Olivier Gendebien had a brief F1 career, a brace of seconds for Cooper in 1960 his best return from 15 races spread over six years. But as a young man he fought with the Belgian resistance movement and also served in the British army. He was working in forestry in the Belgian Congo when he met a rally driver and took up racing. He worked with Ferrari, mainly as a spare driver, and was widely liked, even by the irascible Enzo Ferrari who described him as "a gentleman who never forgets that noblesse oblige and, when he is at the wheel, he translates this code of behaviour into an elegant and discerning forcefulness." In 1958, partnered by future world champion Phil Hill, he won the Le Mans 24-Hour, a feat he repeated in 1960, 1961 and 1962 (in 1960 alongside Paul Frère) all in Ferraris. He also won many other prestigious events such as the Targa Florio and 12 Hours of Sebring three times each. Independently wealthy and with a young family, he quit after his fourth win at Le Mans, aware of the high mortality rate in the sport.