Johnny Herbert

This article is about the British racing driver. For other people of the same name, see John Herbert (disambiguation).
Johnny Herbert

Herbert at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Born John Paul Herbert
(1964-06-25) 25 June 1964
Brentwood, Essex, England
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality United Kingdom British
Active years 19892000
Teams Benetton, Tyrrell, Lotus, Ligier, Sauber, Stewart, Jaguar
Entries 165 (161 starts)
Championships 0
Wins 3
Podiums 7
Career points 98
Pole positions 0
Fastest laps 0
First entry 1989 Brazilian Grand Prix
First win 1995 British Grand Prix
Last win 1999 European Grand Prix
Last entry 2000 Malaysian Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Participating years 1990–1992, 2002–2004, 2007
Teams Mazdaspeed/Oreca, Champion Racing, Audi Sport North America, Team Bentley, Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx, Aston Martin Racing
Best finish 1st (1991)
Class wins 1 (1991)

John Paul "Johnny" Herbert (born 25 June 1964) is a British racing driver. He competed in Formula One, winning three races, and also in sports cars winning the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1991 driving a Mazda 787B. He enjoyed much success in lower-level motor racing. He raced in Formula One from 1989 to 2000, for 7 different teams and was 4th in the championship in 1995.

Career

Early career and entry to Formula One

During the mid-1980s, Herbert was widely regarded as an up and coming man of motor racing, comparable to the Scot Jim Clark. Winning the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch in 1985, Herbert caught Eddie Jordan's attention, and together they won the 1987 British Formula 3 title. Herbert suffered career-threatening injuries in 1988, as a then championship hopeful in International Formula 3000 when he was caught up in a major accident at Brands Hatch, sustaining severe ankle and foot injuries after multiple collisions with the barriers. The threat of amputation loomed but it eventually passed after multiple surgeries and months of physiotherapy though the extent of Herbert's injuries would permanently hinder his mobility, leaving him unable to run and forcing him to change his driving style.[1]

Despite his immobility, Herbert returned to racing at the beginning of 1989 in Formula 1, scoring points on his debut at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Rio de Janeiro driving for the Benetton team, then managed by his long-time mentor and friend Peter Collins. Herbert finished 4th in Brazil, only 10.5 seconds behind the race winning Ferrari of Nigel Mansell and only 1.1 seconds behind the 3rd placed March-Judd of Maurício Gugelmin and only 2.6 seconds behind the 2nd placed McLaren-Honda of then double World Champion Alain Prost. Herbert's team mate, the highly rated Italian Alessandro Nannini, finished in 6th place, 7.7 seconds behind Herbert.[2]

Herbert driving for Lotus at the 1994 British Grand Prix. He finished eleventh.

However, Herbert's performances could not keep up to that standard (he reportedly found it hard to press the brake pedal which adversely affected his lap times), and with the Benetton team under new management he was dropped after failing to qualify for the Canadian Grand Prix (after having finished 4th in the previous round in Phoenix) and was replaced by McLaren's test driver Emanuele Pirro. Herbert returned to Formula 3000, this time in the highly regarded Japanese series. It wasn't long before he received another call from Formula One racing, this time with Tyrrell. From 1990 to 2000, Herbert was a fixture in Formula One, switching to the dwindling Lotus team, now managed by Peter Collins.

Herbert was among the drivers who drove this Mazda 787B to victory at the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans.

During 1991, he also drove two rounds of the Fuji Long Distance Sports Car Series, co-driving a Mazda 787B, finishing fourth both times.[3] His decision, at the July round, to stop his car and aid a fellow competitor, who had suffered a puncture at high speed, would earn him the Sportsman Award at the 1991 Autosport Awards.

Ligier and return to Benetton (1994–1995)

Herbert moved to Benetton for 1995 and took his first Formula One victory at the 1995 British Grand Prix.

After 3 years of frustration, Herbert left Lotus in mid-1994, joining Ligier and then Benetton for the last few races of the season. Although he failed to score any points in 1994, he was retained as Michael Schumacher's team-mate for 1995. At the British Grand Prix, he inherited a hugely popular Grand Prix win after Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher collided. He followed this in similar circumstances at Monza, finishing 4th in the championship.

Sauber, Stewart and Jaguar (1996–2000)

Herbert driving for Stewart at the 1999 Canadian Grand Prix. He brought the car home in a respectable fifth.

After being dropped by Benetton, Herbert drove for Swiss team Sauber in 1996–1998, scoring two podium places. Moving to Stewart Grand Prix in 1999, he was routinely outqualified by his younger team mate Rubens Barrichello but scored his third and final Grand Prix win in a remarkable wet/dry European Grand Prix. Staying at Stewart after the team was purchased by Ford and became Jaguar, Herbert endured another frustrating and pointless season, ending the year being stretchered off at Malaysia after a suspension failure caused him to crash heavily.

After Formula One

Herbert driving for Audi in the 2004 Petit Le Mans. He came second, partnered with Pierre Kaffer.
Herbert in his first BTCC race.

Since retiring from Formula One racing, Herbert has concentrated on Sports Cars, trying to repeat his Le Mans 24 Hours overall win of 1991. Recent years have seen him as one of the front runners in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), where he won several events and was a challenger for the 2003 crown.

In 2004, Herbert, along with Jamie Davies won the Le Mans Series championship at the wheel of an Audi R8 winning the races at Monza and Spa along the way.

In 2005, Herbert was appointed to the post of Sporting Relations Manager at Jordan Grand Prix, which was then renamed Midland F1 for the 2006 World Championship. However, in September of that year Spyker Cars bought the team, and renamed it Spyker MF1. Another of the new owners' decisions was to not renew Herbert's contract.

In 2007, Herbert entered the Le Mans 24 Hours driving for the factory Aston Martin team at the wheel of the Aston Martin DBR9 in the GT1 class. Herbert, along with Peter Kox and Tomáš Enge drove the 007 numbered car to a 9th placed overall finish and 4th in the GT1 class.

In 2008, Herbert won the first season of the Speedcar Series.

In 2009, Herbert made his debut in the British Touring Car Championship for Team Dynamics at the wheel of a Honda Civic at round eight of the championship, Silverstone. He qualified 17th for the first race, and after moving up the order, finished in 13th. In the second race, he finished inside the points in eighth place, scoring three points. In the final race of the day, a reverse starting grid is operated. The first six, seven, eight, nine or ten cars to finish race two, start race three in reverse order. This is decided by the winner of race two drawing a number between six and ten out of a hat. For the final race of the day, the top 9 finishers were reversed, meaning Herbert started from second. He was running well, and was holding 4th, but was forced to retire on lap 13, after contact with Jason Plato. Herbert went on to compete in the final two rounds of the season.

Herbert also runs a charity event called the Johnny Herbert Karting Challenge every year for charities like the halow project which is now held at Capital Karts in London. This event invites celebrities and professional racing drivers to compete in indoor go karting and is now in its 20th year.

Sky Sports F1

Johnny Herbert in the Silverstone pit lane for the 2014 British Grand Prix

Herbert is a regular contributor to the new Sky Sports F1 channel co-hosting the 2012 Chinese Grand Prix alongside Martin Brundle. He regularly offers post-race analysis for the channel and also often appears on the channel's dedicated F1 show. On 2 April 2016 he suggested that Fernando Alonso should retire from F1, after which Alonso hit back at him during a live broadcast by suggesting that Herbert "is now a commentator, because he is not a world champion".

GT Academy

In 2013 and 2014, Herbert mentored 6 contestants in a primetime ITV4 reality series, with the aim of taking players of the Gran Turismo videogames to the Dubai 24 Hour race as real drivers.[4] Other countries in Europe had heats mentored by drivers Vitantonio Liuzzi and Sébastien Buemi.[5]

Racing record

Complete International Formula 3000 results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 DC Points
1988 Jordan Racing JER
1
VAL
Ret
PAU SIL
7
MON
3
PER
Ret
BRH
Ret
BIR BUG ZOL DIJ 8th 13

Complete Formula One results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 WDC Pts.
1989 Benetton Formula Benetton B188 Ford V8 BRA
4
SMR
11
MON
14
MEX
15
USA
5
CAN
DNQ
FRA GBR GER HUN 14th 5
Tyrrell Racing Organisation Tyrrell 018 Ford V8 BEL
Ret
ITA POR
DNQ
ESP JPN AUS
1990 Camel Team Lotus Lotus 102 Lamborghini V12 USA BRA SMR MON CAN MEX FRA GBR GER HUN BEL ITA POR ESP JPN
Ret
AUS
Ret
NC 0
1991 Team Lotus Lotus 102B Judd V8 USA BRA SMR MON CAN
DNQ
MEX
10
FRA
10
GBR
14
GER HUN BEL
7
ITA POR
Ret
ESP JPN
Ret
AUS
11
NC 0
1992 Team Lotus Lotus 102D Ford V8 RSA
6
MEX
7
BRA
Ret
ESP
Ret
15th 2
Lotus 107 Ford V8 SMR
Ret
MON
Ret
CAN
Ret
FRA
6
GBR
Ret
GER
Ret
HUN
Ret
BEL
13
ITA
Ret
POR
Ret
JPN
Ret
AUS
13
1993 Team Lotus Lotus 107B Ford V8 RSA
Ret
BRA
4
EUR
4
SMR
8
ESP
Ret
MON
Ret
CAN
10
FRA
Ret
GBR
4
GER
10
HUN
Ret
BEL
5
ITA
Ret
POR
Ret
JPN
11
AUS
Ret
9th 11
1994 Team Lotus Lotus 107C Mugen-Honda V10 BRA
7
PAC
7
SMR
10
MON
Ret
NC 0
Lotus 109 Mugen-Honda V10 ESP
Ret
CAN
8
FRA
7
GBR
11
GER
Ret
HUN
Ret
BEL
12
ITA
Ret
POR
11
Ligier Gitanes Blondes Ligier JS39B Renault V10 EUR
8
Mild Seven Benetton Ford Benetton B194 Ford V8 JPN
Ret
AUS
Ret
1995 Mild Seven Benetton Renault Benetton B195 Renault RS7 3.0 V10 BRA
Ret
ARG
4
SMR
7
ESP
2
MON
4
CAN
Ret
FRA
Ret
GBR
1
GER
4
HUN
4
BEL
7
ITA
1
POR
7
EUR
5
PAC
6
JPN
3
AUS
Ret
4th 45
1996 Red Bull Sauber Ford Sauber C15 Ford Zetec-R V10 AUS
Ret
BRA
Ret
ARG
9
EUR
7
SMR
Ret
MON
3
ESP
Ret
CAN
7
FRA
DSQ
GBR
9
GER
Ret
HUN
Ret
BEL
Ret
ITA
9
POR
8
JPN
10
14th 4
1997 Red Bull Sauber Petronas Sauber C16 Petronas V10 AUS
Ret
BRA
7
ARG
4
SMR
Ret
MON
Ret
ESP
5
CAN
5
FRA
8
GBR
Ret
GER
Ret
HUN
3
BEL
4
ITA
Ret
AUT
8
LUX
7
JPN
6
EUR
8
10th 15
1998 Red Bull Sauber Petronas Sauber C17 Petronas V10 AUS
6
BRA
11
ARG
Ret
SMR
Ret
ESP
7
MON
7
CAN
Ret
FRA
8
GBR
Ret
AUT
8
GER
Ret
HUN
10
BEL
Ret
ITA
Ret
LUX
Ret
JPN
10
15th 1
1999 Stewart Ford Stewart SF3 Ford V10 AUS
DNS
BRA
Ret
SMR
10
MON
Ret
ESP
Ret
CAN
5
FRA
Ret
GBR
12
AUT
14
GER
11
HUN
11
BEL
Ret
ITA
Ret
EUR
1
MAL
4
JPN
7
8th 15
2000 Jaguar Racing Jaguar R1 Ford V10 AUS
Ret
BRA
Ret
SMR
10
GBR
12
ESP
13
EUR
11
MON
9
CAN
Ret
FRA
Ret
AUT
7
GER
Ret
HUN
Ret
BEL
8
ITA
Ret
USA
11
JPN
7
MAL
Ret
17th 0

Driver did not finish the Grand Prix, but was classified as they completed over 90% of the race distance.

Complete Japanese Formula 3000 Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 DC Points
1990 Team LeMans SUZ
19
FUJ
10
MIN
Ret
SUZ
Ret
SUG
7
FUJ
Ret
FUJ
5
SUZ
6
FUJ
Ret
SUZ
Ret
16th 3
1991 Team LeMans SUZ
5
AUT
7
FUJ
Ret
MIN
2
SUZ
Ret
SUG
Ret
FUJ
Ret
SUZ
7
FUJ
C
SUZ
Ret
FUJ
6
10th 9

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1990 Japan Mazdaspeed Germany Volker Weidler
Belgium Bertrand Gachot
Mazda 787 GTP 148 DNF DNF
1991 Japan Mazdaspeed Germany Volker Weidler
Belgium Bertrand Gachot
Mazda 787B C2 362 1st 1st
1992 Japan Mazdaspeed
France Oreca
Germany Volker Weidler
Belgium Bertrand Gachot
Brazil Maurizio Sandro Sala
Mazda MXR-01 C1 336 4th 4th
2001 United States Champion Racing Belgium Didier Theys
Germany Ralf Kelleners
Audi R8 LMP900 81 DNF DNF
2002 Germany Audi Sport North America Italy Christian Pescatori
Italy Rinaldo Capello
Audi R8 LMP900 374 2nd 2nd
2003 United Kingdom Team Bentley United Kingdom Mark Blundell
Australia David Brabham
Bentley Speed 8 LMGTP 375 2nd 2nd
2004 United Kingdom Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx United Kingdom Jamie Davies
United Kingdom Guy Smith
Audi R8 LMP1 379 2nd 2nd
2007 United Kingdom Aston Martin Racing Netherlands Peter Kox
Czech Republic Tomáš Enge
Aston Martin DBR9 GT1 337 9th 4th

Complete American Le Mans Series results

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine Tyres 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rank Points
2001 Champion Racing LMP900 Audi R8 Audi 3.6L Turbo V8 M TEX SEB DON JAR SON
ovr:4
cls:4
POR
ovr:3
cls:3
MOS
ovr:Ret
cls:Ret
MID
ovr:5
cls:5
MON
ovr:2
cls:2
PET
ovr:3
cls:3
8th 113
2002 Audi Sport North America LMP900 Audi R8 Audi 3.6L Turbo V8 M SEB
ovr:1
cls:1
4th 206
Champion Racing SON
ovr:2
cls:2
MID
ovr:10
cls:8
AME
ovr:3
cls:3
WAS
ovr:5
cls:5
TRO
ovr:3
cls:3
MOS
ovr:2
cls:2
MON
ovr:2
cls:2
MIA
ovr:5
cls:5
PET
ovr:2
cls:2
2003 Team Bentley LMGTP Bentley Speed 8 Bentley 4.0L Turbo V8 M SEB
ovr:3
cls:3
4th 160
ADT Champion Racing LMP900 Audi R8 Audi 3.6L Turbo V8 ATL
ovr:1
cls:1
SON
ovr:3
cls:2
TRO
ovr:2
cls:2
MOS
ovr:20
cls:4
AME
ovr:1
cls:1
MON
ovr:4
cls:3
MIA
ovr:1
cls:1
PET
ovr:1
cls:1
2004 Audi Sport UK Team Veloqx LMP1 Audi R8 Audi 3.6L Turbo V8 M SEB
ovr:3
cls:3
MID LIM SON POR MOS AME 8th 64
ADT Champion Racing PET
ovr:2
cls:2
MON
ovr:1
cls:1

Complete IndyCar Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Rank Points
2002 Duesenberg Dallara Chevrolet HMS PHX FON NAZ INDY
DNQ
TXS PPIR RIR KAN NSH MCH KTY GAT CHI TXS NC 0

Indianapolis 500 results

Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team
2002 Dallara Chevrolet DNQ Duesenberg

Complete British Touring Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position – 1 point awarded just in first race) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap – 1 point awarded all races) (* signifies that driver lead race for at least one lap – 1 point awarded all races)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Pos Pts
2009 Team Dynamics Honda Civic BRH
1
BRH
2
BRH
3
THR
1
THR
2
THR
3
DON
1
DON
2
DON
3
OUL
1
OUL
2
OUL
3
CRO
1
CRO
2
CRO
3
SNE
1
SNE
2
SNE
3
KNO
1
KNO
2
KNO
3
SIL
1

13
SIL
2

8
SIL
3

Ret
ROC
1

Ret
ROC
2

10
ROC
3

7
BRH
1

Ret
BRH
2

Ret
BRH
3

14
19th 8

Complete International Superstars Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 DC Points
2010 Motorzone Race Car Chevrolet Lumina CR8 MNZ
R1

Ret
MNZ
R2

6
IMO
R1

2
IMO
R2

DNS
ALG
R1

DNS
ALG
R2

Ret
HOC
R1

14
HOC
R2

3
CPR
R1

3
CPR
R2

15
VAL
R1

Ret
VAL
R2

Ret
KYA
R1

1
KYA
R2

Ret
7th 66
2011 Romeo Ferraris Mercedes C63 AMG MNZ
R1

10
MNZ
R2

Ret
VNC
R1

6
VNC
R2

18
ALG
R1

15
ALG
R2

18
DON
R1

2
DON
R2

6
MIS
R1

4
MIS
R2

2
SPA
R1

3
SPA
R2

9
MUG
R1

5
MUG
R2

3
VAL
R1

Ret
VAL
R2

5
6th 96
2012 Swiss Team Maserati Quattroporte MNZ
R1
MNZ
R2
IMO
R1
IMO
R2
DON
R1

3
DON
R2

7
MUG
R1

2
MUG
R2

Ret
HUN
R1
HUN
R2
SPA
R1
SPA
R2
VAL
R1
VAL
R2
PER
R1
PER
R2
12th 36

Helmet

Herbert's helmet design was red with white line going from the rear going through the sides and on the mouthplate, black stripes on the lower sides a black stripe on the rear (in a similar fashion to Depailler's helmet), in 1999, when he drove for Stewart, the stripes on the lower sides were changed to green and on the top of the helmet was added a drop with the union jack. in 2000, when he drove for Jaguar, the green areas became blue.

References

  1. http://www.sniffermedia.com/blog/2013/09/02/race-that-shook-the-world-brands-3000-1988/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. 1989 Brazilian Grand Prix
  3. . wspr-racing.com. 20 October 2009 http://www.wspr-racing.com/wspr/results/fld/fld1991.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. http://www.touchline.tv/gaming/gran-turismo-academy-series-confirmed-for-itv4
  5. http://eu.gran-turismo.com/ie/news/d50120.html
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Johnny Herbert.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Andy Wallace
Autosport
National Racing Driver of the Year

1987
Succeeded by
JJ Lehto
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Gerrit van Kouwen
Formula Ford Festival Winner
1985
Succeeded by
Roland Ratzenberger
Preceded by
Andy Wallace
British Formula 3 Champion
1987
Succeeded by
JJ Lehto
Preceded by
John Nielsen
Price Cobb
Martin Brundle
Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1991 with:
Volker Weidler
Bertrand Gachot
Succeeded by
Derek Warwick
Yannick Dalmas
Mark Blundell
Preceded by
Gabriele Tarquini
Formula One Indoor Trophy
Winner

1992
Succeeded by
Rubens Barrichello
Preceded by
None
Le Mans Series Champion
2004 with:
Jamie Davies
Succeeded by
Jean-Christophe Boullion
Emmanuel Collard
Preceded by
None
Speedcar Series Champion
2008
Succeeded by
Gianni Morbidelli
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