AUGUST 28, 2005

Michele Dubosc

Michele Dubosc, the most famous timekeeper in F1 in the 1970s and 1980s has died after a long illness.

In the days before computers the art of timing in Formula 1 was a much more complicated business than it is today and Dubosc was the queen of timing. She started out in racing as a co-driver with a variety of celebrated names as Henri Pescarolo, Marie-Claude Beaumont, Bernard Consten and Jose Rosinski. When Matra embarked on a racing programme in 1965 she joined the team as timekeeper and moved to F2 the following year and F1 in 1968. She was also involved in the Matra sports car programmes, culminating in victories in 1973 and 1974. After Matra withdrew from F1, Dubosc stayed on with Ligier and later with the Renault F1 team.

Recognised for her professionalism and her love of life, Dubosc famously timed and lap-charted the entire Le Mans 24 Hours on several occasions.