Robert La Caze (French pronunciation:[ʁɔ.bɛʁlakaz]; sometimes spelled La Gaze[1]) (26 February 1917 – 1 July 2015) was a Moroccan-French racing driver. He was the first driver to race in Formula One under an African licence, and the only driver to race under a Moroccan licence.[a][2]
La Caze was born in Paris, but as the grandson of a French diplomat, he moved to Morocco at a young age and spent most of his life there. He started his motorsport career in rallying, taking part in many events across North Africa. He also became the Moroccan national skiing champion.[3]
Sportscar races and rallies in Moroccoedit
International motorsport returned to Morocco after the Second World War in the form of a sportscar race, the Agadir Grand Prix [fr]. The event was held from 1950 to 1956, each year featuring multiple races for different engine classes. In 1951, he placed third in the S750 race.[4] In 1952, he placed second in the S1.0 race.[5] In 1953, he placed second in the S1.1 and S2.0 races.[6] In 1954, he placed second in the S1.1 race.[7] In 1955, he won the S1.0 race.[8] In 1956, he set the fastest practice time for the S1.3 race but his final result is unclear; he finished 8th in the feature race [de].[9]
In 1951, La Caze participated in the Rallye du Maroc and finished sixth.[10] In 1952, he finished third in the 12 Hours of Casablanca.[5] In 1953, he won the 3 Hours of Safi and started the 3 Hours of Algeria and 12 Hours of Casablanca, but his result in either race is unclear.[6] 1954 was particularly successful: he won the S1.1 and S1.5 races at the Marrakech Grand Prix, the S1.6 race at the Tangier Grand Prix, and the Rallye du Maroc for the first time.[7][11][12] He was runner-up in the rally in 1955.[13] Outside of Morocco, La Caze raced in the 1955 Mille Miglia, the 1956 Tour de France and the 1957 24 Hours of Le Mans.[14][9]
Moroccan Grand Prixedit
The Moroccan Grand Prix returned in 1957, but it was run to Formula One regulations and local competitors could not afford to enter. The event organisers remedied this for the 1958 event, allowing Formula Two cars to enter in a separate class. La Caze secured an F2 entry with a privately owned Cooper. He lacked open-wheel racing experience, but impressed in practice by lapping within two seconds of the F2 class leaders. He qualified fourth out of the F2 entries and steadily improved his pace throughout the race, making a late pass on André Guelfi to secure third in the F2 class and 14th overall.[3][15][16] However, the race was marred by Stuart Lewis-Evans's accident which ultimately proved to be fatal, and the Moroccan Grand Prix would not return.
Last races and later careeredit
La Caze would race four times alongside Jean Kerguen, who had also been part of the Moroccan Grand Prix F2 field.[15] In 1959, they competed at Le Mans and the Tour de France, finishing fourth overall in the latter.[17] In 1960, they drove to 14th overall in the Rally Isla de Gran Canaria before returning to Le Mans.[18] La Caze won the Rallye du Maroc for the second time in 1967, and drove again in 1968 but retired with an accident.[19][20]
Following his motorsport career, La Caze ran a garage and a youth sports association in Marrakech.[3] He was the oldest living World Championship driver from the death of Paul Pietsch in May 2012 until his own death in July 2015.[21][22]
^Fellow driver André Guelfi was born in Morocco but raced under a French licence.
Referencesedit
^3 out of 4 mentions in the contemporary Motorsport magazine's report name him "La Gaze": Jenkinson, Denis (November 1958). "1958 Moroccan Grand Prix race report: Moss class of the field but Hawthorn takes F1 crown". Motorsport.com. pp. 732–733. Retrieved 2022-02-14.
^. espn.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
^ abcMcMullen, Jeremy (26 March 2014). "Robert La Caze". conceptcarz.com. from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
^"World Sports Racing Prototypes - Non Championship Races 1951". www.wsrp.cz. from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
^ ab"World Sports Racing Prototypes - Non Championship Races 1952". www.wsrp.cz. from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
^ ab"World Sports Racing Prototypes - Non Championship Races 1953". www.wsrp.cz. from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
^ ab"World Sports Racing Prototypes - Non Championship Races 1954". www.wsrp.cz. from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
^"World Sports Racing Prototypes - Non Championship Races 1955". www.wsrp.cz. from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
^ ab"World Sports Racing Prototypes - Non Championship Races 1956". www.wsrp.cz. from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
^"Final results Rallye International de l'Atlas Marocain 1951". ewrc-results.com. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
^"GP Tangier [S1.6] 1954 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
^"Final results Rallye du Maroc 1954". ewrc-results.com. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
^"Final results Rallye du Maroc 1955". ewrc-results.com. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
^"Mille Miglia 1955 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
^Galpin, Darren. "1958 Moroccan Grand Prix". silhouet.com. The GEL Motorsport Information Page. Retrieved 2022-02-19.
^"World Sports Racing Prototypes - Non Championship Races 1959". www.wsrp.cz. from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
^"Final results Rally Isla de Gran Canaria 1960". ewrc-results.com. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
^"Final results Rallye du Maroc 1967". ewrc-results.com. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
^"Final results Rallye du Maroc 1968". ewrc-results.com. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
^"Robert La Caze". Driver Database. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
^Malcevic, Marijan (19 December 2015). . snaplap.net. Archived from the original on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
^"All championship race entries, by Robert La Caze". ChicaneF1. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
^"Robert La Faze". Motor Sport. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
^"Complete Archive of Robert Lacaze". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
January 01, 1970
robert, caze, french, pronunciation, ʁɔ, bɛʁ, sometimes, spelled, gaze, february, 1917, july, 2015, moroccan, french, racing, driver, first, driver, race, formula, under, african, licence, only, driver, race, under, moroccan, licence, born, 1917, february, 191. Robert La Caze French pronunciation ʁɔ bɛʁ la kaz sometimes spelled La Gaze 1 26 February 1917 1 July 2015 was a Moroccan French racing driver He was the first driver to race in Formula One under an African licence and the only driver to race under a Moroccan licence a 2 Robert La CazeBorn 1917 02 26 26 February 1917Paris FranceDied1 July 2015 2015 07 01 aged 98 Le Cannet FranceFormula One World Championship careerNationalityMoroccanActive years1958Teamsnon works CooperEntries1Championships0Wins0Podiums0Career points0Pole positions0Fastest laps0First entry1958 Moroccan Grand PrixLast entry1958 Moroccan Grand Prix Contents 1 Career 1 1 Early life 1 2 Sportscar races and rallies in Morocco 1 3 Moroccan Grand Prix 1 4 Last races and later career 2 Racing record 2 1 Complete Formula One results 2 2 Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results 3 External links 4 Footnotes 5 ReferencesCareer editEarly life edit La Caze was born in Paris but as the grandson of a French diplomat he moved to Morocco at a young age and spent most of his life there He started his motorsport career in rallying taking part in many events across North Africa He also became the Moroccan national skiing champion 3 Sportscar races and rallies in Morocco edit International motorsport returned to Morocco after the Second World War in the form of a sportscar race the Agadir Grand Prix fr The event was held from 1950 to 1956 each year featuring multiple races for different engine classes In 1951 he placed third in the S750 race 4 In 1952 he placed second in the S1 0 race 5 In 1953 he placed second in the S1 1 and S2 0 races 6 In 1954 he placed second in the S1 1 race 7 In 1955 he won the S1 0 race 8 In 1956 he set the fastest practice time for the S1 3 race but his final result is unclear he finished 8th in the feature race de 9 In 1951 La Caze participated in the Rallye du Maroc and finished sixth 10 In 1952 he finished third in the 12 Hours of Casablanca 5 In 1953 he won the 3 Hours of Safi and started the 3 Hours of Algeria and 12 Hours of Casablanca but his result in either race is unclear 6 1954 was particularly successful he won the S1 1 and S1 5 races at the Marrakech Grand Prix the S1 6 race at the Tangier Grand Prix and the Rallye du Maroc for the first time 7 11 12 He was runner up in the rally in 1955 13 Outside of Morocco La Caze raced in the 1955 Mille Miglia the 1956 Tour de France and the 1957 24 Hours of Le Mans 14 9 Moroccan Grand Prix edit The Moroccan Grand Prix returned in 1957 but it was run to Formula One regulations and local competitors could not afford to enter The event organisers remedied this for the 1958 event allowing Formula Two cars to enter in a separate class La Caze secured an F2 entry with a privately owned Cooper He lacked open wheel racing experience but impressed in practice by lapping within two seconds of the F2 class leaders He qualified fourth out of the F2 entries and steadily improved his pace throughout the race making a late pass on Andre Guelfi to secure third in the F2 class and 14th overall 3 15 16 However the race was marred by Stuart Lewis Evans s accident which ultimately proved to be fatal and the Moroccan Grand Prix would not return Last races and later career edit La Caze would race four times alongside Jean Kerguen who had also been part of the Moroccan Grand Prix F2 field 15 In 1959 they competed at Le Mans and the Tour de France finishing fourth overall in the latter 17 In 1960 they drove to 14th overall in the Rally Isla de Gran Canaria before returning to Le Mans 18 La Caze won the Rallye du Maroc for the second time in 1967 and drove again in 1968 but retired with an accident 19 20 Following his motorsport career La Caze ran a garage and a youth sports association in Marrakech 3 He was the oldest living World Championship driver from the death of Paul Pietsch in May 2012 until his own death in July 2015 21 22 Racing record editComplete Formula One results edit key Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 WDC Points 1958 Robert La Caze Cooper T45 F2 Climax Straight 4 ARG MON NED 500 BEL FRA GBR GER POR ITA MOR14 NC 0 Sources 23 24 Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results edit Year Team Co Drivers Car Class Laps Pos ClassPos 1957 nbsp Automobiles Gordini nbsp Clarence de Rinen Gordini T15S S2 0 3 DNF Engine 1959 nbsp J Kerguen private entrant nbsp Jean Kerguen Porsche 550A S1 5 229 DNF Clutch 1960 nbsp J Kerguen private entrant nbsp Jean Kerguen Porsche 718 RS60 4 S1 6 92 DNF Camshaft Source 25 External links editRobert La Caze at racingsportscars com Footnotes edit Fellow driver Andre Guelfi was born in Morocco but raced under a French licence References edit 3 out of 4 mentions in the contemporary Motorsport magazine s report name him La Gaze Jenkinson Denis November 1958 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix race report Moss class of the field but Hawthorn takes F1 crown Motorsport com pp 732 733 Retrieved 2022 02 14 Robert La Caze F1 Driver Profile ESPN co uk espn co uk Archived from the original on 25 July 2020 Retrieved 21 April 2014 a b c McMullen Jeremy 26 March 2014 Robert La Caze conceptcarz com Archived from the original on 30 July 2021 Retrieved 30 July 2021 World Sports Racing Prototypes Non Championship Races 1951 www wsrp cz Archived from the original on 14 June 2021 Retrieved 31 July 2021 a b World Sports Racing Prototypes Non Championship Races 1952 www wsrp cz Archived from the original on 14 June 2021 Retrieved 31 July 2021 a b World Sports Racing Prototypes Non Championship Races 1953 www wsrp cz Archived from the original on 14 June 2021 Retrieved 31 July 2021 a b World Sports Racing Prototypes Non Championship Races 1954 www wsrp cz Archived from the original on 14 June 2021 Retrieved 31 July 2021 World Sports Racing Prototypes Non Championship Races 1955 www wsrp cz Archived from the original on 14 June 2021 Retrieved 31 July 2021 a b World Sports Racing Prototypes Non Championship Races 1956 www wsrp cz Archived from the original on 14 June 2021 Retrieved 31 July 2021 Final results Rallye International de l Atlas Marocain 1951 ewrc results com Retrieved 1 August 2021 GP Tangier S1 6 1954 Race Results Racing Sports Cars racingsportscars com Retrieved 31 July 2021 Final results Rallye du Maroc 1954 ewrc results com Retrieved 1 August 2021 Final results Rallye du Maroc 1955 ewrc results com Retrieved 1 August 2021 Mille Miglia 1955 Race Results Racing Sports Cars racingsportscars com Retrieved 31 July 2021 a b Morocco 1958 STATS F1 statsf1 com Retrieved 30 Jul 2021 Galpin Darren 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix silhouet com The GEL Motorsport Information Page Retrieved 2022 02 19 World Sports Racing Prototypes Non Championship Races 1959 www wsrp cz Archived from the original on 14 June 2021 Retrieved 31 July 2021 Final results Rally Isla de Gran Canaria 1960 ewrc results com Retrieved 1 August 2021 Final results Rallye du Maroc 1967 ewrc results com Retrieved 1 August 2021 Final results Rallye du Maroc 1968 ewrc results com Retrieved 1 August 2021 Robert La Caze Driver Database Retrieved 28 July 2015 Malcevic Marijan 19 December 2015 Oldest Living F1 Drivers SnapLap snaplap net Archived from the original on 25 July 2020 Retrieved 7 November 2017 All championship race entries by Robert La Caze ChicaneF1 Retrieved 6 May 2022 Robert La Faze Motor Sport Retrieved 6 May 2022 Complete Archive of Robert Lacaze Racing Sports Cars Retrieved 6 May 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert La Caze amp oldid 1202867316, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
