Introduction
Jochen Neerpasch (born 23 March 1939) is a German former racecar driver and motorsports manager.
Career
His racing career began in the 1960s, first on Borgward touring car, then with the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans as a first major event. Racing a Porsche 907, he won the 1968 24 Hours of Daytona. After his third-place finish in Le Mans the same year, he retired from racing.
In the 1970s, he became a successful manager in the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft and the European Touring Car Championship. First he managed Ford, then he took the 1972 champion Hans-Joachim Stuck with him to BMW, to found the successful BMW M team and company.
In BMW, he also led the development of the mid-engined BMW M1, which he designed to take on Porsche in Group 5 racing. While the required 400 homologation cars were being assembled, to gain racing experience for the cars, he contacted March Engineering's head Max Mosley, who was a member of Formula One Constructors' Association, and together they created a one-make racing series BMW M1 Procar Championship, that ran in 1979 and 1980. Neerpasch himself later raced in a 2008 one-time revival of the Procar Championship, driving a M1 Procar designed by Andy Warhol.
In the 1980s, Neerpasch was in charge of Sauber-Mercedes sports car racing team, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1989. He also discovered and taught talents like Michael Schumacher, Karl Wendlinger, and Heinz-Harald Frentzen.
Racing record
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Briggs S. Cunningham | Chris Amon | Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe | GT +3.0 | 131 | DSQ (Outside assistance) | |
| 1965 | J. Simone (private entrant) | Jo Siffert | Maserati Tipo 65 | P 5.0 | 3 | DNF (Accident damage) | |
| 1966 | Essex Wire Corporation | Jacky Ickx | Ford GT40 | S 5.0 | 154 | DNF (Engine) | |
| 1967 | Porsche System Engineering | Rolf Stommelen | Porsche 910 kurzheck | P 2.0 | 351 | 6th | 2nd |
| 1968 | Porsche System Engineering | Rolf Stommelen | Porsche 908LH | P 3.0 | 325 | 3rd | 2nd |
Complete 24 Hours of Daytona results
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Porsche System Engineering | Vic Elford Rolf Stommelen Jo Siffert Hans Herrmann | Porsche 907LH | P | 673 | 1st | 1st |
Complete 12 Hours of Sebring results
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Porsche Automobile Company | Vic Elford | Porsche 907 | P 3.0 | 226 | 2nd | 2nd |
Complete Targa Florio results
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Porsche System Engineering | Günther Klass | Porsche 356B Carrera 2000 GS/GT | GT 2.0 | 10 | 7th | 3rd |
| 1967 | Porsche System Engineering | Vic Elford | Porsche 910 | P 2.0 | 10 | 3rd | 2nd |
| 1968 | Porsche System Engineering | Hans Herrmann | Porsche 907 | P 3.0 | 10 | 4th | 2nd |