Pierre Veyron facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pierre Veyron
Pierre Veyron in 1934.
Born	(1903-10-01)1 October 1903 Berc, France
Died	2 November 1970(1970-11-02) (aged 67) Èze, France
Nationality	French
Occupation	Grand Prix motor racing driver
Years active	1930-1953
Known for	Winner, 24 Hours of Le Mans (1939)
Awards	Legion of Honour (1945)

Pierre Veyron (1 October 1903 – 2 November 1970) was a French Grand Prix motor racing driver active from 1933 through 1953.

Career

Pierre Veyron enrolled at university to study engineering. Veyron's friend, Albert Divo, convinced Veyron to take up racing and introduced Veyron to André Vagniez, an industrialist who provided financial support to Veyron. Vagniez purchased a Bugatti Type 37A that Veyron drove to his first racing victory, winning the 1930 Geneva Grand Prix.

Jean Bugatti, son of Bugatti founder Ettore Bugatti, hired Pierre Veyron in 1932 as a test driver and development engineer. Veyron entered races as a Bugatti company driver, winning many including the 1933 and 1934 Berlin Avus races while driving a Bugatti Type 51A. Veyron's most significant race victory was his 1939 win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, co-driving a Bugatti Type 57S Tank with Jean-Pierre Wimille.

During World War II, Veyron joined the French Resistance against German occupation. For his service during the war, the Republic of France awarded him the Legion of Honour in 1945.

After the war, Veyron continued racing, but his main focus was on his family and his oil-drilling technology company. Veyron died in Èze, France in 1970.

Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. named the Veyron 16.4 supercar in honor of Veyron.

Racing record

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year	Team	Co-Drivers	Car	Class	Laps	Pos.	Class Pos.
1934	Roger Labric (private entrant)	Roger Labric	Bugatti Type 50S	5.0	73	DNF
1935	Roger Labric (private entrant)	Roger Labric	Bugatti Type 50S	5.0	116	DNF
1937	Roger Labric (private entrant)	Roger Labric	Bugatti Type 57G Tank	5.0	130	DNF
1939	Jean-Pierre Wimille (private entrant)	Jean-Pierre Wimille	Bugatti Type 57C Tank	8.0	249	1st	1st
1949	Amédée Gordini Automobiles Gordini	José Scaron	Simca-Gordini T8	S1.1	88	DNF (Transmission)
1950	Manufactures d'Armes de Paris	Fernand Lacour	M.A.P. Diesel	S5.0	39	DNF (Overheating)
1951	Equipe Gordini	Georges Monneret	Gordini T15S	S1.5	130	DNF (Engine)
1952	Donald Healey Motor Co.	Yves Giraud-Cabantous	Nash-Healey	S5.0	?	DNF (Engine)
1953	Nash-Healey Inc.	Yves Giraud-Cabantous	Nash-Healey Sports	S5.0	9	DNF (Engine)