Jochen Mass, legendary racing driver, Le Mans winner and much-loved Mercedes-Benz Classic brand ambassador, has died aged 78. Mass passed away on 4 May 2025, leaving behind an enduring legacy in motorsport that stretched from Formula 1 to the pinnacle of sports-car racing.
Mass was born on 30 September 1946 in Dorfen, near Munich, and grew up close to Mannheim. His diverse career began in touring cars and quickly escalated, seeing him compete in 105 Formula 1 Grands Prix, primarily with McLaren and Arrows. Mass achieved eight podium finishes, scored 71 World Championship points, and won the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix, marking him as Germany’s most accomplished Formula 1 driver at that particular point in history.
Between 1976 and 1987, Mass was a key member of Porsche’s works team, piloting cars such as the 935, 936, 956, and 962 to numerous victories, including the World Sportscar Championship. Mass also helped facilitate Porsche’s influential sponsorship partnership with Rothmans. He was crowned German Sports Car Champion in 1985, capping more than a decade as a Porsche works driver.
His greatest motorsport triumph, however, came at the wheel of the legendary Sauber-Mercedes C9. Mass clinched overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1989 alongside co-drivers Manuel Reuter and Stanley Dickens, achieving Mercedes-Benz’s first outright win at the famous endurance race since 1952. He went on to finish runner-up in that year’s World Endurance Championship for Prototypes.
Beyond Formula 1 and Le Mans, Mass’s versatility and adventurous spirit saw him compete in the gruelling 1984 Paris-Dakar Rally, driving a Mercedes-Benz 500 SLC. In 1990, Mass notably mentored young Mercedes-Benz drivers Michael Schumacher, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Karl Wendlinger.
After retiring from active racing, Mass maintained a close relationship with Mercedes-Benz, becoming a beloved ambassador for Mercedes-Benz Classic. Regularly seen piloting iconic vehicles from Mercedes’ history, Mass delighted crowds at prestigious events, notably the Mille Miglia and Goodwood Festival of Speed. Sir Stirling Moss described Mass as ‘a driver with an extraordinary feel for racing cars and great expertise’, praising his exceptional understanding of racing history and cars from all eras.
A man of broad interests, Mass was also known for adventures beyond motorsport. In 1992, he participated in a balloon race across the Atlantic, and from 1993 to 1997 he served as a respected Formula 1 commentator on German television.
In tribute, we have published our full interview with Jochen Mass, conducted in December 2019. Read it here.
