Home » Blog » Allan's Blog » My thoughts of Ove Andersson
13 June 2008 | Posted in Allan's Blog
Obviously the passing of Ove Andersson is very sad. He was really the stalwart behind Toyota’s racing programmes both
in rally and also on the circuit as well. Coming from rallying he was a driver of immense talent and winning the Monte
Carlo. He also then went on to start Toyota’s World Rally programmes and took them to many titles. He also went into
sportscars and the Le Mans 24 Hours prior to starting off their Formula 1 programmes and I thankfully had the good
fortune to drive for him both in sportscars in Le Mans. Martin Brundle’s description of Ove I found was very true when he
said ‘he was an iron hand with a velvet glove’ and I think that was a very apt description because he was a very strong
man but he did it in such a nice calm and controlled fashion. In Formula 1 he took them into it and also gave me my
opportunity there. He looked at people that he felt that they deserved the chances and opportunities and then he stood
behind them and gave them those chances and opportunities and there are not very many people like that in motorsport. I
think the world of motorsport is definitely a lot worse now and certainly Toyota as well and there’s many many people in
Cologne that will be thinking of him and his family tonight.
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