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Jo Schlesser and Honda

28. Jan 2025 
by Ziv Knoll
560 views

Jo Schlesser (1928-1968) seen here-above in the Honda RA302 V12 3.0L, during practice for the 1968 French Grand Prix at Rouen-les-Essarts, was a French Formula One and sports car racing driver. He was the uncle of Jean-Louis Schlesser who himself became a sports car ace and a Formula One driver in the 1980’s.

An opportunity for a Formula One seat came for Schlesser in 1968 with Honda. The Honda team had completed an experimental air-cooled Formula One car (the RA302) which had been tested by their works driver John Surtees, who thought it was not race ready.

Undaunted, and with the financial help of Honda France, Honda entered it for the French Grand Prix at Rouen. Schlesser was hired to drive it, but after two laps, the car slid wide in a fast corner and crashed sideways into a bank. The magnesium-bodied Honda and its fuel ignited instantly, sadly leaving Schlesser no chance of survival…

Source: DR

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