Former Formula One driver of the 1970s, Loris Kessel, has succumbed to his long-term battle with leukemia. Kessel’s early dream was to emulate the driving abilities of fellow Swiss Grand Prix driver, Jo Siffert. His early racing experiences were with an Alfa Romeo Spyder and later a Fiat 128. In 1973 he entered Formula Three, and a couple of years later made the step up to Formula Two. His break into Formula One was with John MacDonald’s RAM Racing, in the 1976 non-championship Race of Champions at Brands Hatch. Kessel would later have a bitter legal battle with MacDonald due to financial irregularities. His best Grand Prix finish in Formula One was 12th. A combination of outdated machinery and regulations that hampered smaller teams all contributed to these disappointing results. His last foray in Formula One was at the 1977 Italian GP with the Apollon. He had constructed the car from a Williams FW04 purchased for him by Walter Wolf. His run of bad luck continued as he crashed the car in practice, leaving him little time to repair it.
The following year Kessel witnessed the fatal accident of his long time friend, Ronnie Peterson, at Monza. The two had struck up an acquaintance when they shared a flat in Maidenhead, England. Kessel told me, “I saw the cars get away. The next thing I noticed there was a crash. Smoke, flames, and pieces of car were everywhere. I ran to the scene and quickly found it was Ronnie. He was trapped in his car. I removed his balaclava and gloves. He was in terrific pain. I could see that the top of his leg was very badly broken. I remember him saying to me, ‘I have great pain in my right leg.’ He asked the medical people if I could go in the helicopter to hospital with him. I did. In the night, of course, he died. I named my son, Ronnie, in honor of him.”
Following his withdrawal from full-time racing, Kessel set up one of the most prestigious dealerships in Europe, handling names such as De Tomaso, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Maserati and Bentley. From this success Kessel Racing appeared in the late 1990s at many European race tracks. He entered various GT categories, winning multiple championships, both as a driver and a team manager. Success had finally come his way.
To his family and friends Vintage Racecar offers our sincere condolences.
By Mike Jiggle
