Baron Charles de Tornaco

The wealthy son of twenties racer Baron de Tornaco, the young Charles, encouraged by his long-time friend Jacques Swaters, took part in the 1949 Spa 24 Hours with a BMW, and then drove a Veritas in the 1950 event, before helping found Ecurie Belgique.

In truth, he was not a talented driver, but his enthusiasm was such that when the team regrouped as Ecurie Francorchamps in 1952, he remained, racing their Ferrari T500, though his best result that year was a fourth place at Chimay in an HWM. De Tornaco raced less regularly in 1953, but in practice for the Modena GP he rolled the team's Ferrari, fracturing his skull and breaking his neck. Scandalously, there was no proper medical assistance present, and he died on the way to hospital in an ordinary saloon car.