Gérard de Courcelles

Smaragd Marie Charles Henry Jullien "Gérard" de Courcelles (21 May 1889, Paris - 2 July 1927, Paris)^[1] was a French racing driver who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the French Lorraine-Dietrich automobile company, along with teammate André Rossignol.

Gérard de Courcelles

Gérard de Courcelles in 1926
Nationality	French
Born	(1889-05-21)21 May 1889 Paris (9e arrondissement)
Died	2 July 1927(1927-07-02) (aged 38) Paris (15e arrondissement)
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years	1923–1926
Teams	Lorraine-Dietrich
Best finish	1st (1925)
Class wins	2 (1923, 1925)

Career

De Courcelles was a decorated fighter pilot during the First World War, receiving several citations and the Médaille militaire.

De Courcelles began his career driving cyclecars in Grands Prix, but was eventually hired by Lorraine-Dietrich to enter the inaugural 24 Hours. The two drivers ran together for the next two editions of the endurance event until they succeeded in 1925. The following year the two drove separate cars, with De Courcelles assigned to Marcel Mongin. Rossignol however, and new teammate Robert Bloch, went on to win the event once again, with De Courcelles and Mongin in second.

De Courcelles died on 2 July 1927 due to an accident during a Formule Libre race supporting the Grand Prix de l'ACF.

Racing record

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year	Team	Co-Drivers	Car	Class	Laps	Pos.	Class Pos.
1923	Société Lorraine De Dietrich et Cie	André Rossignol	Lorraine-Dietrich B3-6 Sport [15CV]	5.0	108	8th	1st
1924	Société Lorraine De Dietrich et Cie	André Rossignol	Lorraine-Dietrich B3-6 Sport	5.0	119	3rd	2nd
1925	Société Lorraine De Dietrich et Cie	André Rossignol	Lorraine-Dietrich B3-6 Sport	5.0	129	1st	1st
1926	Société Lorraine De Dietrich et Cie	Marcel Mongin	Lorraine-Dietrich B3-6 Le Mans	5.0	147	2nd	2nd
Sources:[2][3]