Karting and Junior Racing Days
Jan Lammers’ introduction to motorsport came at an early age, working at the renowned Slotemaker sliding school at the Zandvoort racing circuit. Here, Lammers honed his car control skills from age 12 by teaching customers how to handle a slide. His talent was quickly spotted by circuit owner Rob Slotemaker, who gave the young Lammers his first racing opportunity in touring cars.
At just 16 years old, Lammers won his debut race in the Dutch Touring Car Championship, piloting a Simca Rallye 2. He went on to clinch four more victories that maiden season, securing the championship crown and becoming the youngest ever Dutch racing champion.
Lammers continued his success in touring cars over the next few years. However, he soon shifted focus to single-seaters, entering Formula Ford in 1976. He immediately made an impression by taking pole position on debut at Zandvoort and winning races early on. This prompted a graduation to European Formula 3 in 1977 with the unfancied Hawke chassis. Despite lacking competitiveness, Lammers frequently ran inside the top 10 and secured a podium at Zolder.
Transition to Formula 3 and Early Successes
The 1978 season saw Lammers switch to the esteemed Racing Team Holland squad, where he was provided a competitive Ralt-Volkswagen machine. Lammers made the most of this opportunity, winning at Zandvoort, Magny-Cours, Karlskoga and Monza to clinch the coveted European Formula 3 crown. In doing so, he beat future F1 champions Alain Prost and Nelson Piquet.
This achievement led March to offer Lammers a coveted factory Formula 2 drive. However, Lammers opted to bypass F2 and go straight into F1 with Shadow for 1979 at just 22 years old. His decision was vindicated as he won the inaugural Procar BMW M1 series that year, beating Niki Lauda to claim the title.
Formula 1 Career
Debut in Formula 1 with Shadow
Lammers’ F1 debut with Shadow in 1979 showed promise, scoring points on pace in Canada. However, he generally struggled with an uncompetitive car, failing to qualify on several occasions. Highlights included a hard-fought 9th in Canada and frequently outperforming teammate Elio de Angelis.
For 1980, Lammers joined the fledgling ATS outfit. Despite lacking resources, he often transcended the car’s abilities, qualifying 4th at Long Beach and running 3rd in the non-championship South African GP. However, poor reliability hampered any chance to shine and score results.
Racing with ATS and Ensign
With ATS and then Ensign in 1980-81, Lammers persisted in pushing lacklustre machinery beyond its limits. At rain-soaked Brazil ‘81, he was even denied a surprise podium as his engine failed when running an incredible 2nd. Outings like this cemented his reputation as an outstanding wet weather performer.
Other highlights in this period included a heroic drive from last to 9th at Long Beach ‘80 in an uncompetitive Ensign. He also frequently qualified well inside the top 15 despite inferior equipment.
Beyond F1, Lammers won back-to-back Renault 5 Turbo Cup titles in ‘83 and ‘84. Had he secured more competitive F1 drives, he surely had the talent to be a race winner.
The Struggles and Triumphs
Lammers persisted in chasing the F1 dream with Theodore in 1982 and later March in 1992. However, he generally struggled in uncompetitive cars lacking testing mileage, decent budgets and reliability.
Highlights were few but included qualifying 13th in the Theodore at Zandvoort ‘82 despite a chronic lack of running. He was also rapid in the wet on his surprise F1 comeback with March in 1992 before retiring from both Japanese GPs.
The lowest point likely came in 1982 when Lammers missed an opportunity to join Ferrari as replacement for the late Gilles Villeneuve. A qualifying crash whilst driving for Theodore saw him break his thumb, costing him the drive as Ferrari signed Patrick Tambay instead.
Success Beyond Formula 1
Transition to Endurance Racing
From 1983, Lammers focused on sports car racing, joining the Porsche privateer Richard Lloyd Racing squad. Here he took several podiums alongside the likes of Thierry Boutsen and Keke Rosberg before joining Tom Walkinshaw’s fearsome Jaguar team.
The move paid dividends as Lammers gelled immediately with Walkinshaw’s professional setup. Paired with ex-F1 racer John Watson, the duo took three wins in the 1987 World Sports Car Championship. This set the stage for Lammers’ crowning achievement.
Winning Le Mans in 1988 with Jaguar
In 1988, Lammers realized a lifelong dream by winning the gruelling Le Mans 24 Hours. He accomplished this with the Silk Cut Jaguar team along with Andy Wallace and Johnny Dumfries, driving a storming 13 of 24 hours.
This result meant redemption for Jaguar at Le Mans, scoring their first win since 1957. It was also vindication for Lammers’ talent and incredible versatility across machinery and disciplines.
Lammers followed up by winning Le Mans again in 1990 with Jaguar. He also twice won the Daytona 24 Hours enduro with Jaguar in 1988 and 1990, beating stern opposition.
Contribution to Dutch Motorsport
Role in Promoting Motorsport in the Netherlands
As one of the most successful Dutch racing driver in history, Lammers has been critical in spurring interest and participation in motorsport in the Netherlands. His establishment of the Racing for Holland sportscar team and later Dutch A1GP outfit provided a platform to develop promising Dutch talent.
Lammers has also been instrumental in reviving the Dutch Grand Prix, acting as an ambassador and advisor in negotiations. Thanks in part to his efforts, Zandvoort returned to the F1 calendar in 2021, rekindling national passion for racing.
Impact on Future Dutch Drivers
Through his success of reaching Formula 1, sports cars and touring cars, Lammers set the benchmark for aspiring Dutch racers. He dispelled the myth that the Dutch could not succeed on the world stage, paving the way for the likes of Verstappen, van der Garde and Coronel.
His victory at the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours also demonstrated that Dutch drivers could triumph even at the highest levels of motorsport. In doing so, he inspired the current golden generation of Dutch racing talent.
Jan Lammers’ Legacy and Impact
With 16 major championships and 24 significant race wins across disciplines, Jan Lammers etched his name as the most successful Dutch motorsport competitor ever. His incredible versatility, resilience and longevity at the top level also earned him global recognition and admiration.
However, Lammers left an equally important legacy off the race track through his promotion of promising Dutch talent and key role in reviving motorsport interest in the Netherlands.
For these reasons and more, Jan Lammers remains a highly respected figure in racing that defied expectations and persevered against the odds to achieve remarkable success.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jan Lammers best known for in motorsport?
Jan Lammers is best known for winning the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours race in 1988 along with Andy Wallace and Johnny Dumfries. He is also renowned for winning the 1978 European Formula 3 championship ahead of rivals including Alain Prost and Nelson Piquet.
Did Jan Lammers win any Formula 1 races?
Unfortunately, Jan Lammers did not manage to win any Formula 1 Grands Prix during his 10 year F1 career spanning from 1979 to 1982 and later 1992. He frequently drove uncompetitive cars and lacked the machinery to fight at the front in F1.
How did Jan Lammers contribute to Dutch motorsport?
Jan Lammers contributed enormously to Dutch motorsport through acting as an inspiration to future generations, promoting young Dutch talent through his own race teams, and playing a key role in reviving the Dutch Formula 1 Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
What did Jan Lammers do after retiring from racing?
After retiring from professional racing, Jan Lammers moved into team ownership and management roles. He established Racing for Holland which ran successfully in the FIA Sportscar Championship. Lammers also managed the Dutch A1 Grand Prix national team from 2005 to 2009.
How is Jan Lammers involved in motorsport today?
Presently, Jan Lammers serves an ambassadorial and advisory role in restoring the Dutch Grand Prix to the Formula 1 calendar after 36 years. He also continues to mentor and develop promising racing talent from the Netherlands through driver coaching and guidance roles.