Johnny Claes


Octave John "Johnny" Claes was an English-born racing driver who competed for Belgium. Before his fame as a racing driver, Claes was also a jazz trumpeter and successful bandleader in Britain.

Early life and jazz career

Claes was born in London to a Scottish mother and Belgian father. He was educated in England at Lord Williams's School. In England, he began playing trumpet in a jazz band that included Max Jones on reeds, and another with Billy Mason on piano. In the 1930s he moved to the Netherlands, where he worked with Valaida Snow and Coleman Hawkins. He also worked with Jack Kluger's band in Belgium. Returning to England, he led his own group, the Claepigeons, making a recording in 1942. In the late 1940s he abandoned his jazz career and settled in Belgium as a professional racing driver.

Racing career

Claes was one of several gentlemen drivers who took part in Grand Prix racing of post-World War II. His first contact with racing was at the 1947 French Grand Prix, where he served as interpreter for British drivers. He made his debut in 1948, in his own Talbot-Lago, raced under the Ecurie Belge banner. Although Claes never scored any points in the World Drivers Championship, he was, like many of his contemporaries, very active in non-Championship Grand Prix races and sports car races. His first win was at the 1950 Grand Prix des Frontières, held at the Chimay race track.
In April 1951 Claes crashed into a crowd while practicing at Sanremo, Italy. He was uninjured but an observer was killed and three onlookers were seriously injured. In 1952 he exchanged his outdated Talbot for a Gordini, and later for a Connaught, always with the Ecurie Belge colours, but he also raced occasionally for works teams, including Gordini and Maserati. He also won the 1953 Liège–Rome–Liège Rally and took a class win at the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans. Claes teamed with Pierre Stasse to finish 12th in the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans. They drove a Porsche. Together with compatriot Jacques Swaters, Claes finished third in the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Later in 1955 Claes' health problems worsened, as he had contracted tuberculosis. Claes sold his outfit to Swaters, who merged it with his own Ecurie Francorchamps to form Ecurie Nationale Belge. Claes entered occasional events until the end of the year, but finally succumbed to the disease in Brussels in 1956, aged 39.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

YearEntrantChassisEngine123456789WDCPts.
1950Ecurie BelgeTalbot-Lago T26CTalbot L6GBR
11		MON
7		500SUI
10		BEL
8		FRA
Ret		ITA
Ret		NC0
1951Ecurie BelgeTalbot-Lago T26C-DATalbot L6SUI
13		500BEL
7		FRA
Ret		GBR
13		GER
11		ITA
Ret		ESP
Ret		NC0
1952Equipe GordiniGordini T16Gordini L6SUI500BEL
8		NC0
1952Ecurie BelgeSimca-Gordini T15Simca-Gordini L4FRA
Ret		GBR
14		NC0
1952HW MotorsHWM 52Alta L4GER
10		NEDNC0
1952Vicomtesse de WalckiersSimca-Gordini T15Simca-Gordini L4ITA
DNQ		NC0
1953Ecurie BelgeConnaught Type ALea-Francis L4ARG500NED
Ret		FRA
12		GBRGER
Ret		SUIITA
Ret		NC0
1953Officine Alfieri MaseratiMaserati A6GCMMaserati L6BEL
Ret		NC0
1955Stirling Moss Ltd.Maserati 250FMaserati L6ARGMON500BEL
DNS		NC0
1955Equipe Nationale BelgeFerrari 500Ferrari L4NED
11		GBRITANC0

Non-Championship Formula One results

YearEntrantChassisEngine1234567891011121314151617----------------------
1950Johnny ClaesTalbot-Lago T26CTalbot L6PAURICSRMPAR
DNA		EMPBAR
8		JERALB
NC		NED
Ret		NAT
Ret		NOTULSPESSTTINT
Ret		GOO
Ret		PEN
Ret		----------------------
1951Johnny ClaesTalbot-Lago T26C-DATalbot L6SYRPAURIC
4		SRM
DNS		BORINT
8		PARULS
9		SCONED
Ret		ALB
5		PESBAR
8		GOO-------------------------
1952Johnny ClaesTalbot-Lago T26C-DATalbot L6RIOSYRVAL
6		RICLAVPAU
Ret		IBSULS
DNA		----
1952Johnny ClaesSimca-Gordini T15Simca-Gordini L4MAR
3		ASTINT
8		ELÄNAPEIF
DNA		PAR
Ret		ALBFRO
Ret		MAR
6		SAB
3		CAEDAICOM
Ret		NATBAU
8		MOD
NC		CADSKAMADAVUJOENEW
Ret		RIO----
1952Johnny ClaesHWM 52Alta L4MNZ
NC		LACESS-------------------
1953Johny ClaesConnaught Type ALea-Francis L4SYRPAU
Ret		LAVASTBOR
6		INT
15		ELÄNAPULSWINFRO
NC		COREIFALB
6		PRIGREESSMIDROU
Ret		STRCRYAVU
6		USFLACDREBRICHESAB
Ret		NEWCADSACREDSKALONMOD
NC		MADBERJOECUR
1954Johny ClaesFerrari 166Ferrari V12BUE
6		SYRPAULAVBORINTBARCURROMFROCORBRCCRYROUCAEAUGCOROUTREDPESSACJOECADBERGOODAI-------------