This week in motor sport from the Archive and Database, featuring some of Formula 1’s fastest and Lauda wins for the first time in F1

April 24

1937: Reinhold Joest, founder of the most successful team at Le Mans, is born. In profile

1970: FIA GT champion Jean-Philippe Belloc is born. In profile

1983: ‘Consummate professional’ Rolf Stommelen dies. In profile

April 25

1982: Didier Pironi pips Gilles Villeneuve and Ferrari dominate the San Marino Grand Prix. Report

1985: Talented Dutchman Giedo van der Garde is born. In profile

1990: Formula E and WEC racer Jean-Eric Vergne is born. In profile

2001: Supremely popular Michele Alboreto dies. In profile

April 26

1937: Monaco Grand Prix winner Jean-Pierre Beltoise is born. In profile

1974: Touring car champion James Thompson is born. In profile

1983: José María ‘Pechito’ López is born. In profile

1994: Daniil Kvyat, the second Russian to race in F1, is born. In profile

April 27

1943: Helmut Marko, Red Bull supremo whose promising career was cut short by injury, is born. In profile 

1973: Carlos Menditeguy passes away aged 58. In profile

April 28

1933: Bob Bondurant is born. In profile

1966: Three-time Le Mans winner Marco Werner is born. In profile

1974: Niki Lauda claims his maiden Grand Prix victory, winning in Spain. Report

1991: Ayrton Senna wins at Imola, van der Poele is denied a brilliant fifth, JJ Lehto stars. Report

April 29

1951: The Man in Black, Dale Earnhardt, is born. In profile

1973: Ronnie Peterson dominates, but team-mate Emerson Fittipaldi wins at Montjuich Park. Report

1979: Patrick Depailler and his Ligier are faultess on the way to victory at Jarama. Report

2008: Scarab racer and sports car winner Chuck Daigh passes away. In profile

April 30

1920: Duncan Hamilton, one of racing’s biggest characters, is born. In profile

1961: Stirling Moss and Graham HIll are denied victory on the Targa Florio, leaving Olivier Gendebien and Wolfgang von Trips to win. Report

1994: Roland Ratzenberger is killed in qualifying at Imola. In profile