Claude Haldi (28 November 1942 – 25 December 2017) was a Swiss racing driver.[1] He was known as a frequent competitor at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, entering the race 22 times between 1968 and 1993.[2] His endurance racing career was associated with Porsche, with 14 of his Le Mans entries in various Porsche models. He drove for the Porsche factory works teams of Martini Racing in 1973 and Rothmans Porsche in 1987.[3]

Porsche 911S of Claude Haldi and Paul Keller at the 1972 24 Hours of Le Mans
Porsche 911S of Claude Haldi and Paul Keller at the 1972 24 Hours of Le Mans

Beginning in 1985, he drove for the WM Peugeot team. He was a co-driver of the WM P88 which broke the top speed record at Circuit de la Sarthe in 1988.[4][2]

Haldi also participated in hill climbs and rallying.[2] He won the Group 4 category of the European Hill Climb Championship in 1970[5] and the 1979 Swiss Rally Championship.[3]

Following his retirement from racing, Haldi became president of the Vaud Automobile Club. In this position, he advocated against the Swiss ban on motorsport and proposed the creation of a Formula One circuit in Switzerland.[3][6]


Racing record edit

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results edit

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1968   Scuderia Filipinetti   Jacques Rey Ferrari 275 GTB/C GT
+2.0
78 DNF DNF
1969   Scuderia Filipinetti   Jacques Rey Ferrari 275 GTB/C GT
+2.0
39 DNF DNF
1970   Claude Haldi
  Hart Ski Racing
  Arthur Blank Porsche 911S GT
2.5
124 DNF DNF
1971   Claude Haldi   Hans-Dieter Weigel Porsche 908/2 P
3.0
18 DNF DNF
1972   Claude Haldi   Paul Keller
  "Gédéhem"
Porsche 911S GT
3.0
208 DNF DNF
1973   Martini Racing Team   Reinhold Joest Porsche 911 Carrera RSR S
3.0
54 DNF DNF
1974   Escuderia Montjuich   José-Maria Fernandez
  Jean-Marc Seguin
Porsche 911 Carrera RSR GT 41 DNF DNF
1975   Porsche Club Romand   Bernard Béguin
  Peter Zbinden
Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo GTX 291 15th 1st
1976   Schiller Racing Team   Florian Vetsch Porsche 934 GT 219 DNF DNF
1977   Schiller Racing Team   Florian Vetsch
  Angelo Pallavicini
Porsche 934 GT 123 DNF DNF
1978   Haberthur
  Mecarillos-Cégécol Racing Team
  Herbert Müller
  Nick McGranger
Porsche 935/76 Gr.5
+2.0
140 DNF DNF
1979   Claude Haldi   Herbert Loewe
  Rodrigo Terran
Porsche 935 Gr.5
+2.0
275 11th 4th
1980   Meccarillos Racing   Bernard Béguin
  Volkert Merl
Porsche 935 Gr.5 37 DNF DNF
1981   Claude Haldi
  Charles Ivey Racing
  Mark Thatcher
  Hervé Poulain
Porsche 935 Gr.5 260 DNF DNF
1982   Claude Haldi   Rodrigo Terran
  François Hesnault
Porsche 935 K3 Gr.5 141 DNF DNF
1983   Claude Haldi   Günther Steckkönig
  Bernd Schiller
Porsche 930 B 217 DNF DNF
1984   Claude Haldi   Altfrid Heger
  Jean Krucker
Porsche 930 B 285 16th 2nd
1985   WM Peugeot   Roger Dorchy
  Jean-Claude Andruet
WM P83B-Peugeot C1 73 DNF DNF
1986   WM Secateva   Roger Dorchy
  Pascal Pessiot
WM P83B-Peugeot C2 301 12th 3rd
1987   Rothmans Porsche   René Metge
  Kees Nierop
Porsche 961 GTX 199 DNF DNF
1988   WM Secateva   Roger Dorchy
  Jean-Daniel Raulet
WM P87-Peugeot C1 59 DNF DNF
1993   Scuderia Chicco d'Oro   Olivier Haberthur
  Charles Margueron
Porsche 911 Carrera RSR GT 299 18th 4th

References edit

  1. ^ "Claude Haldi | Racing career profile". Driver Database. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Le Mans Veteran Claude Haldi Dies". www.historicracingnews.com. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  3. ^ a b c Fernandez, Mat (28 December 2017). "Claude Haldi (1942-2017)". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  4. ^ Smit, Dylan (8 July 2021). "Target 400, How Peugeot Power Made Le Mans History". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  5. ^ "motorsport-archive.com :: European Hillclimb Championship 1970 :: Schedule and Standings". www.motorsport-archive.com. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  6. ^ "More about the Swiss F1 circuit". www.grandprix.com. 5 May 2004. Retrieved 2023-02-21.