Jochen Mass, one of many Le Mans stars who tried his hand at rally raid, died Sunday at the age of 78. According to his family, he had been dealing with complications from a stroke he suffered in February.
Mass is best known for being a Formula One and Le Mans race winner. The German competed in F1 for nine years from 1973 to 1982, winning the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix. He also raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans from the 1970s until 1995, with the bulk of his starts coming for Rothmans Porsche in the ’80s. In 1989, he teamed up with Manuel Reuter and Stanley Dickens to win Le Mans.
During the mid-1980s, he also decided to dabble in rally raid. In 1984, Mass and Stephen Pers entered the Paris–Dakar Rally in a Mercedes-Benz 500SLC, finishing 62nd overall.
He returned in 1985, this time as a Porsche factory driver; like his Le Mans car, his Porsche 959 was adorned with Rothmans sponsorship. Although Porsches were already established as a Dakar star as René Metge won the 1984 edition in one, Mass ended up retiring. Ekkehard Kiefer served as his navigator.
1985 ended up being Mass’ final Dakar before focusing on Le Mans. Incidentally, his teammate at that year’s Le Mans was 1983 Dakar winner Jacky Ickx, finishing tenth; the two also raced together in 1978. Mass also had future two-time Dakar winner Jean-Louis Schlesser, who went on to create the Africa Eco Race alongside Metge, as one of his partners for the 1991 Le Mans 24.
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