Wollek killed in accident before race

Monday, March 19, 2001 | 10:46 a.m.

Longtime sports car driver Bob Wollek died Friday afternoon after being struck by a car while riding his bicycle -- just hours before he was to compete in the 12 Hours of Sebring for Las Vegas-based White Lightning/Petersen Motorsports.

Wollek, 57, was riding his bike on the side of a Florida highway when a vehicle struck him from behind. He was transported to Highlands Regional Medical Center in Sebring and was pronounced dead.

The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.

Wollek, a native of Strasbourg, France, was to co-drive a Porsche 911 GT3 RS for team owners Dale White and Mike Petersen in Saturday's 12-hour endurance road race.

"We were very fortunate to know Bob for the brief time he drove for our team," White said. "He was one of sports car racing's greatest drivers."

Wollek, a four-time winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona, was slated to drive with Petersen and Johnny Mowlem in the Sebring race. White and Peterson, two Las Vegas businessmen, pulled the entry from the race upon learning of Wollek's death.

Wollek had won just about all the major endurance events there were to win in the world of sports car racing -- all in Porsches. Having raced for more than 25 years, Wollek's titles included two class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, four overall wins at the 24 Hours of Daytona and a class win and an overall victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring.

He won the world Porsche Cup competition seven times -- more than any other Porsche driver in history.

"The Porsche racing family lost one of its greatest drivers," said Alwin Springer, president of Porsche Motorsport North America, "and I lost a very close and good friend. We both looked forward to our retirements when we could reflect on the agonies and ecstasies of our racing years."

Last season, Wollek won American Le Mans Series races at Charlotte, Silverstone, Portland and Las Vegas as well as the Petit Le Mans. He drove in the ALMS race at Texas earlier this year, where he finished fourth in the White Lightning/Petersen Motorsports Porsche.

Wollek is survived by his wife Michelle.