Tribute to the Racing Legends: Those Who Left Us in 2025

The world of motorsport experienced significant losses in 2025, leaving a huge void in the hearts of enthusiasts. Iconic figures, fearless drivers, and visionary engineers all contributed to writing the history of racing. Let us pay tribute to these personalities who made the paddock and circuits around the world come alive.

Eddie Jordan (1948-2025)

Eddie Jordan

A flamboyant figure in the paddock for four decades, Eddie Jordan founded one of the most notable private teams of the 1990s-2000s: Jordan Grand Prix. The team he led competed in a total of 250 Grands Prix, achieving four victories, 19 podiums, and two pole positions. It was this team that gave Michael Schumacher, among others, his first steps in Formula 1 during the Belgian GP in 1991. With his flamboyant style and communication skills, he was the kind of character that made the world of F1 shine like fireworks in a night sky.

Jochen Mass (1946-2025)

Jochen Mass talks with Norbert Singer, Porsche designer

With 105 starts in Formula 1 Grands Prix between 1973 and 1982, mostly with McLaren and Arrows, Jochen Mass achieved a memorable victory at the infamous 1975 Spanish GP on the Montjuïc circuit. This race was prematurely interrupted by a terrible accident that claimed five lives. However, it was in endurance racing that the German driver built most of his record, highlighted by his victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1989 aboard the Sauber Mercedes C9, alongside Manuel Reuter and Stanley Dickens. A legend whose name still resonates in the paddocks of Le Mans.

Peter Wright (1946-2025)

A motorsport engineer, Peter Wright notably worked at Lotus F1 and was the originator – along with Ralph Bellamy – of the first version of ground effect chassis starting in 1978, revolutionizing the discipline and the work around aerodynamics. He was also a pioneer of active suspension and held key roles within Lotus until the team’s disappearance in 1994. Subsequently, he took a more active role in safety bodies in Formula 1, being instrumental in the introduction of the HANS device and the Halo. His legacy goes far beyond single-seaters as he is also the father of the Balance of Performance concept, now essential in endurance racing. An architect of the rules who anticipated the evolutions of the discipline.

Greg Biffle (1969-2025)

Greg Biffle

An important driver in the NASCAR Cup, Greg Biffle raced as a full-time driver in NASCAR from 2003 to 2016. His best final result remains the honorary title of vice-champion in 2005. Throughout his career, he won 19 races in the championship, all under the banner of Roush Fenway Racing, proudly displaying the number 16. A pole sitter at the Daytona 500 in 2004, he never managed to do better than third in this legendary event, finishing third in 2010 and 2012. A fierce competitor whose name still resonates in the hearts of NASCAR fans.