Volker Weidler
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Volker Weidler (born March 18, 1962 in Heidelberg) is a former racing driver from Germany, best known for winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991.
In the 1989 Formula One season, Weidler entered 10 Formula One Grands Prix racing for the Rial team, but failed to qualify the uncompetitive car on every occasion.
After Formula One, he moved to Japan and raced in the Japanese Formula 3000 Championship and the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship. He often fought over the title with Kazuyoshi Hoshino, Ross Cheever and others in the Japanese Formula 3000, and took popularity in Japan. In 1991, Weidler teamed with Johnny Herbert and Bertrand Gachot to win Le Mans behind the wheel of the rotary engine-powered Mazda 787B, marking also the first and only win of the legendary French race by both a Japanese manufacturer and engine supplier. From 1992, however, rotary engines were banned by the FISA, rendering the 787B ineligible after its maiden win.
While racing in the Japanese Formula 3000 Championship, Weidler began to suffer from an ear problem (sensorineural hearing loss) which eventually forced him to retire prematurely during the 1992 season though Weidler was leading the championship at that time. When Weidler left the Japanese team, Nova Engineering, he recommended to employ Heinz-Harald Frentzen as his successor.
[edit] Complete Formula One results
(key)
| Yr | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Rial Racing | Rial ARC2 | Cosworth V8 | BRA DNPQ |
SMR DNPQ |
MON DNPQ |
MEX DNPQ |
USA DNPQ |
CAN DNPQ |
FRA DNPQ |
GBR DNPQ |
GER DSQ DNQ |
HUN DNQ |
BEL |
ITA |
POR |
ESP |
JPN |
AUS |
- | 0 |
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Kurt Thiim |
German Formula Three champion 1985 |
Succeeded by Kris Nissen |
| Preceded by John Nielsen Price Cobb Martin Brundle |
Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1991 with: Johnny Herbert Bertrand Gachot |
Succeeded by Derek Warwick Yannick Dalmas Mark Blundell |
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