Cadillac Racing driver Alex Lynn has chosen to switch helmet design for the Le Mans 24 Hours later this month. The Briton will run Derek Bell’s iconic red, white and blue colours for the centenary race, paying tribute to Britain’s most successful Le Mans driver.
This stunning new helmet design, drawn up by MDM Designs and painted by JLF Designs, is a full replica of the five-time winner’s colours, featuring Bell’s full name on both sides. The only modern update is the inclusion of Cadillac branding.
Lynn told DSC that the idea for this tribute came a few months ago, while he was trawling through historic footage of the race. Looking back at Derek’s career inspired him to pick up the phone and get permission to change his helmet up for the 100th-anniversary celebrations.
“I’ve never raced with a special helmet before and I’d been thinking about something for Le Mans,” he explained. “It’s a big thing for all of us in the race, and I am incredibly proud that I will be on the grid. For me, a race this special deserves a special tribute.
“One night I ended up going down a YouTube wormhole. There was an old video I found of Derek getting ready for the 1982 running with Jacky Ickx (above). It was a cool video of him at home, playing a bit of tennis, then driving to the track. It was really amazing behind-the-scenes footage, something that’s so rare, even today.
“It went from there, I got in contact and asked him if I could run his design for the 100th anniversary of Le Mans. He needs to be represented.
He is everything we all dream of, he is why we want to compete in this race in the first place
“The thing about Derek is he’s achieved so much, he has legendary status, but he is such a cool guy too. He’s our (the UK’s) most successful Le Mans racer and drove so many iconic cars with so many iconic drivers. He is everything we all dream of, he is why we want to compete in this race in the first place. So it’s important that someone pays homage to him.
“All of us in the sport right now want to make Le Mans ‘sexy’ again, like it was when he was winning it. People are talking about this being the second true golden age for sportscars, and we all feel it. We all feel we have so much to live up to, that level of panache. It’s a hard act to follow.
“He could have said ‘no’, and I would have been totally fine with that. He’s a five-time winner, and I’ve only got one class win. So it’s humbling. He loved the pictures, but I can’t wait to show it to him in person. I hope I can live up to it, I want to do him proud.”
Upon hearing about this tribute, DSC also spoke to Derek Bell himself. He was, as you might imagine, incredibly touched by Alex’s decision.
“It’s just amazing how the British are isn’t it? He was so polite, he came to get permission and I was amazed,” Bell said. “Alex is a really talented driver, he has results and is highly respected in the sport. He is such a gentleman and I am totally flattered. I never imagined that anyone out there would feel this way about me.
“He is one of the great young British drivers, on the way up, he must have watched that footage of me race, read about me and clearly thought: ‘I wouldn’t mind a bit of that as well!’
“I don’t blame him!”
Alex Lynn portrait courtesy of Drew Gibson, Derek Bell images courtesy of Porsche
