View source for Robert La Caze

{{short description|Moroccan and French racing driver (1917–2015)}}
{{Infobox person
| name             = Robert La Caze
| native_name      = {{nobold|روبير لا كاز}}
| native_name_lang = ary
| image            = Robert La Caze.jpg
| caption          = La Caze in 1954
| birth_date       = {{birth date|1917|2|26|df=y}}
| birth_place      = [[Paris]], France
| death_date       = {{death date and age|2015|7|1|1917|2|26|df=y}}
| death_place      = [[Le Cannet]], Alpes-Maritimes, France
| module           = {{Infobox F1 driver|embed=yes
| nationality      = {{flagicon|MAR}} Moroccan
| Years            = {{F1|1958}}
| Team(s)          = ''Privateer'' [[Cooper Car Company|Cooper]]
| Races            = 1
| Championships    = 0
| Wins             = 0
| Podiums          = 0
| Points           = 0
| Poles            = 0
| Fastest laps     = 0
| First race       = [[1958 Moroccan Grand Prix]]
}}
| module2          = {{infobox Le Mans driver|embed=yes
| Years            = {{24hLM|1957}}, {{24hLM|1959}}–{{24hLM|1960}}
| Team(s)          = [[Gordini]], [[Porsche in motorsport|Porsche]]
| Best Finish      = DNF <small>({{24hLM|1957}}, {{24hLM|1959}}, {{24hLM|1960}})</small>
| Class Wins       = 0
}}
}}

'''Robert La Caze'''{{efn|Sometimes spelled '''Robert La Gaze'''.<ref>3 out of 4 mentions in the contemporary ''Motorsport'' magazine's report name him "La Gaze": {{cite web |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/november-1958/14/grand-prix-du-maroc-2 |title=1958 Moroccan Grand Prix race report: Moss class of the field but Hawthorn takes F1 crown |first=Denis |last=Jenkinson |website=Motorsport.com |pages=732–733 |date=November 1958 |accessdate=2022-02-14}}</ref>}} ({{langx|ary|روبير لا كاز}}, {{IPA|fr|ʁɔbɛʁ la kaz|pron}}; 26 February 1917 – 1 July 2015) was a Moroccan and French [[racing driver]], who competed under the Moroccan flag in [[Formula One]] at the {{F1GP|1958|Moroccan}} in {{F1|1958}}. La Caze remains the only Moroccan driver to compete in Formula One.{{efn|[[André Guelfi]] was born in Morocco but competed in Formula One under the French flag.}} In [[rallying]], La Caze was a two-time winner of the [[Rallye du Maroc]] in 1954 and 1967.

Born in [[Paris]] and raised in [[Morocco]], La Caze started his career in [[rallying]] across [[North Africa]], also winning a national title in [[skiing]]. Following [[World War II]], La Caze competed in [[sportscar racing]], finishing third at the [[12 Hours of Casablanca]] in 1952, and winning the [[3 Hours of Safi]] the following year. In 1954, La Caze won two classes at the [[Marrakesh Grand Prix]], another class at the [[Tangier Grand Prix]], and won the [[Rallye du Maroc]] in a [[Simca Aronde]]. He became a class winner at the {{ill|Agadir Grand Prix|fr|Grand Prix automobile d'Agadir}} in 1955, also finishing runner-up in the Rallye that year. In Europe, he further competed in the [[1955 Mille Miglia]], [[Tour de France Automobile|1956 Tour de France Automobile]] and the [[1957 24 Hours of Le Mans]], the latter with [[Gordini]].{{cn|date=December 2024}}

La Caze became the first driver to compete in [[Formula One]] under an African licence at the [[1958 Moroccan Grand Prix]], entering a [[Cooper T45]] as a [[privateer (motorsport)|privateer]] and finishing fourteenth in his [[Formula Two]] machinery. La Caze returned to Le Mans in {{24hLM|1959}} and {{24hLM|1960}}, driving a [[Porsche 550]] and [[Porsche 718|718]], respectively. La Caze won his second Rallye in 1967 in a [[Renault 8 Gordini]]. Upon retiring from motor racing the following year, La Caze operated a garage and youth sports organisation in [[Marrakesh]] until his death in 2015, aged 98.

==Career==
===Early life===
La Caze was born in Paris, but as the grandson of a French diplomat, he moved to Morocco at a young age and spent most of his life there. He started his motorsport career in rallying, taking part in many events across North Africa. He also became the Moroccan national skiing champion.<ref name="ConceptCarz">{{cite web|url=https://www.conceptcarz.com/view/racing/driver.aspx?driverID=282&dtaID=264|title=Robert La Caze|work=conceptcarz.com|access-date=30 July 2021|date=26 March 2014|first=Jeremy|last=McMullen|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730132939/http://www.conceptcarz.com/view/racing/driver.aspx?driverID=282&dtaID=264|archive-date=30 July 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Sportscar races and rallies in Morocco===
International motorsport returned to Morocco after the Second World War in the form of a sportscar race, the {{ill|Agadir Grand Prix|fr|Grand Prix automobile d'Agadir}}. The event was held from 1950 to 1956, each year featuring multiple races for different engine classes. In 1951, he placed third in the S750 race.<ref name="WSRP-1951">{{cite web|url=https://www.wsrp.cz/nonchamp1951.html|title=World Sports Racing Prototypes - Non Championship Races 1951|work=www.wsrp.cz|access-date=31 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614180755/http://www.wsrp.cz/nonchamp1951.html|archive-date=14 June 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1952, he placed second in the S1.0 race.<ref name="WSRP-1952">{{cite web|url=http://www.wsrp.cz/nonchamp1952.html|title=World Sports Racing Prototypes - Non Championship Races 1952|work=www.wsrp.cz|access-date=31 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614175147/http://www.wsrp.cz/nonchamp1952.html|archive-date=14 June 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1953, he placed second in the S1.1 and S2.0 races.<ref name="WSRP-1953">{{cite web|url=http://www.wsrp.cz/nonchamp1953.html|title=World Sports Racing Prototypes - Non Championship Races 1953|work=www.wsrp.cz|access-date=31 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614175142/http://www.wsrp.cz/nonchamp1953.html|archive-date=14 June 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1954, he placed second in the S1.1 race.<ref name="WSRP-1954">{{cite web|url=http://www.wsrp.cz/nonchamp1954.html|title=World Sports Racing Prototypes - Non Championship Races 1954|work=www.wsrp.cz|access-date=31 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614175133/http://www.wsrp.cz/nonchamp1954.html|archive-date=14 June 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1955, he won the S1.0 race.<ref name="WSRP-1955">{{cite web|url=http://www.wsrp.cz/nonchamp1955.html|title=World Sports Racing Prototypes - Non Championship Races 1955|work=www.wsrp.cz|access-date=31 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614175212/http://www.wsrp.cz/nonchamp1955.html|archive-date=14 June 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1956, he set the fastest practice time for the S1.3 race but his final result is unclear; he finished 8th in the {{ill|feature race|de|Großer Preis von Agadir 1956}}.<ref name="WSRP-1956">{{cite web|url=http://www.wsrp.cz/nonchamp1956.html|title=World Sports Racing Prototypes - Non Championship Races 1956|work=www.wsrp.cz|access-date=31 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614175152/http://www.wsrp.cz/nonchamp1956.html|archive-date=14 June 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1951, La Caze participated in the [[Rallye du Maroc]] and finished sixth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ewrc-results.com/final/33383-rallye-international-de-latlas-marocain-1951/|title=Final results Rallye International de l'Atlas Marocain 1951|work=ewrc-results.com|access-date=1 August 2021}}</ref> In 1952, he finished third in the [[12 Hours of Casablanca]].<ref name="WSRP-1952"/> In 1953, he won the 3 Hours of Safi and started the 3 Hours of Algeria and 12 Hours of Casablanca, but his result in either race is unclear.<ref name="WSRP-1953"/> 1954 was particularly successful: he won the S1.1 and S1.5 races at the Marrakech Grand Prix, the S1.6 race at the Tangier Grand Prix, and the Rallye du Maroc for the first time.<ref name="WSRP-1954"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Tangier-1954-06-06-25076.html|title=GP Tangier [S1.6] 1954 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=31 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ewrc-results.com/final/33386-rallye-du-maroc-1954/|title=Final results Rallye du Maroc 1954|work=ewrc-results.com|access-date=1 August 2021}}</ref> He was runner-up in the rally in 1955.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ewrc-results.com/final/25048-rallye-du-maroc-1955/|title=Final results Rallye du Maroc 1955|work=ewrc-results.com|access-date=1 August 2021}}</ref> Outside of Morocco, La Caze raced in the [[1955 Mille Miglia]], the [[Tour de France Automobile|1956 Tour de France]] and the [[1957 24 Hours of Le Mans]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Mille_Miglia-1955-05-01.html|title=Mille Miglia 1955 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|work=racingsportscars.com|access-date=31 July 2021}}</ref><ref name="WSRP-1956"/>

===Moroccan Grand Prix===
The [[Moroccan Grand Prix]] returned in [[1957 Moroccan Grand Prix|1957]], but it was run to [[Formula One]] regulations and local competitors could not afford to enter. The event organisers remedied this for the [[1958 Moroccan Grand Prix|1958]] event, allowing [[Formula Two]] cars to enter in a separate class. La Caze secured an F2 entry with a privately owned [[Cooper Car Company|Cooper]]. He lacked open-wheel racing experience, but impressed in practice by lapping within two seconds of the F2 class leaders. He qualified fourth out of the F2 entries and steadily improved his pace throughout the race, making a late pass on [[André Guelfi]] to secure third in the F2 class and 14th overall.<ref name="ConceptCarz"/><ref name="StatsF1">{{cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/1958/maroc.aspx|title=Morocco 1958 • STATS F1|work=statsf1.com|access-date=30 Jul 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.silhouet.com/motorsport/archive/f1/1958/58mor.html |title=1958 Moroccan Grand Prix |first=Darren |last=Galpin |publisher=The GEL Motorsport Information Page |website=silhouet.com |accessdate=2022-02-19}}</ref> However, the race was marred by [[Stuart Lewis-Evans]]'s accident which ultimately proved to be fatal, and the Moroccan Grand Prix would not return.

===Last races and later career===
La Caze raced four times alongside Jean Kerguen, who had also been part of the Moroccan Grand Prix F2 field.<ref name="StatsF1"/> In 1959, they competed at [[1959 24 Hours of Le Mans|Le Mans]] and the Tour de France, finishing fourth overall in the latter.<ref name="WSRP-1959">{{cite web|url=https://www.wsrp.cz/nonchamp1959.html|title=World Sports Racing Prototypes - Non Championship Races 1959|work=www.wsrp.cz|access-date=31 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614175144/http://www.wsrp.cz/nonchamp1959.html|archive-date=14 June 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1960, they drove to 14th overall in the Rally Isla de Gran Canaria before returning to [[1960 24 Hours of Le Mans|Le Mans]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ewrc-results.com/final/10087-rally-isla-de-gran-canaria-1960/|title=Final results Rally Isla de Gran Canaria 1960|work=ewrc-results.com|access-date=1 August 2021}}</ref> La Caze won the Rallye du Maroc for the second time in 1967, and drove again in 1968 but retired with an accident.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ewrc-results.com/final/33387-rallye-du-maroc-1967/|title=Final results Rallye du Maroc 1967|work=ewrc-results.com|access-date=1 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ewrc-results.com/final/14956-rallye-du-maroc-1968/|title=Final results Rallye du Maroc 1968|work=ewrc-results.com|access-date=1 August 2021}}</ref>

Following his motorsport career, La Caze ran a garage and a youth sports association in Marrakech.<ref name="ConceptCarz"/> He was the oldest living World Championship driver from the death of [[Paul Pietsch]] in May 2012 until his own death in July 2015.<ref name = driverdb>{{cite web| url = https://www.driverdb.com/drivers/robert-la-caze/ | title= Robert La Caze | publisher= Driver Database | access-date= 28 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.snaplap.net/oldest-living-drivers-of-formula-one/|title=Oldest Living F1 Drivers {{pipe}} SnapLap|work=snaplap.net|access-date=7 November 2017|date=19 December 2015|first=Marijan|last=Malcevic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725123346/https://www.snaplap.net/oldest-living-f1-drivers/|archive-date=25 July 2020|url-status=}}</ref>

==Racing record==
===Complete Formula One results===
([[:Template:F1 driver results legend 2|key]]) 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
! Year
! Entrant
! Chassis
! Engine
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! 10
! 11
! WDC
! Points
|-
| {{F1|1958}}
! Robert La Caze
! [[Cooper Car Company|Cooper]] [[Cooper T45|T45]] (F2)
! [[Coventry Climax|Climax]] [[Straight-4]]
| [[1958 Argentine Grand Prix|ARG]]
| [[1958 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]
| [[1958 Dutch Grand Prix|NED]]
| [[1958 Indianapolis 500|500]]
| [[1958 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]
| [[1958 French Grand Prix|FRA]]
| [[1958 British Grand Prix|GBR]]
| [[1958 German Grand Prix|GER]]
| [[1958 Portuguese Grand Prix|POR]]
| [[1958 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| [[1958 Moroccan Grand Prix|MOR]]<br>{{small|14}}
! NC
! 0
|-
!colspan="17"|{{center|{{small|Sources:<ref>{{cite web|title=All championship race entries, by Robert La Caze|url=https://www.chicanef1.com/query.pl?nc=0&driver=Robert+La+Caze&exact=on&sh_year=on&sh_gp=on&sh_carno=on&sh_driver=on&sh_entrant=on&sh_team=on&sh_car=on&sh_eng=on&sh_qualpos=on&sh_gridpos=on&sh_racepos=on&sh_flap=on&sh_dpts=on&sh_cpts=on&action=Display|publisher=ChicaneF1|access-date=6 May 2022}}</ref><ref name=MMagBio>{{cite web|title=Robert La Faze|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/drivers/robert-la-caze/|work=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport]]|access-date=6 May 2022}}</ref>}}}}
|}

===Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
|-
! Year
! Team
! Co-Drivers
! Car
! Class
! Laps
! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Overall Position}}
! {{Tooltip|Class<br>Pos.|Class Position}}
|-
! {{24hLM|1957}}
|align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} Automobiles [[Gordini]]
|align=left| {{flagicon|FRA}} Clarence de Rinen
|align=left| [[Gordini|Gordini T15S]]
|S2.0
|3
|colspan=2|DNF<br>(Engine)
|-
! {{24hLM|1959}}
|align=left| {{flagicon|France}} J. Kerguen<br>''(private entrant)''
|align=left| {{flagicon|France}} Jean Kerguen
|align=left| [[Porsche 550]]A
|S1.5
|229
|colspan=2|DNF<br>(Clutch)
|-
! {{24hLM|1960}}
|align=left| {{flagicon|France}} J. Kerguen<br>''(private entrant)''
|align=left| {{flagicon|France}} Jean Kerguen
|align=left| [[Porsche 718]] RS60/4
|S1.6
|92
|colspan=2|DNF<br>(Camshaft)
|-
!colspan="8"|{{center|{{small|Source:<ref>{{cite web|title=Complete Archive of Robert Lacaze|url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/archive/Robert-Lacaze-MA.html|publisher=Racing Sports Cars|access-date=6 May 2022}}</ref>}}}}
|}

==External links==
*[https://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/Robert-Lacaze-MA.html Robert La Caze] at ''racingsportscars.com''.

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Formula One nationalities}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:La Caze, Robert}}
[[Category:1917 births]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:Moroccan racing drivers]]
[[Category:Moroccan Formula One drivers]]
[[Category:Racing drivers from Paris]]
[[Category:24 Hours of Le Mans drivers]]
[[Category:World Sportscar Championship drivers]]