Motor racing driver. Raymond Sommer was born in Mouzon in the Ardennes, France. Son of a wealthy carpet manufacturer, his father Roger Sommer had been an early pilot and constructor. His father bought him a Chrysler Imperial and in March 1931 he took part in his first race. The same year, the enthusiastic youngster took part in the Le Mans and Spa 24hr races. In 1932, at the Le Mans 24hr race, his team mate Luigi Chinetti was ill so Sommer drove for 20 of the 24 hours and won. Three weeks later he came third in the Nice Grand Prix, and a week later won the GP de Marseilles at Miramas. In 1933 he joined the Maserati team but continued to drive his Alfa Romeo sportscar winning the Le Man 24hr race for the second time. In 1936 he won at Le Mans again. During the War, he was an active member of the French Resistance. After the War, he resurrected his pre-War Alfa Romeo and begun winning again. In 1947 he join Maserati but was unsuccessful and in 1948 briefly joined Ferrari before leaving to run his own Lago_talbit car. In 1950 he signed for BRM but at the British GP, the team cars were found to be woefully unready. Two weeks later the "Coeur de Lion" (Lionheart) was killed at the Haute Garonne GP at the Cadours Circuit, near Toulouse, when the steering failed on the Cooper he had borrowed from fellow driver Harry Schell. At the scene of the crash, a memorial was erected to this great driver.
Motor racing driver. Raymond Sommer was born in Mouzon in the Ardennes, France. Son of a wealthy carpet manufacturer, his father Roger Sommer had been an early pilot and constructor. His father bought him a Chrysler Imperial and in March 1931 he took part in his first race. The same year, the enthusiastic youngster took part in the Le Mans and Spa 24hr races. In 1932, at the Le Mans 24hr race, his team mate Luigi Chinetti was ill so Sommer drove for 20 of the 24 hours and won. Three weeks later he came third in the Nice Grand Prix, and a week later won the GP de Marseilles at Miramas. In 1933 he joined the Maserati team but continued to drive his Alfa Romeo sportscar winning the Le Man 24hr race for the second time. In 1936 he won at Le Mans again. During the War, he was an active member of the French Resistance. After the War, he resurrected his pre-War Alfa Romeo and begun winning again. In 1947 he join Maserati but was unsuccessful and in 1948 briefly joined Ferrari before leaving to run his own Lago_talbit car. In 1950 he signed for BRM but at the British GP, the team cars were found to be woefully unready. Two weeks later the "Coeur de Lion" (Lionheart) was killed at the Haute Garonne GP at the Cadours Circuit, near Toulouse, when the steering failed on the Cooper he had borrowed from fellow driver Harry Schell. At the scene of the crash, a memorial was erected to this great driver.
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