was running a full season in F3000, his WTCM outings were limited - meaning Jochen Mass would take over the #51 190E at three rounds.

Mass's first outing was at the Birmingham Street Circuit, where he took a second in class in the endurance race and leading home a Mercedes one-two-three in the sprint. His other appearances would be at Spa-Francorchamps and the Nürburgring.

Mass also raced in the 1988 Tooheys 1000, sharing the Mercedes-Benz 190E with Armin Hahne. They finished as the top Mercedes-Benz in 13th overall and 4th in Class C.

1989

Following Roland Asch and Luis Perez-Sala's departure from the works Mercedes-Benz squad, Mass was given a full-time works drive in the series. Mass was joined by Armin Hahne, 1988 Class C runner-up Mauro Baldi and 1988 WTCM Drivers Champion Tim Harvey.

Complete Formula 1 Results