Johnny Claes

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Octave John 'Johnny' Claes (born 11 August 1916 in London, died 3 February 1956 in Brussels) was a Belgian racing driver and jazz trumpeter who competed in Formula 1 from 1950 until 1955. Starting off as the owner-driver of the initially competitive Claes Racing Developments, he competed as a privateer (employing other drivers alongside him) until significant rule changes in 1953 drove him to drive for other teams, notably Leader and Mercedes-Benz before buying into Jacques Swaters' Ecurie Nationale Belge in early 1955. After a couple of entries that year, Claes retired from racing due to ill health. He died shortly thereafter from tuberculosis, aged 39. He managed to score two solitary points at the 1952 Italian Grand Prix.

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.
1950 Claes Racing Developments Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s GBR
Ret
MON
Ret
500 SUI
Ret
BEL
10
FRA
9
ITA
Ret
NC 0
1951 Claes Racing Developments Maserati 4CLT Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s MON
6
500 BEL
Ret
FRA
6
GBR
Ret
GER
6
NED
Ret
ITA
DNQ
NC 0
1952 Claes Racing Developments Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s MON
Ret
ENG
DNQ
BEL
14
FRA
6
GBR
DNQ
GER
Ret
NED
Ret
ITA
5
USA
Ret
AUS
7
18th 2
1953 Leader Leader LF153 Mercedes-Benz UM153 4.5 V10 MON
DNQ
NED
DNQ
BEL
Ret
FRA
Ret
GBR
DNQ
GER
20
SUI
13
ITA
DNQ
USA
Ret
NC 0
1954 Mercedes-Benz Team Europe Mercedes-Benz WM-2 Mercedes-Benz UM153 4.5 V10 MON
DNQ
FRA
Ret
BEL
Ret
NED
8
GBR
DNQ
SUI
11
GER
9
USA ITA NC 0
1955 Ecurie Nationale Belge Cooper T41 Jaguar JFE-2 4.5 V12 MON FRA
DNQ
NC 0
Ferrari 555 Ferrari 555 2.5 L4 BEL
16
GBR SCO SOV ITA