Jean-Louis Schlesser - Career Summary

Schlesser

Nationality French
Date of Birth 12 September, 1952
Teams RAM (1983)
Williams (1988)
Races Entered 2
DNQ/DNPQ 1
Best Result 11th, Italy, 1988

A French F3 Champion and two-time World Sportscar Champion, Schlesser's infamous one-off drive for Williams prevented a 1988 clean-sweep by McLaren and handed Ferrari a win at Monza. With three Paris-Dakar victories, he has since become the world's leading cross-country rally driver.

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Last updated: 15-May-2002

Career Summary

1970 • Enrolled in the racing school at Le Mans, 2nd place.

1970s • Did development work for car companies and competed in rallying.

1976 • Competed in French F3 events.
1977 • Competed in European F3.
• World Championship for Makes, 1 start in a KWS Motorsport Ford Escort with Dötsch.

1978 • French F3, =1st overall in a Chevron B38 Toyota.
• European F3, =20th overall, 3 points in a Chevron B38 Toyota.
• Competed in the French Production Car championship.
1979 • Competed in European F3.
• World Championship for Makes, 3 starts in a Jacques Guérin Porsche 911SC with Guérin and Bleynie.
• World Challenge for Endurance Drivers, 1 start at the Spa 24hrs in a Jean-Marc Smadja BMW 530i with Bleynie and Ballot-Léna.
• Competed in the French Production Car championship.

1980 • French F3, 5th overall, 56 points in a March 793 Alfa Romeo.
• World Championship for Makes, 2 starts in a Jacques Guérin Porsche 934 with Guérin and Gasparetti.
• Competed in the French Touring Car championship.

1981 • European F3, 7th overall, 18 points in a Martini Mk34 Alfa Romeo.
• World Championship for Drivers and Makes, 2 starts, =112th overall, 20 points in a Rondeau M379C Ford with Haran and Streiff, and a KWS Motorsport Ford Capri with Ferté and Verney.
• Competed in the French Touring Car championship.
1982 • Formula 2, 8 starts in a Maurer MM82 BMW.
• World Endurance Championship, 1 start at Le Mans in a BASF Cassetten Team GS Sport Sauber SHS C6 Ford with Stuck and Quester.
• Competed in the French Touring Car championship.

1983 • Competed in the French Touring Car championship.
• World Endurance Championship, 1 start at Le Mans in a Preston Henn Porsche 956 with Henn and Ballot-Léna.
1984 • French Touring Car championship in a TWR Rover.
• World Endurance Championship, 1 start at Le Mans in a Joest Porsche 956 with Johansson and DeNarvaez.

1985 • French Touring Car championship, 1st overall in a TWR Rover.
• European Touring Car championship, 10th in Class C, 97 points in a TWR Austin Rover Vitesse.
• World Endurance Championship, 1 entry at Le Mans in a Fitzpatrick Porsche 962C with Acheson and Wood.
• IMSA, 1 start at Daytona in a Porsche 935 Turbo with Grohs and Brun.
• Competed in the Paris-Dakar rally in a Lada.

1986 • World Sportscar Championship, 20th overall, 22 points in a TWR Jaguar XJR-6 with various drivers.
• Supercup, 1 start in a TWR Jaguar XJR-6.
• Competed in the Paris-Dakar rally.

1987 • World Sportscar Championship, 1 start in a Kouros Racing Sauber C9 Mercedes with Thackwell.
• Supercup, 1 start, =8th overall, 20 points, 1 win in a Sauber C9 Mercedes.

1988 • World Sportscar Championship, 2nd overall, 208 points, 4 wins in a Sauber C9/88 Mercedes with various drivers.
• Supercup, 4 starts, 1st overall, 42 points, 3 wins in a Sauber C9/88 Mercedes.

1983 • RAM March 01 Cosworth V8, 1 entry, 1 DNQ.
• Race of Champions, 6th place in a RAM March 01 Cosworth V8.
1983-7 • Tested for the Williams F1 team.
1988 • Williams FW12 Judd V8, 1 entry.

1989 • World Sportscar Championship, 1st overall, 115 points, 5 wins in a Sauber C9 Mercedes with various drivers.
• Le Mans 24hrs, 5th place in a Sauber C9 Mercedes with Jabouille and Cudini.
• Competed in the Paris-Dakar rally.

1990 • World Sportscar Championship, =1st overall, 49.5 points, 6 wins in a Sauber C9 and C11 Mercedes with Baldi.
• IMSA, 1 start in a Ferrari France Ferrari F40 LM.
• Competed in the Paris-Dakar rally.

1991 • World Sportscar Championship, =7th overall, 45 points in a Sauber C11 and C291 Mercedes with Mass.
• Competed in the Paris-Dakar rally.

1992 • FIA World Cross Country Rally Cup, 1st in the 2WD Trophy, 2 outright wins in a Schlesser Buggy.
• Competed in the Paris-Le Cap rally.
• Won a 24hr ice racing event in Paris.

1993 • FIA World Cross Country Rally Cup, 7th overall, 1st in the 2WD Trophy, 1 class win in the Paris-Dakar rally in a Schlesser Buggy.

1994 • FIA World Cross Country Rally Cup, 3rd overall, 1st in the 2WD Trophy, 2 outright wins in a Schlesser Buggy.
• Historic Race of Champions event, 1st place.

1995 • FIA World Cross Country Rally Cup, 3rd overall, 1st in the 2WD Trophy, 1 outright win in a Schlesser Buggy.
1996 • FIA World Cross Country Rally Cup, 3rd overall, 1st in the 2WD Trophy, 1 outright win in a Schlesser Buggy.
• Granada-Dakar rally, 1st place in 2WD class in a Schlesser Buggy.

1997 • FIA World Cross Country Rally Cup, 4th overall, 1st in 2WD Trophy in a Schlesser Buggy with various navigators.
• Andros Trophy, 1 start, 1 win in a Opel Astra.

1998 • FIA World Cross Country Rally Championship, 1st overall, 4 outright wins in a Schlesser Megane X202 with various navigators.
• Paris-Dakar rally, 1st place in 2WD class in a Schlesser Megane X202 with Pauwels.

1999 • FIA World Cross Country Rally Championship, 1st overall, 4 outright wins in a Schlesser Megane X301 with various navigators.
• Granada-Dakar rally, 1st place outright in a Schlesser Megane X301 with Monnet.

2000 • FIA World Cross Country Rally Championship, 1st overall, 5 outright wins in a Schlesser Megane X301 with various navigators.
• Paris-Dakar-Cairo rally, 1st place outright in a Schlesser Megane X301 with Magne.
• Andros Trophy, 1st place in the final.
• Ice Racing Series International, 1 start in a Peugeot 306.

2001 • FIA World Cross Country Rally Championship, 1st overall, 4 outright wins in a Schlesser Megane X301 with Magne.
• Paris-Dakar rally, 3rd place outright in a Schlesser Megane X301 with Magne.
2002 • FIA World Cross Country Rally Championship in a Schlesser Megane X301 with Magne.
• Arras-Madrid-Dakar rally, retired in a Schlesser Kangoo Dci X443 with Magne.

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• Full Biography •	Picture Index
Text-Only Version	Back to Driver Index
Last updated: 15-May-2002



1970	• Enrolled in the racing school at Le Mans, 2nd place.
1970s	• Did development work for car companies and competed in rallying.
1976	• Competed in French F3 events.
1977	• Competed in European F3. • World Championship for Makes, 1 start in a KWS Motorsport Ford Escort with Dötsch.
1978	• French F3, =1st overall in a Chevron B38 Toyota. • European F3, =20th overall, 3 points in a Chevron B38 Toyota. • Competed in the French Production Car championship.
1979	• Competed in European F3. • World Championship for Makes, 3 starts in a Jacques Guérin Porsche 911SC with Guérin and Bleynie. • World Challenge for Endurance Drivers, 1 start at the Spa 24hrs in a Jean-Marc Smadja BMW 530i with Bleynie and Ballot-Léna. • Competed in the French Production Car championship.
1980	• French F3, 5th overall, 56 points in a March 793 Alfa Romeo. • World Championship for Makes, 2 starts in a Jacques Guérin Porsche 934 with Guérin and Gasparetti. • Competed in the French Touring Car championship.
1981	• European F3, 7th overall, 18 points in a Martini Mk34 Alfa Romeo. • World Championship for Drivers and Makes, 2 starts, =112th overall, 20 points in a Rondeau M379C Ford with Haran and Streiff, and a KWS Motorsport Ford Capri with Ferté and Verney. • Competed in the French Touring Car championship.
1982	• Formula 2, 8 starts in a Maurer MM82 BMW. • World Endurance Championship, 1 start at Le Mans in a BASF Cassetten Team GS Sport Sauber SHS C6 Ford with Stuck and Quester. • Competed in the French Touring Car championship.
1983	• Competed in the French Touring Car championship. • World Endurance Championship, 1 start at Le Mans in a Preston Henn Porsche 956 with Henn and Ballot-Léna.
1984	• French Touring Car championship in a TWR Rover. • World Endurance Championship, 1 start at Le Mans in a Joest Porsche 956 with Johansson and DeNarvaez.
1985	• French Touring Car championship, 1st overall in a TWR Rover. • European Touring Car championship, 10th in Class C, 97 points in a TWR Austin Rover Vitesse. • World Endurance Championship, 1 entry at Le Mans in a Fitzpatrick Porsche 962C with Acheson and Wood. • IMSA, 1 start at Daytona in a Porsche 935 Turbo with Grohs and Brun. • Competed in the Paris-Dakar rally in a Lada.
1986	• World Sportscar Championship, 20th overall, 22 points in a TWR Jaguar XJR-6 with various drivers. • Supercup, 1 start in a TWR Jaguar XJR-6. • Competed in the Paris-Dakar rally.
1987	• World Sportscar Championship, 1 start in a Kouros Racing Sauber C9 Mercedes with Thackwell. • Supercup, 1 start, =8th overall, 20 points, 1 win in a Sauber C9 Mercedes.
1988	• World Sportscar Championship, 2nd overall, 208 points, 4 wins in a Sauber C9/88 Mercedes with various drivers. • Supercup, 4 starts, 1st overall, 42 points, 3 wins in a Sauber C9/88 Mercedes.

1983	• RAM March 01 Cosworth V8, 1 entry, 1 DNQ. • Race of Champions, 6th place in a RAM March 01 Cosworth V8.
1983-7	• Tested for the Williams F1 team.
1988	• Williams FW12 Judd V8, 1 entry.

1989	• World Sportscar Championship, 1st overall, 115 points, 5 wins in a Sauber C9 Mercedes with various drivers. • Le Mans 24hrs, 5th place in a Sauber C9 Mercedes with Jabouille and Cudini. • Competed in the Paris-Dakar rally.
1990	• World Sportscar Championship, =1st overall, 49.5 points, 6 wins in a Sauber C9 and C11 Mercedes with Baldi. • IMSA, 1 start in a Ferrari France Ferrari F40 LM. • Competed in the Paris-Dakar rally.
1991	• World Sportscar Championship, =7th overall, 45 points in a Sauber C11 and C291 Mercedes with Mass. • Competed in the Paris-Dakar rally.
1992	• FIA World Cross Country Rally Cup, 1st in the 2WD Trophy, 2 outright wins in a Schlesser Buggy. • Competed in the Paris-Le Cap rally. • Won a 24hr ice racing event in Paris.
1993	• FIA World Cross Country Rally Cup, 7th overall, 1st in the 2WD Trophy, 1 class win in the Paris-Dakar rally in a Schlesser Buggy.
1994	• FIA World Cross Country Rally Cup, 3rd overall, 1st in the 2WD Trophy, 2 outright wins in a Schlesser Buggy. • Historic Race of Champions event, 1st place.
1995	• FIA World Cross Country Rally Cup, 3rd overall, 1st in the 2WD Trophy, 1 outright win in a Schlesser Buggy.
1996	• FIA World Cross Country Rally Cup, 3rd overall, 1st in the 2WD Trophy, 1 outright win in a Schlesser Buggy. • Granada-Dakar rally, 1st place in 2WD class in a Schlesser Buggy.
1997	• FIA World Cross Country Rally Cup, 4th overall, 1st in 2WD Trophy in a Schlesser Buggy with various navigators. • Andros Trophy, 1 start, 1 win in a Opel Astra.
1998	• FIA World Cross Country Rally Championship, 1st overall, 4 outright wins in a Schlesser Megane X202 with various navigators. • Paris-Dakar rally, 1st place in 2WD class in a Schlesser Megane X202 with Pauwels.
1999	• FIA World Cross Country Rally Championship, 1st overall, 4 outright wins in a Schlesser Megane X301 with various navigators. • Granada-Dakar rally, 1st place outright in a Schlesser Megane X301 with Monnet.
2000	• FIA World Cross Country Rally Championship, 1st overall, 5 outright wins in a Schlesser Megane X301 with various navigators. • Paris-Dakar-Cairo rally, 1st place outright in a Schlesser Megane X301 with Magne. • Andros Trophy, 1st place in the final. • Ice Racing Series International, 1 start in a Peugeot 306.
2001	• FIA World Cross Country Rally Championship, 1st overall, 4 outright wins in a Schlesser Megane X301 with Magne. • Paris-Dakar rally, 3rd place outright in a Schlesser Megane X301 with Magne.
2002	• FIA World Cross Country Rally Championship in a Schlesser Megane X301 with Magne. • Arras-Madrid-Dakar rally, retired in a Schlesser Kangoo Dci X443 with Magne.