Octave John Claes was a British-born racing driver who competed for Belgium.
10 Facts About Johnny Claes
2.
Johnny Claes was born in London to a Scottish mother and Belgian father.
3.
Johnny Claes was educated in England at Lord Williams's School.
4.
Johnny Claes was one of several gentlemen drivers who took part in Grand Prix racing of post-World War II.
5.
Johnny Claes made his debut in 1948, in his own Talbot-Lago, raced under the Ecurie Belge banner.
6.
Johnny Claes was uninjured but an observer was killed and three onlookers were seriously injured.
7.
Johnny Claes teamed with Pierre Stasse to finish 12th in the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans.
8.
Together with compatriot Jacques Swaters, Johnny Claes finished third in the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans.
9.
Johnny Claes sold his outfit to Swaters, who merged it with his own Ecurie Francorchamps to form Ecurie Nationale Belge.
10.
Johnny Claes entered occasional events until the end of the year, but finally succumbed to the disease in Brussels in 1956, aged 39.