Yannick Dalmas
Four-time Le Mans winner with four different manufacturers
Yannick Paul Marie Dalmas (born 28 July 1961) is a former racing driver from France. He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans four times (in 1992, 1994, 1995 and 1999), each time with a different car manufacturer, a unique feature in the history of the race. Prior to this, he participated in 49 Formula One Grands Prix. Dalmas has been a Safety Car driver and driver advisor in the FIA World Endurance Championship since its inaugural season in 2012.
Quick Facts
- Key teams
- Larrousse, AGS
Lore & Background
Dalmas began his career in French Formula Renault, winning the title in 1984 with six wins from 12 races. He then won the French Formula 3 championship in 1986, beating Jean Alesi. After making his International Formula 3000 debut in 1986, he contested the series with Oreca Motorsport in 1987, winning at Pau and Jarama to finish fifth. In Formula One, Dalmas drove for Larrousse in 1987 and 1988, scoring a best finish of fifth in the 1987 Australian Grand Prix (though ineligible for points). He missed the final two races of 1988 due to Legionellosis. In 1989, he qualified for only one of the first six races with Larrousse before moving to AGS, where he was eliminated in pre-qualifying for the final nine races. In 1990, he qualified for five of 16 events, with a best result of ninth in Spain. Dalmas switched to endurance racing in 1991 with Peugeot, winning the 1992 24 Hours of Le Mans with Derek Warwick and Mark Blundell. He also won Le Mans in 1994 (with Hurley Haywood and Mauro Baldi in a Dauer 962 Le Mans Porsche), 1995 (with JJ Lehto and Masanori Sekiya in a McLaren F1 GTR), and 1999 (with Pierluigi Martini and Joachim Winkelhock in a BMW). He returned to Formula One for two races in 1994 with Larrousse, his last F1 appearances. After racing in touring cars and the FIA GT Championship, his final professional race was the 2002 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he finished seventh in an Audi R8.
Reader's Guide
Dalmas is known for his versatility across single-seaters, sports cars, and touring cars. His four Le Mans wins with four different manufacturers (Peugeot, Porsche, McLaren, BMW) remain a unique achievement. He never had the same teammate twice during his 12 years of competing at Le Mans, according to the source. After retiring from racing, he became a safety car driver and driver advisor for the FIA World Endurance Championship from 2012 onward.
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