RIP Jochen Mass 1946-2025

By Lizzie Pope

| 5 May 2025

Classic & Sports Car – RIP Jochen Mass 1946-2025

Jochen Mass died yesterday, 4 May, from complications after suffering a stroke in February. He was 78.

His family announced his passing on his Instagram page, more than a month after sharing the news he was recovering from what was described as ‘a recent medical emergency’.

In yesterday’s post the family thanked ‘everyone for the incredible support we have received’.

‘Every single message of positivity was relayed to him, giving him peace and comfort in his last days,’ the statement continued. ‘Beyond mourning his death, we also celebrate his incredible life. A life that he loved sharing with all of you. A life that he lived to the absolute fullest.’

Mass/Reuter/Dickens won the 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans for Mercedes, 37 years after the marque’s maiden victory © Mercedes-Benz AG

And what a life and career it was.

Jochen Mass was born in Bavaria on 30 September 1946 and en route to racing in Formula One, claimed victory in 1972’s Spa 24 Hours, alongside Hans-Joachim Stuck in a Ford Capri RS 2600.

His F1 debut came at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, on 14 July 1973 in a Surtees, where he was one of 11 cars that retired after a crash on lap one.

It was the first of 105 Grands Prix he started, and as well as racing for Surtees, Mass drove for McLaren, March, Arrows and ATS.

The Mass/Reuter/Dickens Sauber-Mercedes C9, lights ablaze, en route to Le Mans glory © Mercedes-Benz AG

Across almost a decade in the sport he achieved eight podium finishes, all of which were during his time at McLaren between 1974-’77, including his only F1 win, at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix, the last to be held at Barcelona’s Parc de Montjuïc street circuit.

It was a notable race for several reasons, because Lella Lombardi became the first and, to date, only woman to score points in a world championship Grand Prix.

However, the tragic death of four people – two photographers, a spectator and a track worker – after Rolf Stommelen’s Hill went over the barriers, caused the Grand Prix to be red-flagged and because it was stopped before 60% of the total distance had been covered, half points were awarded. Before the crash, Mass, in his Ford-Cosworth-DFV-powered McLaren M23, had retaken the lead from Jacky Ickx’s Lotus.

Mass (left) in conversation with teammate Jean-Louis Schlesser at Spa in 1989 © Mercedes-Benz AG

The biggest triumphs in Mass’ career came in sports-car racing, with Porsche and then Mercedes-Benz.

Aboard Porsche 956/962s he won nine World Sportscar Championship races in the Group C era, including second at Le Mans in 1982, sharing a 956 with Vern Schuppan.

In all, Mass entered Le Mans 12 times and it was there, in 1989, that he achieved his greatest success when he won, with Stanley Dickens and Manuel Reuter, in a Sauber-Mercedes C9.

Had Le Mans been part of 1989’s World Sports-Prototype Championship, he’d have been crowned champion, but had to settle for second behind teammate Jean-Louis Schlesser.

A night-time pitstop at Le Mans in ’89, Mass taking over the Sauber-Mercedes © Mercedes-Benz AG

Mass’ work with Mercedes continued. He mentored and coached as part of the marque’s young-driver programme, during which time he shared cars with Michael Schumacher, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Karl Wendlinger.

These partnerships resulted in victory for Mass and Wendlinger at Spa-Francorchamps, and for Mass and Schumacher in Mexico City, both in Sauber-Mercedes C11s as part of the 1990 World Sportscar Championship.

In all, with Porsche, Mercedes and Alfa Romeo, Mass was victorious 32 times in world championship sports-car racing, which is second only to six-time Le Mans winner Ickx’s tally of 37, across the 40-year span of the original series.

Jochen Mass alongside Stirling Moss in the Mercedes-Benz W196S in which Moss won the 1955 Mille Miglia, at the same event in 2005 © Mercedes-Benz AG

Mass’ relationship with Mercedes-Benz continuned for the rest of his life and he was often seen behind the wheel of cars from across the marque’s history.

He was a regular at Goodwood’s Festival of Speed, Members’ Meeting and Revival, where he took great pleasure in campaigning a wide range of machinery, plus he was captain of Goodwood’s Darnley house for a decade.

His friendliness and charm, and his joy in talking to and sharing stories with people, will be much missed, and tributes have been pouring in.

“Jochen was wonderful company on a road trip,” remembers Classic & Sports Car’s Mick Walsh. “Be it a chain-driven Edwardian up La Turbie hillclimb or a Grand Prix W196 around Spa, he embraced every era of machine and always drove with his typical gusto.

“Riding shotgun on the Mille Miglia, we talked about a fantastic range of subjects, from cooking curries on Indian cargo ships to his transatlantic ballooning experiences.

“I’ll never forget powering past heavy football traffic through Bologna in the centre of the road and a very close call with an innocent old lady in a Fiat Panda who pulled out into our rapid path.”

“He had an incredible life at the heart of our sport and was a wonderful person who embraced life and loved Formula One,” said F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali.

On Instagram, nine-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen wrote: “Godspeed My Friend. Bye bye Great Man. Full of fun, excitement and laughter” [sic].

“I am greatly saddened by the passing of my friend Jochen Mass today. He was not just a distinguished driver but a gentlemen and true sportsman, who represented so well the sport we all love,” added three-time CART champion Bobby Rahal, with whom Mass won the 1987 12 Hours of Sebring in a Porsche 962. “RIP, my friend, and thank you for the memories.”

Images: Mercedes-Benz AG/James Mann

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