Jochen Neerpasch (born 23 March 1939) is a German former racecar driver and motorsports manager.
Career Neerpasch's racing career began in the 1960s, first on Borgward touring car, then with the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans as a first major event. Racing a Porsche 907, he won the 1968 24 Hours of Daytona. After his third-place finish in Le Mans the same year, he retired from racing.
In the 1970s, Neerpasch became a successful manager in the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft and the European Touring Car Championship. First he managed Ford, then he took the 1972 champion Hans-Joachim Stuck with him to BMW, to found the successful BMW M team and company.
In BMW, Neerpasch also led the development of the mid-engined BMW M1, which he designed to take on Porsche in Group 5 racing. While the required 400 homologation cars were being assembled, to gain racing experience for the cars, he contacted March Engineering's head Max Mosley, who was a member of Formula One Constructors' Association, and together they created a one-make racing series BMW M1 Procar Championship, that ran in 1979 and 1980. Neerpasch himself later raced in a 2008 one-time revival of the Procar Championship, driving a M1 Procar designed by Andy Warhol.
In the 1980s, Neerpasch was in charge of Sauber-Mercedes sports car racing team, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1989. He also discovered and taught talents like Michael Schumacher, Karl Wendlinger, and Heinz-Harald Frentzen.
Racing record Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 1964 Briggs S. Cunningham Chris Amon Shelby Daytona Cobra CoupeGT+3.0131DSQ(Outside assistance) 1965 J. Simone(private entrant) Jo Siffert Maserati Tipo 65P5.03DNF(Accident damage) 1966 Essex Wire Corporation Jacky Ickx Ford GT40S5.0154DNF(Engine) 1967 Porsche System Engineering Rolf Stommelen Porsche 910 kurzheckP2.0351 6th 2nd 1968 Porsche System Engineering Rolf Stommelen Porsche 908LHP3.0325 3rd 2nd
Complete 24 Hours of Daytona results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 1968 Porsche System Engineering Vic Elford Rolf Stommelen Jo Siffert Hans Herrmann Porsche 907LHP673 1st 1st
Complete 12 Hours of Sebring results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 1968 Porsche Automobile Company Vic Elford Porsche 907P3.0226 2nd 2nd
Complete Targa Florio results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 1964 Porsche System Engineering Günther Klass Porsche 356B Carrera 2000 GS/GTGT2.010 7th 3rd 1967 Porsche System Engineering Vic Elford Porsche 910P2.010 3rd 2nd 1968 Porsche System Engineering Hans Herrmann Porsche 907P3.010 4th 2nd
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