Octave John Claes (; 11 August 1916 – 3 February 1956) was a British-born racing driver who competed for Belgium. Before his fame as a racing driver, Claes was also a jazz trumpeter and successful bandleader in Britain.
Early life and jazz career Claes was born in London to a Scottish mother and Belgian father. He was educated in England at Lord Williams's School. In England, he began playing trumpet in a jazz band that included Max Jones on reeds, and another with Billy Mason on piano. In the 1930s, he moved to the Netherlands, where he worked with Valaida Snow and Coleman Hawkins. He also worked with Jack Kluger's band in Belgium. Returning to England, he led his own group, the Claepigeons, making a recording in 1942. In the late 1940s, he abandoned his jazz career and settled in Belgium as a professional racing driver.
Racing career Claes was one of several gentlemen drivers who took part in Grand Prix racing of post-World War II. His first contact with racing was at the 1947 French Grand Prix, where he served as interpreter for British drivers. He made his debut in 1948, in his own Talbot-Lago, raced under the Écurie Belge banner. Although Claes never scored any points in the World Drivers Championship, he was, like many of his contemporaries, very active in non-Championship Grand Prix races and sports car races. His first win was at the 1950 Grand Prix des Frontières, held at the Chimay race track.
In April 1951, Claes crashed into a crowd while practicing at San Remo Grand Prix in Sanremo, Italy. He was uninjured but an observer was killed and three onlookers were seriously injured. In 1952 he exchanged his outdated Talbot for a Gordini, and later for a Connaught, always with the Écurie Belge colours, but he also raced occasionally for works teams, including Gordini and Maserati. He also won the 1953 Liège–Rome–Liège Rally and took a class win at the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans. Claes teamed with Pierre Stasse to finish 12th in the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans. They drove a Porsche. Together with compatriot Jacques Swaters, Claes finished third in the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Later in 1955, Claes's health problems worsened, as he had contracted tuberculosis. Claes sold his outfit to Swaters, who merged it with his own Écurie Francorchamps to form Écurie Nationale Belge. Claes entered occasional events until the end of the year, but finally succumbed to the disease in Brussels in 1956, aged 39.
Complete Formula One World Championship results (key) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 WDC Pts. 1950 Écurie Belge Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot L6 GBR MON 500 SUI BEL FRA ITA NC 0 1951 Écurie Belge Talbot-Lago T26C-DA Talbot L6 SUI 500 BEL FRA GBR GER ITA ESP NC 0 1952 Équipe Gordini Gordini T16 Gordini L6 SUI 500 BEL NC 0 Écurie Belge Simca-Gordini T15 Simca-Gordini L4 FRA GBR HW Motors HWM 52 Alta L4 GER NED Vicomtesse de Walckiers Simca-Gordini T15 Simca-Gordini L4 ITA 1953 Écurie Belge Connaught Type A Lea-Francis L4 ARG 500 NED FRA GBR GER SUI ITA NC 0 Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati A6GCM Maserati L6 BEL 1955 Stirling Moss Ltd. Maserati 250F Maserati L6 ARG MON 500 BEL NC 0 Écurie Nationale Belge Ferrari 500 Ferrari L4 NED GBR ITA
Non-championship Formula One results (key) Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 1950 Johnny Claes Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot L6 PAU RIC SRM PARDNA EMP BAR JER ALB NED NAT NOT ULS PES STT INT GOO PEN 1951 Johnny Claes Talbot-Lago T26C-DA Talbot L6 SYR PAU RIC SRM BOR INT PAR ULS SCO NED ALB PES BAR GOO 1952 Johnny Claes Talbot-Lago T26C-DA Talbot L6 RIO SYR VAL RIC LAV PAU IBS ULSDNA Simca-Gordini T15 Simca-Gordini L4 MAR AST INT ELÄ NAP EIFDNA PAR ALB FRO MAR SAB CAE DAI COM NAT BAU MOD CAD SKA MAD AVU JOE NEW RIO HWM 52 Alta L4 MNZ LAC ESS 1953 Johny Claes Connaught Type A Lea-Francis L4 SYR PAU LAV AST BOR INT ELÄ NAP ULS WIN FRO COR EIF ALB PRI ESS MID ROU CRY AVU USF LAC BRI CHE SAB NEW CAD RED SKA LON MOD MAD JOE CUR
References