Mercedes-Benz Racing Legend Jochen Mass Passes Away at 77

Jochen Mass, legendary Mercedes-Benz racer and Le Mans winner, passed away at 78, leaving a legacy as a champion driver, mentor, and icon of motorsport history.

Jochen Mass, the legendary racing driver and longtime ambassador for Mercedes-Benz Classic, passed away on May 4, 2025, at the age of 78.

Known for his remarkable versatility and charisma, Mass enjoyed a motorsport career spanning three decades, with one of his greatest achievements being the overall win at the 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans in the Sauber-Mercedes C9.

Mass began racing in 1968 after training as a mechanic and briefly working as a sailor. He made his mark in touring cars with Alfa Romeo and Ford before stepping up to Formula One in 1973.

Over 105 Grand Prix starts, he earned one victory and eight podiums, making him the most successful German F1 driver of his era. His post-F1 years saw him compete in diverse events including the Paris–Dakar Rally and a decade-long stint with Porsche, before joining Sauber-Mercedes and guiding the Silver Arrows to their first Le Mans win in over 30 years.

Beyond his own driving success, Mass played a key mentoring role in the early careers of future stars Michael Schumacher, Karl Wendlinger, and Heinz-Harald Frentzen as part of Mercedes-Benz’s Junior Team in Group C racing.

His deep connection to Mercedes-Benz continued after retirement, becoming a cherished figure at historic events like the Goodwood Festival of Speed, often behind the wheel of iconic Silver Arrows and other vintage Mercedes machines.

Described by Sir Stirling Moss as a driver with unmatched sensitivity and historical knowledge, Jochen Mass was more than a racer—he was a storyteller, mentor, and living link to motorsport’s golden eras. His legacy lives on not only in his racing accolades but in the inspiration he brought to fans, peers, and the automotive world.

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