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Jean de Montrémy

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Jean de Montrémy
Born(1913-05-18)May 18, 1913
DiedDecember 16, 1998(1998-12-16) (aged 85)
NationalityFrench
Occupations
  • Industrialist
  • Racing driver

Jean Waldruche de Montrémy (1913–1998) was a French industrialist, racing driver, motorsport official, and race car designer.

Biography

Jean de Montrémy was born on 18 May 1913. He completed his education at Reims, and also officiated at races on the nearby racing track.[1] de Montrémy married Odile Hémard.[2]

In 1937–38 the apéritif-distilling Hémard family acquired a controlling interest in Monopole, an automobile parts manufacturing company based in Poissy. In 1944 de Montrémy became managing director of Monpole.[1] To promote the company's products, he established Écurie Monopole, and designed and built racing cars for them.[3] He was directly involved in the development of the earliest Monopole racing cars and was responsible for racing operations for all models up to the X89. de Montrémy also raced the cars himself, driving Monopoles in several major events, most notably at Le Mans, from 1947 to 1955.

Although the first barquette designed by de Montrémy used a Simca engine, all subsequent Monopole racers starting with the 1954 X84 Tank used the air-cooled 2-cylinder flat twin engine from car builder Panhard. Following the 1955 Le Mans accident, Panhard decided to withdraw from direct involvement in racing. The Écurie Monopole racing operation was made Panhard's official racing team in 1956, and Panhard's own racing cars were transferred to Monopole.[3] From 1958 on the cars were called either "Panhard Monopoles" or "Monopole Panhards" depending on which company's literature was the source.

In 1952 de Montrémy was appointed race director at Le Mans, and it was in that capacity rather than as a driver that he saw his X84 model win the Performance Index and the eighteenth Biennial Cup for the third year running, becoming the only manufacturer to achieve three consecutive victories.

For his personal transport, de Montrémy frequently opted for cars from Facel Vega, at various times owning a 1962 Facel II (serial number A157), an FV1 Cabriolet, an HK 500, and a Facellia.[4]

Jean de Montrémy died on 16 December 1998.

Racing career

A 1956 Monopole X86, front three-quarter view.
A 1956 Monopole X86, rear three-quarter view.

de Montrémy's first major race was the 1947 Formula Libre at the Reims circuit, where he finished seventh in his Simca-powered Monopole Sport. In 1948 he began to focus on endurance races, retiring from the 24 Hours of Spa, and finishing ninth with teammate Eugène Dussous [de] at the 1948 12 Hours of Paris.[5][6]

de Montrémy's first appearance at La Sarthe was at the 1949 24 Hours of Le Mans where he and brother-in-law co-driver Jean Hémard finished twelfth and won their class. In 1950 de Montrémy and Hémard won the 16th Biennial Cup and tied for the Index of Performance, and in 1951 won both the Biennial Cup and the Index of Performance a second time.[7] In 1953 the pair returned for a twentyfourth place finish. In five appearances at Le Mans between 1949 and 1955, de Montrémy was among the top 25 finishers four times.

In 1954 de Montrémy finished in twelfth place at the Coupe d'Automne, and in 1955 placed tenth at the Bol d'Or automobile with John Simone.

Racing record

Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class Pos.
1949  France Établissements Monopole  France Eugène Dussous Monopole Sport S 1.1 185 12th 1st
1950  France Établissements Monopole  France Jean Hémard Monopole X84 Tank S 750 180 22nd 1st
1951  France Établissements Monopole  France Jean Hémard Monopole X84 S 750 194 23rd 1st
1953  France Automobiles Panhard et Levassor  France Jean Hémard Monopole X85 S750 212 24th
1955  France Écurie Monopole  France Francis Navarro Monopole X88 Sport S 750 30 DNF

World Sportscar Championship results

Saison Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1953 Monopole Monopole X85 USA ITA FRA BEL DEU UK MEX
DNF
1955 Monopole Monopole X88 ARG USA ITA FRA UK ITA
DNF

References

  1. ^ a b Blumlein, David (July 2012). "Monopoles at Le Mans" (PDF). Four Small Wheels. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  2. ^ "FIANÇAILLES". Le Figaro. Paris. 28 April 1937.
  3. ^ a b "Monopole Panhard — Battling for French Blue". Archived from the original on 17 April 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Les personnalités et Facel-Véga" (PDF). www.facel-vega.com.
  5. ^ "Date: 11.7.1948 — Spa 24 Hours". www.racingsportscars.com.
  6. ^ "Event: 12 Heures de Paris — Date: 12.9.1948". www.racingsportscars.com.
  7. ^ "L'Histoire — LE MANS 26 MAI 1923" [The Story — Le Mans 26 May 1923] (in French).

Further reading

  • Moity, Christian; Teissedre, Jean-Marc; Bienvenu, Alain (1992). 1923-1962. 24 heures du Mans, 1923–1992. Vol. 1. Besançon Le Mans: Editions d'art J.P. Barthélémy Automobile club de l'Ouest. ISBN 978-2-909-41306-8. OCLC 34331756..
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