Remembering Jochen Mass, a Top Sportscar Driver of His Generation

Jochen Mass, the charming and universally liked German, has left us at the age of 78 following complications from a stroke. A race winner in Formula 1 and one of the top sportscar drivers of his generation, claiming victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours, Mass’s career was marked by a friendly demeanor that may have hindered his success at the pinnacle of motorsport.

Jochen Mass’s Career with McLaren

Joining McLaren from Surtees in 1974, Mass competed for three-and-a-half years under Alastair Caldwell’s management. Despite his affable nature and interests outside of racing, such as sailing and yachting, Mass found himself overshadowed by teammate James Hunt, who claimed the world championship while Mass managed a top 10 finish in the points.

Despite having more right to victory at the Nurburgring in 1976 than his one and only F1 win at the tragic Spanish Grand Prix the previous year, misfortune and luck played significant roles in Mass’s career. In the Montjuic Park street circuit race, he pulled into the pits after the opening lap in protest of safety concerns, but changed his mind when the flag fell. He led the race until it was red-flagged, only receiving half championship points due to the race being halted prematurely.

Rain before the ‘Ring race in 1977 resulted in everyone taking on wets except Mass. His decision to gamble on slicks would have likely resulted in a victory had the race not been temporarily halted following Niki Lauda’s crash. Despite leading for two laps, he ended up third, nearly a minute behind Hunt.

Jochen Mass’s Later Career and Legacy

After leaving McLaren, Mass’s career never regained momentum. A season at ATS in 1978 was cut short by a major accident in testing at Silverstone, which left him with a broken leg and a punctured lung. Despite offers from Frank Williams and Arrows, Mass chose to join Arrows, only to walk away after a massive shunt in the French Grand Prix at Ricard.

Mass’s F1 career ended in the first season of the Group C rules that rejuvenated international sportscar racing. Already a regular with Porsche, he became a stalwart of its factory campaigns with the 956 and the 962C, claiming nine world championship victories between 1982 and 1985.

Known for his laid-back persona, Mass was remembered for nurturing a new generation of talent during his time with Mercedes and Sauber. His mentorship played a significant role in the careers of Michael Schumacher, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, and Karl Wendlinger.

After departing Sauber at the end of 1991, Mass effectively stepped away from the cockpit. He made a one-off return for a 12th and final Le Mans start in 1995, leading much of the race before requiring a change of clutch. Despite this near victory, Mass always retained a link with motorsport, serving as a co-commentator in F1 and becoming an ambassador for Mercedes.