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<body> <Table Width="550" border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="0"><TR><TD Width="35"><IMG SRC="//www.totalmotorsport.com/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="35" HEIGHT="1"></td><td> <CENTER><Table border="0" width="100%"> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="5">AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">17/03/2001</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">Bob Wollek</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">by Kerry Morse</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><img border="1" src="Storage/llekTragAME.jpg"></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="1">  </FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2"> This one really hurts. The emotion I could hear in the voice of Porsche Motorsport's Alwin Springer on the phone was real and genuine. Bob Wollek was so much more than this French guy who drove Porsches. Sure, there were jokes made about his age and how much longer would he stick around depriving some younger hot shoe of a chance. Wollek took all of this in his stern faced, good natured way. But for many of us, Wollek was the final link in a chain that we hoped would never be broken. That of a works factory driver for Porsche who had reverence and could remember the past with an optimistic outlook to the future.<BR> <BR> I first met Bob Wollek at Le Mans in 1978. He had been signed up by Martini Porsche to partner Jurgen Barth and Jacky Ickx in a 936. Although Wollek had run at La Sarthe a number of times this was his first realistic opportunity to win the 24 hours outright. As luck would have it, 1978 was the make or break year for Renault and they finally captured the prize that had eluded them for several years. Wollek and company finished second that year at La Sarthe and this was to become the unfortunate pattern for Brilliant Bob for the rest of his life. That of forever finishing second at Le Mans. Even with his brilliant performances (for which he earned his nickname) and victories throughout the world, it was a Le Mans win that remained elusive.<BR> <BR> I remember the famous "and now Mr. A.J. Foyt" remarks made to live television during the 1983 Daytona 24 hours. I was standing in the pits next to the Henn team and the absolute disgust on Bob's face was at once tragic and hilarious. Even though they won, it was to become a long running joke. American showmanship vs. Strasbourg sophistication.<BR> <BR> Wollek had made his mark driving Porsche 935s for Kremer and others. He easily won the German Championship for Joest in a 936. 1982 was the debut of Group C and Bob had hoped for a slot on the new factory Rothmans Porsche team. Unfortunately he had to wait a year to get in to a 956 and prove his mettle with the Joest team. The long awaited opportunity to get on a works team came in 1984 when Wollek joined Lancia Martini for a full assault against Porsche. However, history shows that the LC-2 was plagued with a number of problems and despite Brilliant Bob's outstanding drives (in which he outshone several of the Italian hotshoes) his time at Lancia was a personal disappointment. The fact that the team he left in order to join Lancia won Le Mans in 1984 and 1985 is typically ironic. But he continued to own America with wins at Daytona and Sebring adding to an already fat resume. Bob finally did secure that invitation to join the Rothmans team and that was to cement his bond to Weissach for the rest of his career.<BR> <BR> Wollek's personality was not the stuff of a PR hacks dream. He was blunt, spoke his mind, and was far from the world of today's PC driver. As a man he was loyal to his friends and someone you could depend on. I don't think I ever had a conversation with him, whether at the track, on the phone, etc. that could be considered trivial.<BR> <BR> One of his most stirring performances was aboard the rare 911 Turbo LMGT that Norbert Singer built for the 1993 season. The rare one off was sold to Larbre Competition and Bob drove it for most of the 1994 season. It was <BR> through the LMGT that the GT-1 was later developed and this was the car that gave Wollek his last great shot at La Sarthe. Oh the heartbreak suffered for those three years. And 1995, the great charge Bob put on in the Courage while chasing down the eventual winning McLaren. So close...<BR> <BR> My favorite Wollek encounter came at Laguna Seca in 1987. Bob was doing some tire testing aboard the BF Goodrich 962 with the Busby team. I had made arrangements with Busby to share track time as Dave Morse wanted to shakedown his recent restoration of Porsche 936-004. Although the car was back in Martini colors, it was the same mount that Bob had used to win the championship in 1982. He took a break from the 962 and wandered over to inspect the 936. None of this was planned. In no time, Wollek was behind the wheel and out for a few laps. He pitted, asked that the wing be set 10 degrees lower and was back out again. Bob spent a great deal of time with Dave offering suggestions on how to get the most out of the car. Ironically, a friend by the name of Steve Sailors was also at Laguna that day and had driven over his Alpine Renault 110. Steve was not aware that Wollek had gotten his start in racing by driving Alpines. You can guess what happened. Steve and I stood on the pit wall and watched as Wollek reeled off a dozen laps with a huge grin on his face. Steve didn't volunteer, Bob asked if he could drive it. That is a racing driver.<BR> <BR> Wollek stood out in the paddock, true depth in a shallow pond. Drivers come and go but Wollek always seemed like he would be around. The new school coming up through the ranks of Porsche Cup and the like will never be able to understand what a man of character Bob Wollek was. He was one of my favorite drivers, drove some of my favorite race cars but more importantly, was a friend. I will never forget him.<BR> <BR> Many readers of totalmotorsport are knowledgeable and passionate about the cars, the drivers and most notably, the history of sports car racing. I would like to thank Steve Miernicki for his gentle reminder that Bob Wollek contended for the overall lead at Le Mans in 1973 as a driver with the Matra team. I should have taken a bit more time to list Wollek's accomplishments but there will be many articles detailing the life of the colorful Frenchman in the months to come.<BR> <BR> <BR> Kerry Morse<BR> <BR> The bare facts were that Bob Wollek (58), died on Friday afternoon after being struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle near Sebring International Raceway. He was riding west on Highway 98 when he was struck from behind at approximately 4:30 p.m. He was transported to Highlands Regional Medical Center in Sebring and was pronounced dead. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.<BR> <BR> He regularly rode a bicycle from Strasbourg to Le Mans for the 24 Hours, and was often seen tinkering with, or cleaning, a bicycle in the pits. All those races, all that experience, and he died on a bicycle. This has been a terrible year for motorsport, so far. Ed.<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> </FONT></TD></TR> </TABLE><BR> </CENTER> <BR><CENTER><font size="1" color="#808080" face="Tahoma">Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport</font></CENTER> </td> </tr> </table> </body>