Motorsport Mysteries – The Driver Who Wanted to Win Without Driving

In over a century of motorsport history, there have been many mysteries and controversies, sometimes technical and other times "human", that have contributed to the creation of legends. Legends that, very often, were not confirmed by the facts. Some examples? Paul Frère and Olivier Gendebien in 1960 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the year when a regulation change required much taller windshields. With their open Ferrari sports car and poor visibility in torrential rain, they used cushions on their seats to see better. They won! The regulation was respected, but the spirit betrayed. Yet, no penalties or disqualifications followed.

However, it’s in Formula 1 that, particularly on the technical front, daring solutions often tested (or exceeded) the limits of the rules: in 1983, Brabham used illegal special fuel to become World Champion, outsmarting the deserving Renault. When the irregularity was announced after the season concluded, Renault’s president, in a show of sportsmanship, declined to file a protest, saying they wouldn’t win on a technicality or embarrass the FIA, instead promising future victories. Notable episodes include Benetton’s banned traction control in 1994 or the infamous Ferrari-McLaren spy scandal in 2007, when the British team obtained technical drawings of the Italian car.

The Ferrari 250 LM number 21, winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1965, will be auctioned in Paris on February 5th.

There’s one curious case that remains unsolved: On February 5th, the Ferrari 250 LM number 21, winner of Le Mans 1965, will be auctioned in Paris by RM Sotheby’s with an estimate of over €25 million. This car is the protagonist of today’s story—a little-known tale linking the third driver, Ed Hugus, to a mystery that has intrigued fans for years. Adding to the doubt is the fact that the story only surfaced when most of the key players had already passed away. Ed Hugus was registered by Ferrari’s NART (North American Racing Team) as a reserve driver for the LM number 21 driven by Masten Gregory and Jochen Rindt. In 1965, Hugus was 42 years old with extensive experience in SCCA American racing and nine prior 24 Hours of Le Mans appearances. The Ford vs. Ferrari rivalry was in full swing, but the American prototype was still immature, clearing the path for Ferrari’s Rosse, which claimed a stunning one-two finish with the number 21 leading the pack. This victory was Ferrari’s last until 2023.

The 1965 victory of Masten Gregory and Jochen Rindt at the wheel of the Ferrari 250 LM.

Years after the 1965 Le Mans success, rumors began circulating that Ed Hugus had also driven the 250 LM in a stint during the early hours of dawn. However, Le Mans rules stated that if a reserve driver participated, the substituted official driver could not return to the race without causing disqualification. The change was speculated to have occurred because one official driver may not have been available.

Ed Hugus, the third driver of car number 21, with a hat and glasses, pictured post-race alongside Jochen Rindt on the roof and Masten Gregory at the wheel.

When questioned by journalists and motorsport experts, Hugus never denied the rumors. Yet an analysis of the 1965 race’s official documents, including pit stop timings and driver changes, does not show any changes around 4:00 AM. A possible stint for Hugus might have occurred around 8:00 AM, but even then, lap times matched those of Gregory, making it unlikely that Hugus, in his first stint, could match a professional driver.

Another barroom legend? Almost certainly, yes—especially since the monitoring back then was far less sophisticated than today’s data tracking, TV images, and steward oversight, leaving no room for cheating or deception. Old-school races—nostalgia for episodes that could never happen today.

Years after the victory, rumors began that Ed Hugus drove the car during the race—a claim that remains unconfirmed.