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Jan Lammers
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Johannes Antonius "Jan" Lammers (born 2 June 1956) is a Dutch racecar driver, most notable for winning the 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans world endurance race, for Silk Cut Jaguar/TWR; after four seasons in Formula One racing, from 1979 through 1982, for the F1 teams of Shadow, ATS, Ensign and Theodore, respectively. After a world-record setting ten-year hiatus, Lammers made a brief Formula One comeback, for two races, with team March in 1992. Aside from racing in these two of the highest leagues of global auto-sports, Lammers has raced in an exceptionally wide number of racing series and competitions, domestic and abroad, over four decades.
Key Information
Later in life, Lammers became a team owner as well, first setting up his own Formula Opel Lotus team, Vitaal Racing, winning the EFDA Opel Lotus Euroseries with Peter Kox in 1989, then creating the Racing for Holland outfit that raced in sportscars class in 2001–2007. Between 2005 and 2009, he was the seatholder of the Dutch A1 Grand Prix team. During his Racing for Holland days, Lammers combined racing and management duties to win the 2002 and 2003 FIA Sportscar Championship.
One of the most versatile drivers in modern motor racing history, Lammers started in touring cars, to become the youngest Dutch champion in history in 1973 while repeating the act in 1976. He also raced in the European Renault 5 Turbo Cup, taking the 1983 and 1984 European titles. As a single-seater driver, his steps towards Formula One include securing the title in the 1978 European Formula 3 Championship. He remains the only Dutch driver to have done so. At the zenith of his career in Group C sports-prototypes, Lammers lifted the crown in the 1992 Japanese Sportscar Championship.
Lammers has further raced in Formula Ford, Formula 2, IndyCar racing, International F3000, Japanese F3000, the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), BPR Global GT, FIA GT, the European Le Mans Series, the IMSA SportsCar Championship, the American Le Mans Series, Grand-Am, and the Dakar Rally.
Guest appearances include the Grand Prix Masters for retired F1 drivers, the BMW M1 Procar Series, the Dutch Supercar Challenge, the Dubai 24 Hours and Gulf 12 Hours endurance races, the VW Scirocco R-Cup and the Dutch domestic Tulpenrallye.
In recent years, Lammers was an important figurehead / ambassador for reviving the Dutch Formula One GP on the coastal dunes situated Zandvoort circuit, achieved since 2021.
Early career
[edit]Touring cars
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Born in Zandvoort, Lammers grew up washing cars at the nearby school for advanced and anti-skid driving skills training, run by Dutch touring-car legend Rob Slotemaker. Encouraged by Slotemaker, and while still under-age for a regular Dutch driving licence, the teenager nicknamed 'Jantje' ('Little John') was also hired to teach drivers on a private, closed track, how to safely recover a car from a skid situation. Having recognised Lammers' talent, Slotemaker set him up in a Simca Rallye 2 for the 7,500-9,000 guilder Group 1 production car class in the 1973 Dutch Touring Car Championship.[2] At 16 years of age, Lammers won his first-ever car race and continued to take the season title in his rookie year, becoming the youngest Dutch national auto racing champion in history.
Two more years in the Simca followed in a revised 8,000-10,000 guilder class, with Lammers taking four more wins in 1974 but narrowly missing out on a title repeat.[3] Wins elude him in 1975 but his name has already been made.[4] In 1976, he switched to an Opel Dealer Team Holland-run Opel Kadett GT/E to take his second Dutch title.[5]
Road to Formula One
[edit]Formula Ford
[edit]Dovetailing his 1976 touring-car campaign with a first season in Formula Ford, Lammers quickly realises his future is in single-seaters. Driving a Crosslé in the Benelux, German and European Championship, the touring-car boy wonder surprises everyone by grabbing pole position at his first race, winning at the Jyllandring and Mengen and shining in the soaking wet finale of the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch.[6]
Formula 3
[edit]
Stepping up with Hawke to Formula 3 in 1977 proves to be a false dawn, as the Hawke proves no match for the Marches and the Ralts. For 1978, he switches to the Racing Team Holland outfit run by Alan Docking, with fellow future Formula 1 driver Huub Rothengatter and later Indy 500 winner Arie Luyendijk as his team mates. This is an inspired move as it leads to Lammers winning the 1978 European Formula 3 Championship after a close battle with Swede Anders Olofsson, while beating highly touted rivals such as Alain Prost, Nelson Piquet and Nigel Mansell. Lammers takes wins at Zandvoort, Magny-Cours, Karlskoga and in the famous Lotteria race at Monza to lift the crown. At the time, leading British magazine Autosport predicts: "He just has to be a World Champion of the eighties."[6]
Formula 2
[edit]Having received an offer from the works March Formula 2 team, Lammers decides to jump the category to go straight into Formula One with Shadow in 1979. He will make his single Formula 2 appearance in 1980, driving a March-BMW in his home race at Zandvoort, where he retires from third place.[6]
Formula One
[edit]
Lammers spent four seasons in Formula One, racing largely uncompetitive machinery and failing to score a World Championship point in any of his 41 appearances.[7] He was considered talented, however; Lammers only narrowly missed out on the chance to join Ferrari in 1982 to replace Gilles Villeneuve, who was killed at Zolder earlier in the year. The drive went to Patrick Tambay instead.
In 1979, Lammers and fellow rookie Elio de Angelis joined Shadow, but the team led by American Don Nichols was close to shutting down; the pair failed to make an impact with a poor car, with de Angelis scoring the team's only points that year, coming in fourth place at Watkins Glen. Lammers' best result was a ninth place in the Canadian GP. Both were invited by Colin Chapman to test for Lotus, with De Angelis getting the job for 1980; Lammers was unwilling to wait for Chapman's decision. Instead, he decided to sign for the German-owned ATS team.
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The underfunded outfit handed Lammers the old D3 car while team leader Marc Surer debuted with the new D4, but when Surer broke his legs in an accident, Lammers took the D4. He immediately qualified fourth on the grid at Long Beach but the car broke on the opening lap of the race.[8] Other notable ATS performances included battling Jody Scheckter's Ferrari at Zolder, and retiring from a points-scoring position at Jarama. When Surer made a return to ATS, Lammers moved to Ensign. Meanwhile, his former teammate De Angelis had a fine season at Lotus while Lammers failed to qualify the cumbersome Ensign on several occasions.
For 1981, Lammers was invited for a test to become Nelson Piquet's teammate at Brabham, but team principal Bernie Ecclestone chose to go with Mexican pay driver Hector Rebaque.[6] Instead, Lammers rejoined ATS and performed well in the controversial non-championship South African GP at Kyalami; he fought De Angelis for second place until being hit by brake problems. When Swede Slim Borgudd arrived with healthy funding from pop band ABBA, Lammers was made to gave up his seat.
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In 1982, Lammers switched to Theodore but the team was largely underfunded. At Monaco, Lammers' TY02 had to stay on nude rims for a day because the team did not have any tyres. Still seen as a natural talent, he was asked by Renault to replace the injured Prost at Detroit, only for the championship leader to recover in time. Lammers stepped back into the Theodore, but before the start of the first session, he was approached by Ferrari to replace Gilles Villeneuve from Zandvoort on. In a twist of fate, the Theodore's throttle stuck during the session, causing Lammers to hit the wall and break his thumb. As a result, Patrick Tambay signed the Ferrari contract.[6] At Zandvoort, instead of driving the Ferrari, Lammers took part in his last Grand Prix before Tommy Byrne took over the seat.
In late 1985, Lammers was given a test by Toleman at Estoril but with the team unable to get a tyre contract for 1986, plans for a Formula One return fell through. In 1989, another Formula One opportunity came to nothing when Lammers was asked by Ken Tyrrell to replace Michele Alboreto, but the Dutchman decided to stick with TWR Jaguar, and Tyrrell signed Jean Alesi instead.[6]
Then in 1992, Lammers made a surprise Formula One comeback when he stepped in at March for the final two races of the season – a full ten years after his initial final Grand Prix, a record career gap in Formula One. Replacing Karl Wendlinger, Lammers lapped sixth fastest in wet free practice at Suzuka, before retiring from the race with a broken gearbox. At Adelaide, he finished 12th. Looking set to continue with March in 1993, his Formula One ambitions received a blow when the team was denied an engine deal by Ilmor unless they paid their bills. This left Lammers as a spectator at Kyalami, after which the team folded.[9]
Another Formula One option hit the rocks when Lammers was signed by the DAMS F3000 team for its debut season in 1996, having already tested their GD-01 car all through 1995. The project remained stillborn when DAMS fails to gather sufficient funding.[6]
Sportscars
[edit]Fed up with driving inferior machines at the back of the Formula One grid, Lammers decides to switch to sportscar racing where he becomes a mainstay for the next three decades, both as a driver and a team owner.[10] His time in Group C includes seasons with Richard Lloyd Racing's private Porsche 956, the works Jaguar team and the works Toyota team, while in the days of LMP900 and LMP1, Lammers runs his own Racing for Holland team with the Japanese Dome S101 chassis. His final call at Le Mans comes in 2017 and 2018 when he races the Racing Team Nederland Dallara in LMP2, sharing with Rubens Barrichello and Jumbo Supermarkets CEO and team owner Frits van Eerd.[11]
Prototypes
[edit]Having turned his back on Formula One, Lammers started his World Sportscar Championship career in 1983 by joining top Porsche privateer Richard Lloyd Racing, taking several podium finishes with Thierry Boutsen, Keke Rosberg and Jonathan Palmer, while finishing sixth on his Le Mans debut. In 1984, he was paired with Palmer, and the Canon-liveried 956 takes victory over the works cars at Brands Hatch. The two add podiums at Monza, the Nürburgring, Sandown Park and Imola, and retire from Le Mans in a winning position.
A mid-season switch sees Lammers snapped up by Tom Walkinshaw at TWR Jaguar, and on his debut for the team at a very hot Shah Alam in Malaysia he brings home the Jag in second place. Meanwhile, he makes his IMSA GTP debut racing a March-Buick at Miami with Roberto Guerrero. In the 1986 Daytona 24 Hours, driving the BF Goodrich Porsche 962, he is heading for victory when his brakes fail, leading to a sizeable crash that he escapes from. Later in the season, when his promising IndyCar adventure collapses with the disappointing Eagle, Walkinshaw is quick to lure Lammers back to TWR. The Dutchman is immediately competitive with second at Spa and third at Jerez, before racing for Nissan at Watkins Glen in IMSA GTP.
In 1987, Lammers joins TWR Jaguar – now sponsored by Silk Cut – as a proper works driver, and is teamed with Grand Prix veteran John Watson. They win at Jarama, Monza and Fuji and take podiums at Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Spa. At Le Mans, third driver Win Percy crashes their car out of the race. Team orders mean that they finish second in the championship.
1988 would become Lammers' most successful season in Group C racing. Now paired with ex-Lotus Formula One driver Johnny Dumfries, the two finish second at Spa and third at Brno, before being joined by Andy Wallace at the Le Mans 24 Hours. Lammers drove for 13 hours to be the anchor in a popular win for TWR Jaguar, the first for the marque since 1957. For this, he is congratulated by Queen Elizabeth II and rewarded with the title of Honorary Member of the BRDC. In IMSA, Lammers is part of the crew that wins the Daytona 24 Hours, after he was moved over from his retired car to join Martin Brundle, Raul Boesel and John Nielsen in the lead Jaguar entry, winning the race. With regular teammate Davy Jones, Lammers wins at Del Mar and ended up on the podium at West Palm Beach, Lime Rock, Mid-Ohio and Sears Point.[12]
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In 1989, the Jaguars were outclassed by the resurgent Mercedes effort, with Lammers only managing to score a second place at Jarama with Patrick Tambay. In the US, Lammers is more successful, winning in Portland and Del Mar, taking second in the Daytona 24 Hours, Lime Rock, Mid-Ohio and Road America and third at Sears Point and Topeka. The following year, Lammers wins the Daytona 24 Hours again, this time paired with Andy Wallace and Davy Jones, before taking third in the Sebring 12 Hours. In the WSC, however, Jaguar's new turbo engine proves fast but unreliable, and together with Wallace, Lammers only picked up a pair of second places. Switching to the proven atmospheric V12 for Le Mans, Jaguar takes the double, but Lammers is in the second Jaguar across the line, having to recover from an earlier crash by teammate Franz Konrad.
Having opted for a switch to Toyota, Lammers decides to wait in the wings for the new programme to come alive in 1992. In the World Championship, mated with Geoff Lees, Lammers takes two podium finishes, second at Suzuka and third at Magny-Cours. In the Japanese Sports-Prototype Championship, however, two wins at Fuji and Mine add up to another title for the Dutchman. One more Toyota appearance followed in 1993, finishing sixth for the Japanese constructor in the Le Mans 24 Hours.
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In 1995, Lammers returns to IMSA to compete at Daytona and Sebring in the Auto Toy Store Spice-Chevrolet SE90. With Andy Wallace, he wins the Sebring 12 Hours on the road but a timekeeping error declares the Fermín Velez/Andy Evans/Eric van de Poele Ferrari 333SP as the winner, while as a guest driver, Lammers joins Derek Warwick and Mario Andretti in a Courage-Porsche C36 to finish sixth in the 1996 Le Mans 24 Hours.
In 1999 and 2000, Lammers returns to prototype racing, as Konrad Motorsport moves up to the LMP class with a Ford-engined Lola B98/10, followed by a B2K/10, while in the US he joins J&P Motorsports to race a Panoz LMP-1 Roadster-S. In the meantime, he progresses with setting up his own team for 2001. At Konrad, teaming up with countrymen Tom Coronel and Peter Kox serves as a prequel to that.
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Lammers embarks on a new era of sportscar success in 2001 when he rekindles his ties with Japanese manufacturer Dome to race their Judd-engined S101, entering it in the new FIA Sportscar Championship and the Le Mans 24 Hours with young Dutch-born but Belgian-licensed Val Hillebrand as his teammate. For Le Mans, the Dutchman offers small segments of bodywork to small, private sponsors, giving the car the look of a driving chequered flag. A contribution of 2200 euros is enough to become a Racing for Holland sponsor. Lammers and Hillebrand dominate the final round of the championship before going into the new season as clear favourites, while placing themselves amongst the Audis at Le Mans. With three wins and five podiums, Lammers and Hillebrand won the 2002 title in the leading SR1 class, before doubling up in 2003, again with three wins and five podiums. Meanwhile in 2002, Lammers races the Crawford SSC2K at Daytona and joins Champion for Sebring to take third in their Audi R8.
When the FIA Sportscar Championship collapses after 2003, the Dome continues at Le Mans, where Lammers took seventh in 2004 along with Elton Julian and countryman John Bosch, the trio copying the result in 2005. In the meantime, the Dutchman guested at Doran-Lista to take fourth in the 2004 Daytona 24 Hours and with Dyson Racing at Sebring and the Petit Le Mans, finishing third in the latter. In the 2005 Daytona 24 Hours, Lammers stepped into the Howard-Boss Motorsports Crawford DP03 to claim another US podium with third. Rejoining them for 2006, their second cooperation gained no results.
With the start of the Le Mans Series in 2005, Racing for Holland signs up for assorted rounds in 2005, 2006 and 2007, but by now the Dome is outclassed by the more recent LMP1 designs. After he shuts down the team while continuing to pay off its debts well into the next decade, Lammers returns as a gun for hire in 2008. In an LMP2 season dominated by Jos Verstappen and the Van Merksteijn Porsche RS Spyder, Lammers teams up with the Swiss Horag-Lista team's RS Spyder to finish the year fourth in class, along with teammate Didier Theys. At Le Mans in 2008, he joins Greg Pickett and Klaus Graf in the Charouz Racing System Lola-Judd B07/17, but the car fails to finish.
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Having gone into semi-retirement from 2010, Lammers hooked up with Hope Racing to race the experimental SwissHyTech Hybrid-engined ORECA 01, and did one 2016 Le Mans Cup round in the Racing Team Holland Ligier-Nissan JSP3, but waited until 2017 for his final foray in top-level prototype racing, signing up for a three-year spell with Racing Team Nederland, the team funded by Dutch supermarket mogul Frits van Eerd. Racing their Dallara-Gibson P217 in the LMP2 class of the European Le Mans Series, Lammers and Van Eerd claimed a seventh and eighth as their best results in a full 2017 ELMS season. In 2018 and 2019, Lammers acts as third driver to Van Eerd and Giedo van der Garde at Le Mans before closing the curtain on his active career.[13]
GTs
[edit]On the back of the failed DAMS Formula One project, Lammers joins the Lotus Racing outfit for BPR Global GT in 1996. The GTI team is headed by countryman Toine Hezemans along with Ian Foley and George Howard-Chappell and runs a pair of Lotus Esprit V8s in the GT1 category. Teamed with Alex Portman, Perry McCarthy, Chris Goodwin, Andy Wallace, Fabien Giroix and Mike Hezemans, he claims pole at the Nürburgring and takes second at Silverstone, but apart from that the car proves very unreliable. In 1997, its Lotus Elise GT1 successor is outclassed by McLaren-BMW and Mercedes in the inaugural FIA GT Championship. After the Lotus takeover by Proton, the GT1 programme is quickly canned.
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In 1998, Lammers races the Bitter GT1 for Team Hezemans before switching to GT2 with Roock Racing and Konrad Motorsport, while helping to develop Nissan's new R390 GT1 car. At Le Mans, he joins Erik Comas and Andrea Montermini to finish sixth, as the Nissans get beaten by Porsche's 911 GT1. Late in the season, Lammers returns to Konrad to share a 911 GT2 with Franz Konrad in the Petit Le Mans, followed by a win at Laguna Seca.
Following a five-year GT break, the Dutchman teams up with Prodrive to drive their Ferrari 550 Maranello in the 2003 Petit Le Mans, finishing fourth in the GTS class, and then in 2008, having closed down his own team, Lammers makes a few guest appearances in GT racing, driving the Spa 24 Hours in the Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT for the IPB-Spartak team. Meanwhile, he does a full season of ADAC GT sharing Reiter Engineering's Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 with countryman Marius Ritskes, with three second places as his best results. Continuing in 2009 under the Racing Team Holland banner (not to be confused with Racing for Holland), the duo fails to score any more points. A one-off at Spa in the team's GT4 Ford Mustang FR500C fails to materialise.
Another single GT4 appearance takes place in 2016 with a Ginetta G55 GT4 drive in the Paul Ricard 24 Hours for Team Africa Le Mans. His final two GT races come at his farewell weekend at Le Mans in 2019, sharing a Bentley Continental GT3 with Greg Mills for the same Team Africa Le Mans.[14]
Other championships
[edit]IndyCar
[edit]In 1985, Lammers grabs the opportunity to make his IndyCar debut, taking a drive with the small AMI Racing team. His strong performance in their March-Cosworth 85C allows him to be snapped up by the Forsythe-Green team, racing their Lola-Cosworth T800 and T900 in the final three races of the season, The Dutchman immediately scores points for them with fifth at Laguna Seca. At Miami, Lammers challenges Danny Sullivan for victory before making a mistake towards the end. This leads to Dan Gurney's All-American Racers signing Lammers as their lead driver for the 1986 season, but that year's Eagle GC86 proves uncompetitive and Gurney withdraws the team ahead of the Indianapolis 500. Taking over the Machinists Union GC86 for three races later in the season leads to an eighth at Laguna Seca and ninth at Miami.[6]
F3000
[edit]1986 is a season that proves Lammers' ultimate versatility, as he races in IndyCars, the WSC and Formula 3 while also taking up on an offer from Eddie Jordan Racing to replace Russell Spence in the team's March-Cosworth 86B. His single appearance at the Le Mans-Bugatti circuit results in an 11th-place finish.
In 1991, while waiting for Toyota's new sportscar programme to come on song, Lammers is in Japan to help Dome with the development of the Mugen-engined F102, their new F3000 car. Rewarded with a one-off race outing at Suzuka, he takes third in his single appearance in the All-Nippon F3000 Championship.
More F3000 follows in 1993 after his Formula One deal with March fails to materialise. Accepting an offer to join the Italian Il Barone Rampante team to follow in the footsteps of Rubens Barrichello, Lammers takes fourth at Enna as his best result before the team is forced to close shop before the end of the season.
Two years later, Lammers is back in F3000 as he joins the Vortex team owned by Dutch transport magnate Henny Vollenberg. He wins the F3000 South African GP at Kyalami, beating Kenny Bräck and teammate Tarso Marques, and does three more European rounds before quitting the team when key staff decide to leave.[6]
Macau GP
[edit]Making a surprise return to Formula 3, Lammers joins the Macau GP grid in 1985, racing a Ralt-Volkswagen RT30 for Intersport Racing. He embarrasses many of the regulars by qualifying and finishing third. In 1986, he repeats the trick with Murray Taylor Racing's similar Ralt, again finishing third. Returning to Intersport in 1987, Lammers goes one better to take second place in their Ralt-Toyota RT31, storming up from 11th on the grid, while his final Macau appearance comes in 1988, again with Intersport. This time, he hauls his Ralt-Toyota RT32 up to sixth from 17th on the grid.[6]
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BTCC
[edit]After his less successful 1993 season, Lammers makes a surprise move to join the touring car trail during the BTCC's burgeoning Super Touring era. Teaming with his old friends from TWR, he becomes teammate to Rickard Rydell in a pair of Volvo 850 SE cars. With its estate shape, the 850 SE is a crowd puller but it lacks ultimate pace and Lammers finishes no higher than fifth.[6]
One-make series
[edit]BMW Procar
[edit]In 1980, during his time at ATS and Ensign, Lammers takes part in the second season of the BMW M1 Procar Series that is run on Grand Prix weekends, with several Grand Prix drivers such as Jones, Lauda, Pironi and Piquet being part of the show. Lammers wins the opening race at Donington Park, finishes second at Avus and the Norisring, starts from pole position at Monaco and is the title favourite until Hans-Joachim Stuck drives him off the track at Imola.[6]
Renault 5 Turbo Cup
[edit]In his final Formula One season, Lammers becomes a regular in the European Renault 5 Turbo Cup, representing Renault Netherlands and taking home one win. He continues in the series in 1983 to take four wins and the championship, and repeats the trick in even more dominant fashion in 1984, lifting eight victories on his way to the title.[6]
Grand Prix Masters
[edit]In 2005 and 2006, the Grand Prix Masters are set up as a one-make motor racing series featuring retired Formula One drivers. Lammers takes part in the sole event of 2005, finishing ninth at Kyalami, and also races in both 2006 events, taking seventh at Losail and retiring from the race at Silverstone.[15]
VW Scirocco R-Cup
[edit]Having already retired as a full-time professional driver, Lammers guests in four races across three seasons (2010, 2011 and 2013) of the VW Scirocco R-Cup, with ninth in the 2013 Hockenheim round as his best result.[15]
Other appearances
[edit]Rallies
[edit]
As further proof of his versatility, Lammers adds the Dutch Tulpenrallye to his portfolio in 1979, driving for the Opel Dealer Team.[6] Over two decades later, he is invited to join Frits van Eerd's new Dakar Rally enterprise in 2010. In the first of five Dakar outings in the Ginaf X2222 4x4 truck, Lammers fails to finish, before returning in the Ginaf works team in 2011, finishing 19th, and three more years with his own Ginaf-supported team, with 25th place in 2013 as his best result. In 2012, Lammers revives the chequered Racing for Holland livery for a sponsorship concept similar to the one he explored in the previous decade.[15]
Team principal
[edit]Next to his career as a professional racing driver, Lammers has acted as the team principal of his own team on three very different occasions.
Vitaal Racing
[edit]Between 1989 and 1991, Lammers runs his Opel Dealerteam Holland-supported Vitaal Racing outfit in Formula Opel Lotus. In his first year, he joins forces with Marlboro Challenge winner Peter Kox, and together they win the EFDA Opel Lotus Euroseries as well as the Benelux series. In 1990, Lammers takes on another Marlboro Challenge winner, as Marcel Albers is promoted from Formula Ford, resulting in sixth in the final European standings.[6]
Racing for Holland
[edit]Setting up Racing for Holland at the start of the 21st century proves to be the birth of Lammers' final period of sportscar success at the highest level. With their Dome-Judd S101, Racing for Holland takes two consecutive titles in the FIA Sportscar Championship in 2002 and 2003 and continues with the Dome until 2007. Lammers later revives the Racing for Holland moniker – and a similar sponsorship scheme – for three of his Dakar outings in the following decade.
A1GP
[edit]Not known as Racing for Holland as such, the team is the seatholder for the Netherlands in the A1 Grand Prix series that runs between 2005 and 2009. Lammers starts off with Jos Verstappen as his driver, who takes victory at Durban in the opening 2005–06 season, while Jeroen Bleekemolen acts as the team's reserve driver. Bleekemolen steps up into the leading role for in 2006–07, winning the Beijing street race, as Renger van der Zande takes his place as a backup driver, himself taking part in three races. Bleekemolen continues in 2007–08, now supported by Arie Luyendyk Jr. Ditching its cheap Avon-shod Lola-Zytek chassis for pukka Michelin-tyred Ferrari cars, the A1GP organisation hurry into bankruptcy in a final 2008–09 season in which Robert Doornbos and Jeroen Bleekemolen take turns at the wheel, each winning a sprint race on their way to fourth for the Netherlands in the final standings.
New responsibilities
[edit]Dutch GP
[edit]After his decision to go into full retirement after the 2019 season, Lammers quickly assumes another duty, as he steps in to become sporting director of the organisation founded to revive the Dutch GP at Zandvoort. Starting in 2020, Lammers is more than just an ambassador for the event, and after a Covid-induced postponement in 2020, the Dutch dream is finally realised in 2021, when the first Dutch GP since 1985 is staged.[16]
Personal life
[edit]Lammers has two children from his marriage with Fardous Hashem.
Currently, Lammers is in a relationship since 2001 with Mariska Hoyinck. Together they have a son, René.
Lammers' youngest son René Lammers is currently competing in single seaters. The 16-year-old is a frontrunner in the 2025 F4 Spanish Championship, having both won the Karting European Championship and finished runner-up in the Karting World Championship in the OK Category in 2023.
Racing record
[edit]Complete Formula One World Championship results
[edit](key)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | WDC | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Samson Shadow Racing | Shadow DN9 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ARG Ret |
BRA 14 |
RSA Ret |
USW Ret |
ESP 12 |
BEL 10 |
MON DNQ |
FRA 18 |
GBR 11 |
GER 10 |
AUT Ret |
NED Ret |
ITA DNQ |
CAN 9 |
USA DNQ |
NC | 0 | |
| 1980 | Team ATS | ATS D3 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | ARG DNQ |
BRA DNQ |
RSA DNQ |
NC | 0 | |||||||||||||
| ATS D4 | USW Ret |
BEL 12 |
MON NC |
||||||||||||||||||
| Unipart Racing Team | Ensign N180 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | FRA DNQ |
GBR DNQ |
GER 14 |
AUT DNQ |
NED DNQ |
ITA DNQ |
CAN 12 |
USA Ret |
|||||||||||
| 1981 | Team ATS | ATS D4 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | USW Ret |
BRA DNQ |
ARG 12 |
SMR DNQ |
BEL | MON | ESP | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | NED | ITA | CAN | CPL | NC | 0 | |
| 1982 | Theodore Racing Team | Theodore TY02 | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 | RSA | BRA | USW | SMR | BEL DNQ |
MON DNQ |
DET DNQ |
CAN | NED Ret |
GBR DNQ |
FRA DNQ |
GER | AUT | SUI | ITA | CPL | NC | 0 |
| 1992 | March F1 | March CG911 | Ilmor 2175A 3.5 V10 | RSA | MEX | BRA | ESP | SMR | MON | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | POR | JPN Ret |
AUS 12 |
NC | 0 |
Complete World Sportscar Championship results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
- Footnotes
- ^ No drivers' Championship.
24 Hours of Le Mans results
[edit]
24 Hours of Daytona
[edit](key)
PPG Indycar Series
[edit](key)
| Year | Team | No. | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Pos. | Pts | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | AMI Racing | 43 | March 85C | Ford Cosworth DFX | LBH | INDY | MIL | POR 16 |
MEA 12 |
CLE DNS |
MCH | ROA | POC | MOH | SAN | MCH | 26th | 11 | [21] | |||||
| Forsythe Racing | 33 | Lola T900 | LAG 5 |
PHX 20 |
MIA 13 |
|||||||||||||||||||
| 1986 | Curb-Agajanian Racing | 98 | Eagle 86GC | Ford Cosworth DFX | PHX 9 |
LBH 14 |
INDY DNQ |
MIL | POR | MEA | CLE | TOR | MCH | POC | MOH | SAN | MCH | ROA | 22nd | 13 | [22] | |||
| Machinists Union Racing | 59 | LAG 8 |
PHX 23 |
MIA 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Indianapolis 500
[edit]| Year | Chassis | Engine | Start | Finish | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Eagle | Ford-Cosworth | DNQ | Curb-Agajanian Racing | |
Source:[18]
| |||||
Complete European Formula Two Championship results
[edit](key)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Pos. | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | March Racing Ltd | March 802 | BMW | THR | HOC | NÜR | VAL | PAU | SIL | ZOL | MUG | ZAN Ret |
PER | MIS | HOC | NC | 0 |
Source:[18]
| |||||||||||||||||
Complete International Formula 3000 results
[edit](key)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Pos. | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Jordan Racing | March 86B | Cosworth | SIL | VAL | PAU | SPA | IMO | MUG | PER | ÖST | BIR | BUG 11 |
JAR | NC | 0 |
| 1993 | Il Barone Rampante | Reynard 93D | Cosworth | DON 9 |
SIL 9 |
PAU 10 |
PER 4 |
HOC 7 |
NÜR Ret |
SPA | MAG | NOG | 15th | 3 | ||
| 1995 | Vortex Motorsport | Reynard 95D | Cosworth | SIL 11 |
CAT 10 |
PAU 10 |
PER | HOC | SPA | EST | MAG | NC | 0 | |||
Complete Japanese Formula 3000 Championship results
[edit](key)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | DC | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Dome | March 87B | Cosworth | SUZ 4 |
FUJ 12 |
MIN | SUZ 11 |
SUZ 7 |
SUG | 8th | 34 | |||||
| Cosworth-Yamaha | FUJ 1 |
SUZ | SUZ Ret |
|||||||||||||
| 1991 | Team LeMans | Dome F102 | Mugen | SUZ 3 |
AUT 9 |
FUJ 5 |
MIN Ret |
SUZ 10 |
SUG Ret |
FUJ 6 |
SUZ Ret |
FUJ C |
SUZ 7 |
FUJ Ret |
11th | 7 |
Source:[17]
| ||||||||||||||||
Complete British Touring Car Championship results
[edit](key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | DC | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Volvo 850 Racing | Volvo 850 SE/GLT | THR 1 Ret |
BRH 1 12 |
BRH 2 16 |
SNE 1 11 |
SIL 1 Ret |
SIL 2 16 |
OUL 1 13 |
DON 1 14 |
DON 2 15 |
BRH 1 7 |
BRH 2 16 |
SIL 1 12 |
KNO 1 NC |
KNO 2 12 |
OUL 1 7 |
BRH 1 9 |
BRH 2 5 |
SIL 1 16 |
SIL 2 17 |
DON 1 13 |
DON 2 16 |
15th | 18 |
Complete FIA GT Championship results
[edit](key)
| Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Pos. | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | GT1 Lotus Racing | Lotus Elise GT1 | GT1 | HOC Ret |
SIL Ret |
HEL | NÜR 11 |
SPA Ret |
A1R Ret |
SUZ | DON 17 |
MUG 11 |
SEB 11 |
LAG 9 |
NC | 0 |
| 1998 | Team Hezemans | Bitter GT1 | GT1 | OSC | SIL Ret |
HOC DNS |
DIJ | HUN | NC | 0 | ||||||
| Roock Racing | Porsche 911 GT2 | GT2 | SUZ 7 |
DON | A1R | NC | 0 | |||||||||
| Konrad Motorsport | HOM Ret |
LAG Ret |
||||||||||||||
| 2008 | IPB Spartak Racing | Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT | GT1 | SIL | MNZ | ADR | OSC | SPA 8 |
BUC | BUC | BRN | NOG | ZOL | SAN | 31st | 8 |
Complete European Le Mans Series results
[edit](key)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Pos. | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Racing for Holland | LMP1 | Dome S101 | Judd GV4 4.0 V10 | SPA | MNZ 7 |
SIL Ret |
NÜR 8 |
IST | 30th | 3 | |
| 2006 | Racing for Holland | LMP1 | Dome S101Hb | Mugen MF408S 4.0 V8 | IST Ret |
SPA | 23rd | 6 | ||||
| Judd GV5 5.0 V10 | NÜR 3 |
DON | JAR | |||||||||
| 2007 | Racing for Holland | LMP1 | Dome S101.5 | Judd GV5.5 S2 5.5 V10 | MNZ 8 |
VAL Ret |
NÜR 7 |
SPA | SIL | INT | 33rd | 3 |
| 2008 | Horag Racing | LMP2 | Porsche RS Spyder Evo | Porsche MR6 3.4 V8 | CAT 6 |
MNZ 3 |
SPA 2 |
NÜR 12 |
SIL 2 |
5th | 25 | |
| 2017 | Racing Team Nederland | LMP2 | Dallara P217 | Gibson GK428 4.2 V8 | SIL 11 |
MNZ 10 |
RBR 7 |
LEC 12 |
SPA 11 |
ALG 8 |
17th | 12.5 |
Complete Grand Prix Masters results
[edit](key) Races in bold indicate pole position, races in italics indicate fastest lap.
| Year | Team | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Team LG | Delta Motorsport GPM | Nicholson McLaren 3.5 V8 | RSA 9 |
||||
| 2006 | Team LG | Delta Motorsport GPM | Nicholson McLaren 3.5 V8 | QAT 7 |
ITA C |
GBR Ret |
MAL C |
RSA C |
Source:[18]
| ||||||||
Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results
[edit](key)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Racing Team Nederland | LMP2 | Dallara P217 | Gibson GK428 4.2 V8 | SPA 7 |
LMS 5 |
SIL | FUJ | SHA | SEB | SPA | LMS | 14th | 21 |
Books
[edit]- Klis, Hans van der (2007, 3rd ed.), Dwars door de Tarzanbocht: de dertien Nederlandse Formule 1-coureurs. Amsterdam, pp. 98–115, ISBN 9789046700495.
- Koense, Mark (2020). Jan Lammers, De biografie van een leven met 300 km/h. Amgini Autosport Store, 2020, no ISBN.
References
[edit]- ^ Goodwin, Graham (13 June 2017). "Jan Lammers On The Past Present & The Future". Dailysportscar. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
- ^ De Jong, Frank. "Nederlands Toerwagen Kampioenschap - 1973". touringcarracing.net. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ De Jong, Frank. "Nederlands Toerwagen Kampioenschap - 1974". touringcarracing.net. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ De Jong, Frank. "Nederlands Toerwagen Kampioenschap - 1975". touringcarracing.net. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ De Jong, Frank. "Nederlands Toerwagen Kampioenschap - 1976". touringcarracing.net. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o De Roos, Arjan; Diepraam, Mattijs. "8W - Who? - Jan Lammers". 8w.forix.com. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ "Jan Lammers Career History | FIA Results and Statistics". fiaresultsandstatistics.motorsportstats.com. Archived from the original on 27 November 2022. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ Koense, Mark. "De sensatie van Long Beach". www.rtlgp-magazine.nl. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ "Jan Lammers | | The "forgotten" drivers of F1". www.f1forgottendrivers.com. 26 September 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ "Feature: 10 drivers who did better in sportscars after leaving F1". Motorsport Week. 1 April 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ "Group C's Top 10 Drivers – Part 1". www.goodwood.com. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ "Sportscar Heroes: Jan Lammers, Part 1 | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. 2 June 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ "Sportscar Heroes: Jan Lammers, Part 2 | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. 3 June 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ "Jan Lammers". RacingSportscars.com.
- ^ a b c "Jan Lammers | Racing career profile | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ "Wie is Jan Lammers? | NederlandGP". www.nederlandgp.nl. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Jan Lammers Results". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Jan Lammers". Motor Sport. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Complete Archive of Jan Lammers". Racing Sports Cars. pp. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ "Jan Lammers". Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ "Jan Lammers – 1985 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ^ "Jan Lammers – 1986 CART Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ^ "Jan Lammers race results". TouringCars.net. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Jan Lammers at Wikimedia Commons- Official website
- Jan Lammers on Twitter
- Jan Lammers as a speaker
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
Jan Lammers
View on GrokipediaEarly Career
Touring Cars
Jan Lammers was born on June 2, 1956, in Zandvoort, Netherlands, a town adjacent to the famed Zandvoort Circuit, where the constant roar of racing engines from his childhood home sparked his early passion for motorsport.[3] By his early teens, Lammers was working part-time at the anti-skid driving school run by Dutch racing veteran Rob Slotemaker, gaining hands-on experience with cars and track driving that honed his skills before he even held a road license.[8] This proximity to racing and mentorship under Slotemaker laid the foundation for Lammers' professional entry into competition at age 16.[9] Lammers' touring car career began in 1973 when, at just 16, he debuted in the Dutch Touring Car Championship's Group 1 production car class (budget limit 7,500-9,000 guilders) driving a Simca Rallye 2 for Slotemaker's Antislipscholen team.[10] Remarkably, he secured victory in his very first race during the season-opening Heropeningsraces at Zandvoort, leading from the front in the small displacement class despite his inexperience. Lammers followed this with class wins at the Pinkster Races and the Zandvoort Trophy, plus another at the Trophy of the Dunes, accumulating four triumphs overall to clinch the national title and become the youngest Dutch racing champion in history.[11] His success drew scrutiny, including protests over car compliance, but it established him as a prodigy in the tightly contested series. In 1974, Lammers continued with Slotemaker's team in the Simca, notching four class victories across the season but falling short of defending his title due to mechanical failure in the decisive final round at Zandvoort.[11] The 1975 campaign proved frustrating, marked by misfortune, disqualifications, and inconsistent results that tempered his momentum in touring cars.[11] Bouncing back in 1976, Lammers switched to the more competitive Opel Kadett GT/E entered by the Opel Dealer Team Holland, a factory-backed effort that elevated his machinery.[11] He claimed three round wins, including a dominant performance in the season finale at Zandvoort where he lapped the field, securing his second Dutch Touring Car Championship and demonstrating his adaptability to higher-powered saloons. Other strong showings, such as second place at the Pinkster Races, underscored his consistency against established rivals like Alfa Romeo drivers. These back-to-back national titles in touring cars provided Lammers with crucial experience in wheel-to-wheel combat and racecraft, but he was driven to seek greater challenges in international single-seater racing, where higher speeds and global prestige beckoned, prompting his shift to Formula Ford that same year.[11]Formula Ford and Formula 3
Lammers began his single-seater career in Formula Ford 1600 in 1976, making an immediate impact by securing pole position in his debut race and achieving several victories in the Dutch national series. Driving a Crosslé chassis, he demonstrated exceptional talent in both wet and dry conditions, highlighted by a strong performance at the Formula Ford Festival finale at Brands Hatch, where he excelled in rainy weather. These successes, including wins at circuits like Jyllandring and Mengen, established a solid foundation for his progression to higher formulas.[8][11] In 1977, Lammers transitioned to European Formula 3, joining the Hawke factory team with a Hawke chassis, though the car's lack of competitiveness limited his results to a notable third-place finish at Zolder in the German F3 Championship. The following year, 1978, marked a breakthrough as he switched to Racing Team Holland, campaigning a Ralt RT1 chassis powered by a Toyota 2T-G Novamotor engine. Lammers' lightweight frame—around 65 kg—provided a significant advantage in the tightly contested field, allowing superior handling and acceleration compared to heavier rivals. He clinched the European Formula 3 Championship with 71 points, tying on tally with Sweden's Anders Olofsson but prevailing on countback due to more second-place finishes (five versus four).[12][13][8] Lammers secured four championship victories in 1978—at Zandvoort (the season opener), Magny-Cours, Karlskoga, and the prestigious Lotteria di Monza event—while adding consistent podiums, including runner-up spots at Dijon, the Nürburgring, Kassel-Calden, and Knutstorp. His intense rivalry with Olofsson defined the season, with the pair trading wins and often finishing within seconds of each other, showcasing the Ralt's balanced chassis and reliable power delivery as key to Lammers' edge in wheel-to-wheel battles. A highlight was the Monaco Grand Prix F3 support race, where Lammers finished fifth after navigating the demanding street circuit without incident, further proving his adaptability against international talents like Teo Fabi and Patrick Gaillard. This title, the first for a Dutch driver in European F3, propelled him toward Formula 1 opportunities.[8][12][14]Path to Formula One
Formula 2
Following his success in the 1978 European Formula 3 Championship, Jan Lammers was presented with an opportunity to compete in the European Formula 2 series, but he opted to bypass a full season in favor of a Formula One debut with the Shadow team in 1979. This decision highlighted the rapid progression enabled by his junior formula achievements, though it meant a limited presence in Formula 2.[8] Lammers' sole Formula 2 outing came in 1980 at his home circuit of Zandvoort, driving the March 802-BMW for March Racing Ltd during the eighth round of the European Championship. Starting from a competitive position, he ran as high as third before retiring on lap 27 due to brake failure, missing out on a podium finish in a race won by Richard Dallest.[15] This performance demonstrated his potential against established talents like Marc Surer, who had dominated the 1979 Formula 2 season by securing the championship title with the same March-BMW combination.[8] The brevity of Lammers' Formula 2 involvement stemmed from ongoing funding constraints that plagued his early professional career, limiting him to sporadic appearances rather than a sustained campaign. Despite these challenges, his pace in the Zandvoort race underscored his adaptability to the category's demands, reinforcing the promise shown in testing and lower formulas that had already propelled him into Formula One circles.[8]Initial Formula One Entry
Jan Lammers secured his first Formula One contract with the Shadow team for the 1979 season, facilitated by sponsorship from the Dutch tobacco company Samson and his 1978 European Formula 3 title.[8] Prior to the season, Lammers conducted testing with the Shadow DN9 at Silverstone in 1978, where he impressed team manager Jackie Oliver with his pace despite the car's developmental issues.[8] Lammers' home Grand Prix at Zandvoort marked a significant moment in his initial F1 foray, as he qualified the DN9 in 23rd position with a lap time of 1:21.084, over five seconds off pole.[16] Although he started the race from that grid slot, mechanical failure struck early; Lammers retired after just 12 laps due to gearbox problems, highlighting the unreliability of the underfunded Shadow machine. Early team dynamics at Shadow were challenging for the young Dutch driver, who shared the garage with fellow rookie Elio de Angelis amid limited resources and an unproven DN9 chassis that lacked sufficient testing and development.[8] The team struggled with inferior Goodyear tires and internal politics, as Shadow's American ownership prioritized cost-cutting over competitiveness, leaving Lammers to adapt to the intense speeds and strategic intricacies of F1 without the support of a top outfit.[8] Following the 1979 season, Lammers transitioned to the ATS team for 1980, seeking better opportunities after Shadow's decline rendered further progress unlikely.[8] This move reflected his personal hurdles in navigating F1's political landscape, where securing a seat often depended as much on sponsorship and connections as on raw talent.[8]Formula One Career
1979–1982 Seasons
Lammers entered Formula One full-time in 1979 with the Shadow team, driving the DN9 chassis powered by a Cosworth DFV engine. He made 12 starts that season, achieving his career-best result of ninth place at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal after a steady run from 21st on the grid. Other notable finishes included tenth places at the Belgian and German Grands Prix, though retirements plagued his campaign, with failures due to transmission issues in Argentina, collisions in South Africa and the United States West, and a gearbox problem at the Dutch Grand Prix. The Shadow team's limited funding and the DN9's handling shortcomings, exacerbated by unreliable Goodyear tires, restricted Lammers' ability to challenge higher in the field.[17][8] In 1980, Lammers switched to the ATS team, starting the first three races in the D4, where he demonstrated pace by qualifying fourth at Long Beach— the best grid position for a Dutch driver at that point—but retired early due to transmission failure. He battled six-time world champion Jody Scheckter closely during the Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder before finishing twelfth after an engine issue dropped him down the order. Mid-season funding shortages at ATS prompted a move to the Ensign team, where he started three more races in the N180, posting 14th in Germany and 12th in Canada amid ongoing reliability woes like steering failure at Watkins Glen. The ATS D4's underpowered design and Ensign's qualification struggles highlighted the era's intense competition for resources among midfield squads.[17][8][18] Lammers returned to ATS for 1981, but persistent funding limitations confined him to just two starts in the updated D4: a 12th-place finish in Argentina and a retirement from collision in the United States West Grand Prix. Attempts to secure a seat with Theodore midway through the year yielded no further entries, as the team's financial instability prevented consistent participation. Car reliability remained a hurdle, with the D4 suffering from inferior aerodynamics and engine durability issues compared to front-running machinery.[17][8] The 1982 season saw Lammers join the cash-strapped Theodore team from the Belgian Grand Prix onward, driving the TY02 with Cosworth power. He managed only one start, at his home Dutch Grand Prix, qualifying 26th but retiring due to engine failure after a brief on-track stint. Six attempted entries overall were undermined by the TY02's poor preparation and lack of sponsorship, forcing improvisations like running on bare rims during Monaco practice. These underfunded operations underscored the precarious nature of survival for privateer teams.[17][8] Across the 1979–1982 period, Lammers accumulated 23 starts from 41 entries across Shadow, ATS, Ensign, and Theodore, without scoring a championship point. Persistent challenges included unreliable Cosworth engines prone to failure, frequent gearbox and transmission breakdowns, and funding shortages that limited testing and parts availability, often pitting him against more established rivals in uncompetitive equipment.[18][17][8]1992 Return
After a ten-year absence from Formula One—his last start having been the 1982 Dutch Grand Prix—Jan Lammers staged an unexpected comeback in 1992 at the age of 36, securing a drive with the cash-strapped March team for the season's final two races.[19] This opportunity arose through Lammers' connections, including his friend Henny Vollenberg, who helped revive the dormant March operation, and was enabled by funding Lammers obtained from Dutch sponsors, amounting to approximately 600,000 Dutch guilders (around $450,000 USD).[20] Motivated by his successes in sportscar racing, including the 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans victory with Jaguar and his 1992 Japanese Sportscar Championship title, Lammers sought to return to F1's pinnacle, approaching the effort meticulously to avoid past regrets.[1][21] Lammers drove the March CG911B, a 1991-spec chassis powered by an Ilmor 3.5-liter V10 engine, which was markedly outdated compared to the era's advanced machinery and echoed the uncompetitive, under-resourced cars of his early 1980s stints with teams like Shadow and Theodore.[22] Limited testing and preparation compounded the challenges, leaving him adapting to the car's handling under full fuel loads during practice. At the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, he qualified 23rd and retired on lap 27 due to clutch and gearbox failure while running 17th.[19] In the Australian Grand Prix at Adelaide, qualifying 25th, he persevered through ongoing gearbox issues and fatigue to finish 12th, his best result of the comeback.[22] As the sole Dutch entrant in a field dominated by international talent, Lammers' return captured national attention, elevating the profile of Dutch motorsport and demonstrating the feasibility of comebacks through personal sponsorship and determination, though the team's financial woes led to March's collapse before the 1993 season.[19]Endurance and Sportscar Racing
Prototypes and Le Mans
Lammers began his prototype racing career in 1983, competing in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) with the Porsche 956 for Canon Racing, where he achieved multiple podium finishes, including third places at Silverstone and the Nürburgring, and secured an eighth-place overall at his Le Mans debut.[23] Over the following years through 1992, he continued with Porsche prototypes, driving the 956 and 962C models for teams such as GTi Engineering, Richard Lloyd Racing, and Liqui Moly Equipe, earning a WEC victory at Brands Hatch in 1984, a second place at Le Mans in 1985, and consistent top-ten finishes across various rounds like Monza, Silverstone, and Fuji.[23] Transitioning to Jaguar in 1985 with the XJR-6 for TWR Jaguar, and primarily with the Silk Cut Jaguar team from 1987 onward using the XJR-8 and XJR-9, Lammers notched additional podiums, such as second at Selangor in 1985 and third at Jerez in 1986. In 1987, Lammers finished second in the World Sportscar Championship standings. He posted a DNF at Le Mans in 1987 due to an accident and the overall victory in 1988, before further entries in 1989.[23][24] The pinnacle of Lammers' prototype endeavors came at the 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he, alongside Johnny Dumfries and Andy Wallace, drove the Silk Cut Jaguar XJR-9 to overall victory—the marque's first since 1957—defeating a dominant Porsche 962C contingent that occupied the top three grid positions.[1][25] The race unfolded with intense battles; early on, the Jaguars held midfield positions amid reliability issues for some Porsches, but Lammers' car surged forward after nightfall, building a lead despite fuel strategy challenges and a late rain shower that nearly allowed the second-place Porsche driven by Derek Bell, Al Holbert, and Vern Schuppan to close the gap.[25] In the final stints, with the transmission stuck in fourth gear, Wallace nursed the XJR-9 across the line just 2.5 minutes ahead after 24 hours, completing 394 laps at an average speed of 221.8 km/h, marking one of Le Mans' closest finishes.[25][26] Lammers made 24 appearances at Le Mans from 1983 to 2018, with his 1988 triumph as the standout result.[6] Lammers continued his success with Jaguar by winning the 1990 24 Hours of Daytona overall in the XJR-12 alongside Davy Jones and Andy Wallace. In later years, he campaigned LMP prototypes, including the Dome S101 with his Racing for Holland team, achieving an eighth-place overall finish at Le Mans in 2002 alongside Val Hillebrand and Tom Coronel, powered by a Judd GV4 V10 engine.[27] He returned to the forefront with Racing Team Nederland in LMP2, driving the Dallara P217-Gibson to an 11th overall and third in class at Le Mans in 2017 with Frits van Eerd and Rubens Barrichello, covering 344 laps, and a sixth in LMP2 the following year with van Eerd and Giedo van der Garde, completing 356 laps amid competitive privateer battles.[28][29] His endurance prowess, honed from Formula One, proved invaluable in sustaining performance over the grueling 24-hour format.[4]GT and Other Sportscars
Lammers began his GT sportscar career in the late 1990s, leveraging his prior prototype racing background to adapt to the distinct handling characteristics of closed-cockpit GT vehicles, which emphasized rear-engine balance and road-course agility over the open-wheel dynamics of prototypes.[30] In the inaugural 1997 FIA GT Championship, he competed in the GT1 class driving the Lotus Elise GT1-Chevrolet for GT1 Lotus Racing, partnering with Mike Hezemans across multiple rounds including Silverstone, Helsinki, and Laguna Seca, where the team achieved competitive qualifying but faced challenges from dominant McLaren F1 GTRs and Porsche 911 GT1s.[31][32] The following year, Lammers piloted the Bitter GT1, equipped with a Chrysler 8.0-liter V10 engine derived from the Viper, for Team Hezemans in the GT1 category during the early season events at Silverstone (DNF due to mechanical failure) and Hockenheim (did not start).[31] Later in 1998, he transitioned to the GT2 class, racing the Porsche 911 GT2 for Roock Racing and Konrad Motorsport, securing a third-place finish in one event and a GT2 class victory at Laguna Seca alongside Franz Konrad.[33][31] During the 2000s, Lammers continued in GT racing through the European Le Mans Series (ELMS), where he drove Porsche 911 GT3 variants for teams including GT Racing Team Holland, earning multiple GT class wins, such as at the 2006 Monza round, contributing to his reputation for consistent endurance performances in production-derived sportscars.[34][31]Other Racing Championships
IndyCar Series
Jan Lammers ventured into the CART PPG IndyCar World Series in 1985 and 1986, marking a short-lived exploration of American open-wheel racing following his Formula One experience. Leveraging his background in high-powered open-wheel cars, he competed in 10 races across the two seasons, primarily on road and street circuits, with teams including Satellite Systems, Forsythe Racing, and Dan Gurney's All American Racers. His efforts yielded 24 championship points but no podiums, highlighting the steep learning curve for a European driver adapting to the series' turbocharged Cosworth-powered chassis and diverse track types.[35] In 1985, Lammers debuted with modest results, securing points finishes in two of five starts. Driving a March 85C for Satellite Systems at Portland International Raceway, he finished 16th after transmission failure, while at Meadowlands he placed 12th in a Lola T900 for Forsythe Racing. His standout performance came at Laguna Seca, where he finished fifth in the March 85C for Forsythe-Green Racing, earning eight points and demonstrating competitive pace on a road course familiar to his European racing style. Later that year, he ended 13th at Miami after spinning off course and 20th at Phoenix due to handling issues. These results reflected his growing adaptation to the heavy, tire-demanding IndyCars, which required precise throttle modulation to manage the turbo boost effectively.[36][37][10] The 1986 season saw Lammers contest five races, primarily with the Skoal Bandit-sponsored Eagle 86GC for Gurney's team, though financial difficulties led to the operation folding mid-year. He achieved consistent mid-pack results, including eighth at Laguna Seca and ninth-place finishes at Phoenix and Miami, but struggled with mechanical issues like a broken rear wing at Long Beach (14th) and a wreck at the second Phoenix event (23rd). Lammers later noted that his sports car expertise aided him on road courses, but ovals presented significant hurdles; during a rookie test at Phoenix, he described the high-speed one-mile layout as making him feel "tiny," akin to "disappearing up your own exhaust pipe," underscoring the psychological and technical demands absent from his European circuit racing. The cultural transition to American open-wheel, with its team instability and emphasis on oval dominance, ultimately deterred a longer commitment, as Gurney's financial woes curtailed his opportunities.[38][39][9] Lammers' sole Indianapolis 500 attempt came in 1986, entered with Gurney's Eagle squad, where he practiced but failed to qualify for the 33-car field amid stiff competition and limited preparation time. This bump-day disappointment, combined with the series' oval-centric calendar, reinforced the challenges of transitioning from Formula One's road-focused grands prix to CART's high-risk superspeedway environment.[35]Formula 3000
After leaving Formula One in 1982, Lammers sought opportunities in open-wheel racing through the International Formula 3000 series, making a one-off appearance in the 1986 season finale with Eddie Jordan Racing in a March 86B-Cosworth, where he finished 11th.[40] He returned to the championship in 1993 with Il Barone Rampante, competing in six races in a Reynard 93D-Cosworth and achieving a best result of fourth place at Enna-Pergusa, contributing to the team's efforts amid a competitive field.[8] In 1995, Lammers raced for Vortex Motorsport in three events with a Reynard 95D-Cosworth, including a victory in the season-opening non-championship race at Kyalami, highlighting his enduring competitiveness as a veteran driver.[8] Lammers also pursued the Japanese Formula 3000 championship, leveraging connections built during his European career to secure drives with Japanese teams. In 1987, he competed for Dome in a March chassis powered by a Yamaha engine, securing a victory at Fuji Speedway in a standout performance that demonstrated his adaptability to the series' technical demands.[8] He returned in 1991 with Dome Racing Team in the Dome F102-Mugen, contesting 10 races and achieving consistent top-10 finishes, including a third place at Suzuka—his best result of the season—while accumulating 25 points for 11th in the standings.[41][42] During this campaign, Lammers served as a veteran mentor, assisting Dome in developing the F102 chassis and providing expertise from his Formula One and Formula Two experience to support the team's engineering efforts.[10] His participation was facilitated by strong Japanese ties, particularly with Dome, which helped fund his campaigns through sponsorship alignments in the domestic series.[8]British Touring Car Championship
Jan Lammers, who began his racing career in touring cars during his youth, made his entry into the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) in the 1990s as a guest and partial-season driver, adapting to the series' unique regulations and often unpredictable British weather conditions.[11] In 1994, Lammers joined Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) to compete in the Super Touring era of the BTCC, piloting the distinctive Volvo 850 estate—a front-wheel-drive wagon chosen primarily for marketing impact rather than outright competitiveness.[4][43] Teamed with Rickard Rydell, Lammers tackled the 26-race season (13 rounds), scoring points in 11 events while navigating the car's unconventional handling, which demanded late braking restraint and emphasis on corner exits to manage understeer.[43][4] His best result came with a fifth-place finish at Brands Hatch, highlighting his adjustment to the close-quarters wheel-to-wheel racing and variable track conditions typical of the BTCC.[43] Despite the challenges of transitioning from prototypes and open-wheelers to the Volvo's "reality shock" setup, Lammers contributed to the team's development efforts, though the car struggled against dominant entries like the BMW and Alfa Romeo.[4][44] This stint marked his primary involvement in the series, underscoring his versatility across racing disciplines.[4]One-Make and Special Series
BMW Procar and Renault 5 Turbo Cup
Jan Lammers made his mark in one-make racing through the BMW Procar series, a high-profile support championship to Formula 1 that ran from 1979 to 1980, featuring identically prepared BMW M1 cars driven by both established F1 stars and promising talents.[45] In 1980, representing BMW Nederland, Lammers achieved a standout debut season, securing victory in the opening round at Donington Park after starting from fourth on the grid, demonstrating the M1's mid-engine balance and 470-horsepower engine in wet conditions.[46] He followed this with runner-up finishes at the Avus circuit and the Norisring, along with a pole position in Monaco, where the equalized machinery allowed him to challenge veterans like Hans-Joachim Stuck and Niki Lauda on merit rather than budget.[47] These results propelled Lammers to fourth in the final standings with 69 points, behind champion Nelson Piquet, highlighting the series' appeal in leveling the playing field and fostering intense rivalries among drivers of varying experience levels.[34] The BMW Procar's format, with races held on the same weekends as European Grands Prix, provided Lammers—then navigating a rookie F1 season with ATS and Ensign—an ideal platform to gain visibility and sharpen skills against top competition without the disparities of standard F1 machinery.[48] The equal-spec M1s emphasized driver talent over car setup, creating memorable duels; Lammers later reflected on the thrill of racing icons like Stuck in identical cars, underscoring the series' role in bridging emerging talents with F1 elite.[49] Shifting to rallying-influenced one-make racing, Lammers dominated the European Renault 5 Turbo Cup in 1983 and 1984, championships using turbocharged Renault 5 road cars modified for circuit competition with all-wheel drive and around 350 horsepower.[50] Driving for Renault Nederland, he clinched both titles, including the 1984 championship with 117 points, achieving eight consecutive victories across Dutch and European rounds, including wins at Zandvoort and the Norisring, while fending off rivals like Michael Bleekemolen and Joël Gouhier.[12] His success stemmed from the car's responsive handling and his adaptation to its rally-bred traits on twisty circuits, where equalized entries amplified the importance of precise throttle control and cornering lines.[34] The Renault 5 Turbo Cup's emphasis on production-based, turbocharged hot hatches appealed to Lammers during a transitional phase post-F1, offering accessible yet demanding racing that built on his single-seater experience while introducing group B-style aggression; key rivalries, such as those with national teammates in Dutch events, added to the series' competitive edge without overshadowing the equal-car philosophy.[8]Grand Prix Masters and Later One-Makes
In the mid-2000s, Jan Lammers competed in the Grand Prix Masters series, a one-make championship exclusively for former Formula One drivers aged 45 and older, using identical Delta GPM-01 chassis powered by Cosworth V8 engines. The series provided a platform for veteran racers to compete in equal machinery reminiscent of earlier professional one-make formats like the BMW Procar. Lammers entered the inaugural 2005 event at Kyalami, South Africa, where he qualified competitively but finished ninth overall after a solid but unremarkable race.[51] The 2006 season expanded to two rounds, offering Lammers further opportunities to showcase his enduring skills against peers such as Nigel Mansell and Emerson Fittipaldi. At Kyalami, he qualified fourth on the grid, demonstrating strong pace, but crossed the line in seventh position due to race traffic and tire management challenges. Later that year at Losail International Circuit in Qatar, Lammers again finished seventh, maintaining consistency in a field of seasoned competitors. These results reflected his motivation to remain active in racing for personal enjoyment and to relive the competitive thrill without the intense pressures of professional circuits, as he noted his satisfaction in continuing to race as long as he felt capable.[52][53][54] Following the conclusion of Grand Prix Masters after 2006, Lammers shifted focus to occasional guest appearances in other one-make series during the 2010s, balancing racing with his growing roles in team management and event organization. In the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup, a spec series featuring production-based Scirocco R cars with 2.0-liter turbocharged engines, he made four guest starts across 2010, 2011, and 2013 seasons. His appearances included a tenth-place finish at the 2011 Norisring round. These selective outings allowed Lammers to mentor emerging Dutch talents informally while satisfying his post-Le Mans drive to stay connected to grassroots-level competition, emphasizing fun and skill-sharing over championship pursuits.[55][34]Additional Racing Appearances
Macau Grand Prix and Rallies
Jan Lammers made a notable one-off appearance in the 1987 Macau Formula 3 Grand Prix, a prestigious season-ending event that served as a key showcase for emerging talents in the European Formula 3 championship. Driving for Intersport Engineering, he secured second place overall, finishing behind Martin Donnelly in a highly competitive field that highlighted the demanding nature of the Guia Circuit's narrow, barrier-lined street layout.[34][56] The race tested drivers' precision and adaptability, with Lammers demonstrating strong pace on the 6.12 km circuit despite its unforgiving walls and variable weather conditions, underscoring the unique challenges of street racing compared to traditional tracks.[56] Expanding his versatility beyond circuit racing, Lammers ventured into rallying during the late 1970s, participating in the 1979 AMAC Internationale Tulpenrallye, a prominent event in the Benelux Rally Trophy. Co-driven by Eric Bessem in an Opel Kadett GT/E for the Opel Dealer Team, he finished fifth overall.[57] This result showcased his quick adaptation to gravel and tarmac surfaces, where off-road hazards like unpredictable weather and mechanical stresses demanded a different skill set from his single-seater background. Lammers' rally involvement is further detailed in the one-make series section, including successes in the European Renault 5 Turbo Cup.Recent Competitions
After largely stepping away from full-time driving roles, Jan Lammers made notable comebacks in endurance racing with Racing Team Nederland in the LMP2 class during 2017 and 2018. In 2017, at age 61, he joined forces with team owner Frits van Eerd and former Formula One driver Rubens Barrichello to contest the FIA World Endurance Championship, piloting a Dallara P217 powered by a Gibson V8 engine; the trio finished 11th in class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans after a solid run that included no major incidents.[58][31] The following year, Lammers teamed up with van Eerd and Giedo van der Garde in the same car, earning a seventh-place class finish at Le Mans in the distinctive yellow-liveried entry dubbed the "yellow bumblebee," before retiring from active driving duties post-race to focus on team management.[6][34] In 2025, Lammers, now 69, entered the inaugural Speed Classic Cape Town hillclimb event held on October 25–26 on a 1.8 km course along Philip Kgosana Drive, aiming to drive a Jaguar TWR XJS in the classic car category alongside other motorsport luminaries.[59] Unfortunately, the car suffered a piston ring failure prior to the weekend, preventing his participation despite preparations for what would have been a celebratory guest appearance in historic machinery.[60] These sporadic outings reflect Lammers' enduring passion for endurance racing, particularly his storied history at Le Mans, which continues to draw him back for selective drives that blend personal enjoyment with mentorship opportunities, such as guiding less experienced teammates like van Eerd.[61] At age 69, he has emphasized maintaining physical fitness through regular training to handle the demands of high-speed prototypes and historic cars, underscoring a cautious approach to health that prioritizes enjoyment over intense competition.[4]Team Management Roles
Vitaal Racing and Early Teams
In 1989, Jan Lammers founded Vitaal Racing, marking his initial step into team ownership and management within motorsport. The Dutch-based outfit, supported by Opel Dealerteam Holland, competed in the Formula Opel Lotus category as a professional single-seater program aimed at nurturing talent. Lammers ran the team from 1989 to 1991, emphasizing structured operations to compete effectively in European series.[33] Vitaal Racing secured a championship victory in its debut season, winning the EFDA Opel Lotus Euroseries with driver Peter Kox at the helm. Kox, a promising Dutch talent, delivered consistent results across the season, culminating in the title that highlighted the team's competitive edge despite its modest scale. Lammers personally selected and supported Kox, providing a well-prepared car and logistical backing to enable the success. In an interview, Lammers reflected on the achievement: “It was a professionally run team. I paid the guys, I gave Peter a car... but we got the results.”[33] As team principal, Lammers managed operations alongside his active driving commitments, transitioning from a full-time racer to a dual role that tested his administrative skills. This shift brought challenges, including tight budgets and staff management issues; Lammers noted difficulties with mechanics who were unreliable, often impaired during race weekends, which complicated preparations. Despite these hurdles, the experience laid foundational lessons in team leadership, fostering Lammers' growth from competitor to owner in the high-stakes world of junior formulae.[33]Racing for Holland and A1GP
Founded by Lammers in 2001, in 2002 Jan Lammers, as team principal of Racing for Holland, led the squad to victory in the FIA Sportscar Championship's SR1 class (the premier prototype category)—securing the drivers' title alongside Val Hillebrand with three wins out of six rounds, including triumphs at Brno, Magny-Cours, and Dijon.[33] The team's Dome S101-Judd achieved consistent podium finishes, culminating in an eighth-place overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with co-driver Tom Coronel.[33] This success was bolstered by innovative funding strategies, such as selling sponsorship patches for €2,500 each to raise up to €300,000 annually, enabling the €1.5 million Le Mans budget without major corporate backers.[33] The following year, 2003, Racing for Holland defended the FIA Sportscar Championship SR1 title, with Lammers partnering John Bosch for three victories in seven events at Lausitzring, Monza, and Donington, plus a 1-2 finish at Lausitzring involving additional drivers Beppe Gabbiani and Felipe Ortiz.[33][62] The team ended sixth at Le Mans with Andy Wallace, demonstrating reliability in the demanding prototype category.[33] These back-to-back championships highlighted Lammers' dual role as driver and manager, leveraging national Dutch support to compete against factory efforts.[33] From 2005 to 2009, Lammers served as team principal for A1 Team Netherlands in the A1 Grand Prix series, a national-team-based open-wheel championship, managing operations through Racing for Holland.[63] The squad secured three race victories across the seasons: Jos Verstappen's win in the 2005–06 feature race at Durban, Jeroen Bleekemolen's triumph in the 2006–07 season, and additional successes in 2008–09 with Bleekemolen and Robert Doornbos.[64][63] Drivers like Verstappen and Bleekemolen provided competitive edge in the spec Lola-Zytek machinery, finishing as high as fourth in the 2008–09 standings.[63] Funding for A1 Team Netherlands relied heavily on national sponsorships, exemplified by a multi-year deal with Dutch heating firm Remeha starting in 2006, which supported operations amid the series' emphasis on country representation.[65] Series politics influenced driver selection and team dynamics, with Lammers navigating national pride and stakeholder expectations in a format prioritizing collective nation points over individual accolades.[66] Despite financial strains in later years, the program fostered Dutch motorsport enthusiasm through events like the home round at Zandvoort.[65]Later Responsibilities
Dutch Grand Prix Involvement
In 2019, Jan Lammers was appointed as the sporting director for the revival of the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Zandvoort, a role that leveraged his extensive racing background to spearhead the event's return after a 36-year absence.[67] The initial three-year contract for 2021–2023 was secured, with Lammers overseeing upgrades to the track, including banking in key corners to accommodate modern F1 cars, while navigating financial challenges without government support.[68] His appointment marked a pivotal step in restoring Zandvoort's status as a high-profile venue on the global racing calendar. The planned 2020 debut was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the event proved a resounding success upon its return, drawing over 100,000 fans daily despite capacity restrictions and generating widespread acclaim for its atmosphere and organization.[69] Lammers highlighted the logistical triumphs, including efficient crowd management amid health protocols, which set a benchmark for post-pandemic F1 events.[70] By 2024, under his continued leadership, the Grand Prix emphasized enhanced fan experiences, such as innovative digital ticketing, AI-powered support for attendees, and expanded entertainment zones, resulting in sold-out crowds and record attendance exceeding 300,000 over the weekend.[71] These efforts included partnerships for seamless on-site navigation and sustainability-focused initiatives like promoting public transport, with over 98% of visitors utilizing sustainable transport options.[72] The contract was extended through 2025 in late 2022 and further to 2026 in December 2024, securing the event's immediate future.[73] In December 2024, it was confirmed that the 2026 race would be the last at Zandvoort. The 2026 edition was confirmed as the final Dutch Grand Prix amid European rotation schemes and rising operational costs. Lammers has stressed proactive sustainability measures, including CO₂-neutral fuel adoption by 2026 and reduced emissions, in efforts to support the event's legacy.[74] His deep personal passion for Zandvoort, where he grew up attending races and competed in the circuit's final F1 events during the 1980s, has driven these revival and preservation efforts.[75]Broadcasting and Analysis
Jan Lammers has served as a prominent Formula 1 analyst for the Dutch public broadcaster NOS since 2007, providing expert commentary on television, radio, and podcasts.[76] In this role, he has been the face of motorsport coverage, offering in-depth explanations of race dynamics, vehicle technology, weather influences, and team tactics in an accessible manner that appeals to both novice viewers and seasoned enthusiasts.[76] His background as a former F1 driver, with experience across multiple seasons and teams, lends authenticity to his analyses, drawing on firsthand knowledge to contextualize on-track events for Dutch audiences. Lammers contributed to NOS broadcasts until early 2025, when he announced his departure amid shifts in F1 broadcasting rights, marking the end of an 18-year tenure.[76][77] Throughout the revival of the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort starting in 2021, Lammers provided detailed coverage, highlighting the event's significance for Dutch motorsport and analyzing Max Verstappen's dominant performances during home races.[78] His insights during the Verstappen era emphasized the driver's strategic acumen and the psychological pressures of championship contention, such as in post-race breakdowns of key overtakes and tire management decisions that contributed to Verstappen's titles.[79] Lammers' commentary often bridged technical aspects with broader narratives, fostering greater appreciation among viewers for the sport's evolution. In 2024 and 2025, Lammers focused his analyses on the future of the Zandvoort circuit and emerging global F1 trends, including sustainability efforts and the potential relocation of the Dutch GP beyond its current contract.[80] He discussed challenges like environmental regulations and fan expectations, while commenting on international developments such as team principal changes and regulatory shifts affecting competitiveness.[81] Through these broadcasts, Lammers enhanced public engagement with Formula 1 in the Netherlands, demystifying complex strategies and inspiring a new generation of fans by connecting historical racing context to contemporary issues, thereby boosting viewership and interest in the sport.[76]Personal Life
Lammers was previously married to Fardous Hashem, with whom he has two children: daughter Sumaya and son Rayan.[82] He has been in a relationship with Mariska Hoyinck since 2001, and they have a son, René, born in 2008.[82] The family resides in the Netherlands.Racing Record
Formula One Results
Jan Lammers competed in Formula One from 1979 to 1992, entering a total of 41 Grands Prix but starting only 23, with no championship points scored across his career. His best race finish was 9th place at the 1979 Canadian Grand Prix, while his best qualifying position was 4th, achieved at the 1980 United States Grand Prix West.[18][83]| Year | Entrant(s) | Chassis(es) | Entries | Starts | Retirements | Best Finish | Best Qualifying Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Shadow Cars | DN9 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 9th (Canada) | 14th (Spain, Monaco, Britain) |
| 1980 | ATS Wheels, Ensign Racing | D3, D4, N180 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 12th (Belgium) | 4th (USA West) |
| 1981 | Theodore Racing | TY01 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 12th (San Marino) | 21st (San Marino) |
| 1982 | Theodore Racing | TY02 | 5 | 1 | 1 | Ret (Netherlands) | 26th (Netherlands) |
| 1992 | March F1 Europe | CG911 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 12th (Britain, Australia) | 23rd (Britain) |
Le Mans and World Sportscar Results
Jan Lammers participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 24 times between 1983 and 2018, achieving a class win in 1988 with the Jaguar XJR-9 for Silk Cut Jaguar, co-driven by Johnny Dumfries and Andy Wallace, marking the first overall victory for a British car since 1955. His endurance racing career highlighted reliability and consistency, with multiple podiums in the Group C era and strong LMP2 performances later with his own teams. Lammers' Le Mans efforts often aligned with his prototype driving in the World Sportscar Championship (WSC), where he secured several victories and podiums in the 1980s.[1] The following table summarizes Lammers' 24 Hours of Le Mans results, focusing on key entries across classes and teams (corrected to verified participations):| Year | Car | Teammates | Team | Overall Position | Class Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Porsche 956 | J. Palmer, R. Lloyd | Canon Racing | 8th | C1: 8th | Completed 366 laps |
| 1984 | Porsche 956 | J. Palmer | GTi Engineering | DNF | C1: DNF | Engine failure after 76 laps |
| 1985 | Porsche 956 | - | R. Lloyd Racing | 2nd | C1: 2nd | 359 laps, behind winning Porsche 962 |
| 1986 | Porsche 956 | - | Liqui Moly | 9th | C1: 9th | 354 laps |
| 1987 | Jaguar XJR-8 | E. Cheever, R. Boesel | Silk Cut Jaguar | 5th | C1: 5th | 365 laps |
| 1988 | Jaguar XJR-9 | J. Dumfries, A. Wallace | Silk Cut Jaguar | 1st | C1: 1st | Overall winner, 389 laps, first Le Mans win for Jaguar since 1957 |
| 1989 | Jaguar XJR-9 | P. Tambay, A. Gilbert-Scott | Silk Cut Jaguar | 4th | C1: 4th | 375 laps |
| 1990 | Jaguar XJR-12 | A. Wallace, F. Konrad | Silk Cut Jaguar | 2nd | C1: 2nd | 356 laps, behind winning Jaguar XJR-12 |
| 1992 | Toyota TS010 | A. Wallace, T. Fabi (primary entry) | Toyota Team Tom's | 8th | C1: 8th | 342 laps; also served as T-car in another TS010 |
| 1993 | Toyota TS010 | G. Lees, J.M. Fangio II | Toyota Team Tom's | 8th | C1: 8th | 351 laps |
| 1996 | Courage C36 | M. Andretti, D. Warwick | Courage Compétition | 13th | WSC: 13th | 323 laps |
| 1997 | Lotus Elise GT1 | M. Hezemans, F. Grau | GT1 Lotus Racing | DNF | GT1: DNF | Accident after 170 laps |
| 1998 | Nissan R390 GT1 | É. Comas, H. Montermini | Nissan Motorsports | 6th | GT1: 3rd | 315 laps |
| 1999 | Lola B98/10 | P. Kox, T. Coronel | Konrad Motorsport | DNF | LMP: DNF | Engine failure after 138 laps |
| 2000 | Lola B2K/10 | P. Kox, T. Coronel | Konrad Motorsport | DNF | LMP900: DNF | Transmission failure after 8 laps |
| 2001 | Dome S101 | D. Hillebrand, H. Crevels | Racing for Holland | DNF | LMP900: DNF | Engine failure after 207 laps |
| 2002 | Dome S101 | T. Coronel, D. Hillebrand | Racing for Holland | 8th | LMP900: 8th | 332 laps |
| 2003 | Dome S101 | A. Wallace, J. Bosch | Racing for Holland | 6th | LMP900: 6th | 370 laps, best result for team |
| 2004 | Dome S101 | R. Dyson, M. Kaneishi | Racing for Holland | 7th | LMP1: 7th | 367 laps |
| 2005 | Dome S101 | S. Julian, J. Bosch | Racing for Holland | 7th | LMP2: 3rd | 343 laps |
| 2006 | Dome S101 | A. Yoong, S.-J. Johansson | Racing for Holland | DNF | LMP2: DNF | Suspension failure after 279 laps |
| 2007 | Dome S101 | M. Bleekemolen, M. Hart | Racing for Holland | 25th | LMP2: 9th | 249 laps |
| 2008 | Lola B07/10 | J. Pickett, C. Graf | Charouz Racing System | DNF | LMP2: DNF | Engine failure after 143 laps |
| 2011 | Oreca 01 | M. Zacchia, R. Elgaard | Hope Racing | DNF | LMP2: DNF | Accident after 75 laps |
| 2017 | Dallara P217 | F. van Eerd, R. Barrichello | Racing Team Nederland | 13th | LMP2: 7th | 339 laps |
| 2018 | Dallara P217 | F. van Eerd, G. van der Garde | Racing Team Nederland | 11th | LMP2: 6th | 361 laps, final Le Mans start |
IndyCar and Formula 3000 Results
Jan Lammers entered the PPG IndyCar World Series in 1985 with the small AMI Racing team, driving a March 85C-Cosworth, and continued in 1986 with Pace Racing in a Lola T86/00-Cosworth before switching to All American Racers' Eagle 86-Cosworth later in the season. Over 11 starts across both years, he scored 28 points without a win or podium, establishing himself as a consistent mid-pack performer in the highly competitive American open-wheel scene. His best result was a fifth-place finish at Laguna Seca in 1985. Lammers attempted to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 in 1986 but failed to secure one of the 33 starting spots after multiple runs in the Eagle chassis.[85][86]| Year | Race | Track | Starting Position | Finishing Position | Status/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Stroh's/G.I. Joe's 200 | Portland International Raceway | 16 | 16 | Running |
| 1985 | Meadowlands Grand Prix | Meadowlands | 12 | 12 | Running |
| 1985 | Stroh's 300K | Laguna Seca | 8 | 5 | Running |
| 1985 | Dana 150 | Phoenix International Raceway | 20 | 20 | Running |
| 1985 | Beatrice Indy Challenge (Race 2) | Miami | 13 | 13 | Running |
| 1986 | Dana 200 | Phoenix International Raceway | 18 | 9 | Running |
| 1986 | Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach | Long Beach | 17 | 14 | Running |
| 1986 | Champion Spark Plug 300 | Laguna Seca | 12 | 8 | Running |
| 1986 | Circle K Fiesta Bowl 200 | Phoenix International Raceway | 22 | 23 | Running |
| 1986 | Miami Indy Challenge 200 | Miami | 15 | 9 | Running |
| 1986 | Indianapolis 500 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | DNQ | DNQ | Failed to qualify |
| Year | Series | Team/Chassis-Engine | Races | Wins | Podiums | Points | Position | Best Finish | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | International F3000 | Vortex/Reynard 85SC-Cosworth | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC | 7th (Donington) | Limited program; exact other finishes unavailable in sources |
| 1986 | International F3000 | Eddie Jordan/March 86B-Cosworth | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11th | 11th (Bugatti) | Single appearance |
| 1990 | Japanese F3000 | Dome/Dome F101-Mugen | 1 | 1 | 1 | 20 | NC | 1st (Fuji) | One-off victory |
| 1991 | Japanese F3000 | Dome/Dome F102-Mugen | 10 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 11th | 3rd (Suzuka) | Full season; consistent top-10 contender |
Other Series Results
Lammers participated in various touring car, GT, and one-make series throughout his career, showcasing his versatility beyond open-wheel and endurance prototypes. These efforts included stints in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), FIA GT Championship, and select one-make events, where he achieved podiums and competitive finishes despite often balancing multiple commitments.[43] In the BTCC, Lammers competed part-time in 1993 with Toyota Team Tom's, partnering with Jan Magnussen and later Rickard Rydell in a Toyota Carina E. His season highlights included a fifth-place finish at Brands Hatch and seventh places at Brands Hatch and Oulton Park, contributing to points in 11 of 21 races, though the team did not challenge for podiums overall.[43][33]| Year | Series | Team/Car | Races | Wins | Podiums | Best Finish | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | BTCC | Toyota Team Tom's / Toyota Carina E | 16 (partial) | 0 | 0 | 5th (Brands Hatch) | 20 | 14th |
| Year | Series | Team/Car | Races | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Best Finish | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | BPR Global GT Series | Lotus Racing / Lotus Esprit GT1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3rd (Hockenheim) | 43 | 4th |
| 1997 | FIA GT Championship | Lotus Racing / Lotus Elise GT1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11th (Hockenheim) | 0 | NC |
| 1998 | FIA GT Championship | Team Hezemans / Bitter GT1; Nissan Motorsports / Nissan R390 GT1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7th (Suzuka) | 0 | NC |
| 2000-2004 | ELMS GT | Various (e.g., Racing for Holland / Porsche 996 GT3-RS) | 8 (partial) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6th (class, Donington 2001) | ~15 (est.) | NC |
| Year | Series | Team/Car | Races | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Best Finish | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | BMW M1 Procar | BMW Nederland / BMW M1 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1st (Donington) | 69 | 4th |
| 2010-2011 | VW Scirocco R-Cup | Volkswagen Motorsport / VW Scirocco | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31st (2010 overall) | 0 | NC |