Derek Bell " British Formula 1 Racing Driver " Formula 1 Signed Photograph Autograph £25.00

This is a superb In Person signed 12" x 8" Colour photograph by the former English Formula 1 Racing Driver.

Derek Reginald Bell MBE (born 31 October 1941 in Pinner, Middlesex) is a racing driver from England who was extremely successful in sportscar racing, winning Le Mans five times, the Daytona 24 three times and the World Sportscar Championship twice. He also raced in Formula One for the Ferrari, McLaren, Surtees and Tecno teams. He has been described by fellow racer Hans-Joachim Stuck as one of the most liked drivers of his generation. Derek Bell in August 1970 at Nurburgring on the occasion of a formula 2 race there. Derek Bell in the Wheatcroft Racing Brabham BT26 at the Nurburgring in 1970. Bell demonstrating the Ferrari 312B3 "Spazzaneve" test car at the 2008 Goodwood Festival of Speed.24 Hours of Le Mans career Participating years 1970 - 1983, 1985 - 1996 Teams Scuderia Ferrari John Wyer Automotive Ecurie Francorchamps Gulf Racing Grand Touring Cars Renault Sport Porsche System Rothmans Porsche Richard Lloyd Racing Joest Porsche Racing ADA Engineering Courage Competition Gulf Oil Racing David Price Racing Best finish 1st (1975, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987) Class wins 5 (1975, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987) He grew up on a farm and helped to run a caravan site near Pagham Harbour before being encouraged by his stepfather Bernard Hender to take up racing in 1964 with Lotus Seven. He graduated to Formula 3 in the following year in a Lotus 31 and in 1966 switched to a Lotus 41 scoring his first victory at Goodwood. In 1967 he enjoyed seven wins. He entered Formula 2 in a privateer Brabham BT23C fielded by his stepfather's Church Farm Racing team and had several promising performances, which caught Ferrari's eye and made his Grand Prix debut at Monza. In 1969 he raced at Silverstone with Ferrari and also raced the four-wheel-drive McLaren M9A in its only race in the British Grand Prix. Bell took part in the filming of Le Mans (1970) starring Steve McQueen, he and his family lived with the McQueen family during the filming, the two becoming friends. Bell had a lucky escape during the making of the film. The Ferrari 512 he was driving suddenly caught fire whilst getting into position for a take. He managed to get out of the car just before it was engulfed in flames and suffered minor burns. The car was badly damaged but later rebuilt. Bell also competed in the 1970 European Formula 2 Championship driving a March. In 1972 he got the drive in the Tecno F1 team, along with Nanni Galli. He later raced a number of times for the Surtees team, it was to be in sports car racing that he built a strong reputation as a world class and championship winning racer. He won two World Sportscar Championship titles in 1985-86, the 24 Hours of Daytona three times in 1986-87 and 1989 and Le Mans five times in 1975, 1981, 1982, 1986 and 1987, mostly teamed with Jacky Ickx in one of the Porsche 936 and Porsche 956/Porsche 962 models. The Ickx/Bell partnership is considered as one of the most famous pairings in motorsport history.