Jochen Mass, the versatile racing driver who claimed victory at Le Mans, won in Formula 1, and became one of motorsport’s most respected figures across eras, has died at the age of 78. He passed away on 4 May 2025 from complications following a stroke earlier this year, his family confirmed.

Best known in later years for piloting historic Silver Arrows at events around the world, Mass’s career spanned everything from touring cars and Formula 1 to endurance racing and the Dakar Rally. He claimed his greatest racing success at the 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans, winning outright in the Sauber-Mercedes C9 alongside Manuel Reuter and Stanley Dickens.

Mass competed in over 100 Formula 1 Grands Prix during the 1970s and early ’80s, scoring one win and eight podiums. For a time, he was the most successful German driver in the Formula 1 World Championship – long before the arrival of Schumacher, Vettel and the modern generation. His F1 career included spells with Surtees, McLaren and Arrows, and his versatility saw him race simultaneously in endurance and touring car events across the same seasons. He retired from Formula 1 with 71 World Championship points – including victory at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix.

Post-F1, Mass helped Mercedes-Benz return to international endurance racing, driving for Sauber-Mercedes from 1988 to 1991 in Group C. In addition to his Le Mans win, he was runner-up in the 1989 World Sportscar Championship and served as a mentor to the so-called Junior Team of Michael Schumacher, Karl Wendlinger and Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

His path into racing was anything but conventional. Before ever climbing into a race car, Mass spent three years as a sailor, circumnavigating the globe. Only later did he train as a car mechanic, and in 1968 when an Alfa Romeo team driver fell ill, he donned racing overalls, stepped into the driver’s seat – and remained there. It was certainly a unique entry into what blossomed into a 30-year career.

From 1976 to 1987, he was a fixture in Porsche’s factory endurance programme. He drove everything from the 935 to the 962C with the same mix of speed, reliability and deep technical understanding. Within the team, he was valued as much for his communication with engineers as for his pace on track – qualities that made him a trusted figure and an asset well beyond the cockpit.

Mass’s racing résumé includes the 1972 24 Hours of Spa win with Hans-Joachim Stuck, a Dakar Rally entry in a Mercedes 500 SLC, more than a decade as a Porsche works driver, and a farewell fifth-place finish in the 1991 World Sportscar round at Autopolis. He also crossed the Atlantic by balloon and spent several years as a Formula 1 commentator on television.

In retirement, he became a familiar face at historic motorsport events, driving everything from Mille Miglia cars to Group C legends. From Grand Prix machinery to the 300 SLR and pre-war racers, he remained active well into his seventies, always with insight and humour. “Jochen Mass had a captivating way of recounting stories from his long and distinguished career,” said Marcus Breitschwerdt, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Heritage GmbH. “He inspired fans with his approachable, friendly manner... it was always a highlight to bring the racing icons onto the road with him.”

At the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2024, Mass described driving the C11 as “a stirring reminder of the challenging world of motorsport over 30 years ago… where companions of those days – drivers, teammates, mechanics, engineers – come together.”

Fellow drivers spoke with warmth after his passing. “A proper racer, great competitor and truly one of the good guys in our world,” wrote Mario Andretti on X. “Please know that we fellow racers loved him too.”

Jochen Mass is survived by his wife Bettina and four children. His family said in a statement: “Today we mourn the loss of a husband, father, grandfather and a racing legend. Beyond mourning his death, we also celebrate his incredible life – a life that he loved sharing with all of you. A life that he lived to the absolute fullest. He is racing with all his friends again.”