George Follmer (born January 27, 1934) is an American former auto racing driver, and one of the most successful road racers of the 1970s. He was born in Phoenix, Arizona. His family moved to California when he was just an infant.

Career

Follmer began his career running a Volkswagen Beetle in Gymkhana competition in parking lots in the San Gabriel Valley of Southern California.

Follmer raced in the USAC Championship Car series in the 1967-1971 and 1974 seasons, with 25 career starts, including the 1969-1971 Indianapolis 500 races. He finished in the top ten 11 times, with his one victory in 1969 at Phoenix International Raceway. His best finish at the Indianapolis 500 was in 1971. He started 29th and finished in the 15th position driving the Grant King Racer's turbo Offy.

In 1973, Follmer competed in Formula One with Don Nichols' UOP Shadow team. He took part in his first Grand Prix, in South Africa, at the age of 39 years and 1 month - making him F1's oldest débutant since the 1950s, a distinction he still holds. In 13 Championship races, his best results were 6th in South Africa and a podium 3rd in Spain, in his first two Grands Prix, which gave him 13th in the Drivers' Championship with five points. He also competed in several non-Championship races.

Follmer also had success in other racing series. In 1965, he won the SCCA United States Road Racing Championship. Follmer won two races in the 1970 SCCA Continental Championship for Formula A cars, placing sixth in the standings. He won the Trans-Am championship in 1972, winning four races with an AMC Javelin, and 1976, driving a Porsche 934 Turbo.

In 1972, Follmer was the Can-Am champion, substituting for the injured Mark Donohue in Penske Racing's Porsche 917/10, causing the racing press to dub Follmer "George Am". He was vice-champion in 1973 driving for Rinzler and 1974 in a Shadow. He collected 6 wins and 13 podiums in the three-year spell. He is the only driver to win the Can-Am and Trans-Am championship in the same year.

Follmer competed in the NASCAR Winston Cup series in 1974, with appearances in 13 of 30 races. He collected three top 5 finishes and a pole position. In 1974 and 1975, he raced at the International Race of Champions, where he won a race.

In 1977 he returned to the revived Can-Am, resulting 6th in 1977 and 5th in 1978. He won the 1978 St. Jovite Can Am in his Prophet-Chevy over Alan Jones.

After his retirement, he came back to racing for the 1986 24 Hours of Le Mans, obtaining a prestigious third place with a Porsche 956.

Though long-retired from professional motorsports competition, Follmer still competes in vintage races, often driving the very same cars in which he competed during his heyday.

In addition to his racing career, Follmer also owned a Porsche-Audi-Subaru dealership in Pomona, California, later relocated to Montclair, California, from 1977 to 1990.

Award

He was inducted in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1999. He was also inducted into the SCCA Hall of Fame in 2019.

2014 Saleen Mustang Limited Edition

On August 17, 2013 Saleen introduced a limited edition Saleen | George Follmer Edition Ford Mustang. Based on the #16 1969 Boss 302 Mustang racecar that he drove in the 1969 SCCA Trans-Am series, the 2014 Saleen/Follmer Edition was period correct with its livery, naturally aspirated 495HP 5.0L high revving engine, track tuned suspension, and 6-speed manual transmission. Production was limited to 250 units.

Motorsports career results

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos. 1966 North American Racing Team Charlie Kolb Ferrari Dino 206S P 2.0 9 DNF DNF 1986 Joest Racing John Morton
Kenper Miller Porsche 956 C1 355 3rd 3rd

American open-wheel racing

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

USAC Championship Car

USAC Championship Car results Year Team Chassis Engine 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 Pos. Pts 1967 Rolla Vollstedt Vollstedt Ford PHX TRE INDY MIL LAN PPR MOS MOS IRP
17 LAN MTR MTR SPR MIL DSF INF TRE
21 SAC HAN PHX RSD
6 27th 230 1968 George R. Bryant Cheetah Ford HAN
11 LVS
15 PHX
24 TRE INDY
DNQ MIL MOS
11 MOS
10 LAN PPR CDR NAZ IRP IRP LAN LAN MTR MTR ISF MIL DSF INF TRE SAC MCH HAN PHX RSD
8 32nd 206 1969 George Follmer Cheetah Chevy PHX
1 HAN
9 IRP
6 IRP
3 MIL
11 ISF DOV DSF INF BRN
6 BRN
6 TRE SAC SIR
15 SIR
6 16th 880 Ford INDY
27 MIL LAN PPR CDR NAZ TRE STP Racing Lotus 56 Offy PHX
DNQ Plymouth RSD
14 1970 Brawner Hawk Ford PHX SON TRE INDY
31 MIL LAN CDR MCH ONT
20 DSF INF SED TRE SAC PHX NC 0 George Walther Morris Ford IRP
21 ISF MIL 1971 Grant King Kingfish 70 Offy 159 ci turbo RAF RAF PHX TRE INDY
15 MIL POC MCH MIL ONT TRE PHX NC 0 1975 American Kids Racer Eagle 72 Offy 159 ci turbo ONT ONT
8 ONT
DNS PHX TRE INDY
DNQ NC 0 Adams Automotive Eagle 72 Offy 159 ci turbo INDY
DNQ MIL POC MCH MIL MCH TRE PHX

Indianapolis 500

Year Chassis Engine Start Finish Team 1968 Cheetah Ford DNQ George R. Bryant 1969 Cheetah Ford 27 27 George Follmer 1970 Brawner Hawk Ford 21 31 STP Racing 1971 Kingfish Offenhauser 29 15 Grant King 1975 Eagle Offenhauser DNQ American Kids Racer Eagle Offenhauser DNQ Adams Automotive

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Cup Series

NASCAR Winston Cup Series results Year Team No. Make 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 31 NWCC Pts Ref 1972 Frasson Racing 18W Dodge RSD DAY RCH ONT
49 CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV MCH RSD TWS DAY BRI TRN ATL TAL MCH NSV DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR TWS 120th 9 1974 Bud Moore Engineering 15 Ford RSD
18 DAY
20 RCH CAR
5 BRI
28 ATL
4 DAR
22 NWS
6 MAR
22 TAL
28 NSV
6 DOV
5 CLT 29th 230.49 Penske Racing 16 AMC RSD
33 MCH DAY BRI NSV ATL POC TAL MCH DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR Donlavey Racing 90 Ford ONT
32 1975 Moyer Racing 33 Chevy RSD DAY
24 RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT 74th 167 Michael Brockman 50 Chevy RSD
29 MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH DAR DOV NWS MAR CLT RCH CAR BRI ATL ONT 1986 Midgley Racing 29 Chevy DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV CLT RSD POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN
18 MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL RSD
36 76th 164 1987 DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR NWS BRI MAR TAL CLT DOV POC RSD
40 MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR RSD
16 ATL 70th 163 1988 50W Pontiac DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV RSD
DNQ POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR PHO ATL NA -

Daytona 500

Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish 1974 Bud Moore Engineering Ford 5 20 1975 Moyer Racing Chevrolet 40 24

International Race of Champions

(key) (Bold – Pole position. * – Most laps led.)

International Race of Champions results Year Make 1 2 3 4 Pos. Pts Ref 1973–74 Porsche RSD
4 RSD
1 RSD
5 DAY
5 5th - 1974–75 Chevy MCH
5 RSD
2 RSD
5 DAY
8 7th -

Complete Formula One World Championship results

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

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 WDC Pts 1973 UOP Shadow Racing Team Shadow DN1 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG BRA RSA
6 ESP
3 BEL
Ret MON
DNS SWE
14 FRA
Ret GBR
Ret NED
10 GER
Ret AUT
Ret ITA
10 CAN
17 USA
14 13th 5

Non-Championship Formula One results

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

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 1973 UOP Shadow Racing Team Shadow DN1 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ROC INT
6

Complete Canadian-American Challenge Cup results

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

Year Team Car Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Pos Pts 1966 John Mecom Racing Lola T70 Mk.2 Ford V8 MTR
5 BRI
Ret MOS
DNS 10th 4 Chevrolet V8 LAG
17 RIV
5 LVG
Ret 1967 Roger Penske Racing Lola T70 Mk.3B Chevrolet V8 ROA
18 BRI
3 MOS
6 LAG
3 RIV
6 LVG
Ret 7th 10 1968 Agapiou Racing Lola T70 Mk.3B Ford V8 ROA
BRI
EDM
LAG
Ret RIV
Ret LVG
2 7th 6 1969 Agapiou Racing Ford G7A Ford V8 MOS
MTR
WGL
EDM
MDO
DNS ROA
Ret BRI
MCH
LAG
RIV
TWS
NC 0 1970 Advanced Vehicle Systems AVS Shadow Mk I Chevrolet V8 MOS
Ret MTR
Ret WGL
EDM
MDO
ROA
ATL
BRA
LAG
RIV
NC 0 1971 Roy Woods Racing McLaren M8D Chevrolet V8 MOS
MTR
ATL
WGL
MDO
ROA
BRA
EDM
LAG
RIV
9 31st 2 1972 Penske Racing Porsche 917/10 Porsche Flat 12 MOS
ATL
1 WGL
5 MDO
1 ROA
1 BRA
4 EDM
3 LAG
1 RIV
1 1st 130 1973 Rinzler Motoracing Porsche 917/10 Porsche Flat 12 MOS
Ret ATL
1 WGL
Ret MDO
2 ROA
3 EDM
2 LAG
Ret RIV
Ret 2nd 62 1974 Phoenix Racing Organisations Shadow DN4 Chevrolet V8 MOS
2 ATL
2 WGL
2 MDO
Ret ROA
Ret 2nd 45 1977 U.S Racing Lola T332C Chevrolet V8 MTR
LAG
WGL
ROA
Ret MDO
Ret MOS
2 CTR
SON
Ret RIV
2 6th 35 1978 U.S Racing Prophet 1 Chevrolet V8 ATL
CLT
MDO
2 MTR
1 WGL
Ret ROA
4 MOS
5 CTR
LAG
DNS RIV
5th 1088 1979 U.S Racing Prophet 1 Chevrolet V8 ATL
CLT
DNS MOS
4 MDO
Ret WGL
ROA
BRA
CTR
LAG
RIV
14th 3 1980 U.S Racing Prophet 1 Chevrolet V8 SON
MDO
MOS
WGL
ROA
BRA
CTR
ATL
LAG
RIV
DNS NC 0