Born : March 6 1955
Biography Jesus Pareja Mayo
Jesús Pareja Mayo, born on March 6, 1955, in Guadalajara, Spain, is a former professional racing driver renowned for his significant contributions to endurance racing and his subsequent role as a motorsport promoter. His career, spanning over two decades, showcases a journey marked by resilience, dedication, and a profound passion for motorsport
Early Life and Introduction to Racing
Pareja’s fascination with automobiles began in his youth, leading him to purchase his first race car, a SEAT 600, at the age of 19. This initial foray into racing quickly bore fruit, as he clinched the Trofeo de Fabricación Nacional de Serie in the Campeonato de España de Turismos in 1981. This early success laid the foundation for a career that would soon transcend national boundaries.
Breakthrough in International Racing
1985 Porsche 956 – Brun Motorsport In 1984, Pareja achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Spanish driver to secure a top-tier professional contract abroad. He signed with the Swiss team Brun Motorsport, aligning himself with the prestigious Porsche marque to compete in the World Sportscar Championship. This partnership marked the beginning of a prolific period in endurance racing, particularly in the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Le Mans Endeavors
Pareja’s association with the 24 Hours of Le Mans is both extensive and illustrious. He participated in the grueling race 13 consecutive times from 1985 to 1997, a record that underscores his endurance and commitment.
1994 Porsche 964 – Le Mans 24H
World Sportscar Championship Triumph
Beyond Le Mans, 1986 was a landmark year for Pareja. He became the first Spaniard to win a race in the World Sportscar Championship and went on to secure the overall championship title with Brun Motorsport. This achievement remained unparalleled in Spanish motorsport until Fernando Alonso’s World Endurance Championship win in 2019.
Notable Incidents
Pareja’s career was not without its perils. On September 23, 1990, during a race in Montreal, a dislodged manhole cover struck his Porsche 962C at over 270 km/h, causing a fiery crash. Miraculously, he survived with facial burns and returned to racing just two weeks later in Mexico.
Montreal 1990 – Crash Jesus Pareja Mayo This incident prompted the FIA to mandate the securing of manhole covers on all major circuits, enhancing safety standards in motorsport
Recommended literature
Year: 1984
Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result 2.12.1984 1000 km Sandown Park 17 Porsche CK5 Kroesemeijer / Pareja / Janson Porsche Kremer Racing 13th
Year: 1985
Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result 28.4.1985 1000 km Monza 26 Porsche 956 Lässig / Regout / Pareja Obermaier Racing Team DNF 12.5.1985 1000 km Silverstone 26 Porsche 956 Regout / Lässig / Pareja Obermaier Racing Team 7th 16.6.1985 24 h Le Mans 26 Porsche 956 Lässig / Regout / Pareja Obermaier Racing Team 8th 14.7.1985 1000 km Hockenheim 26 Porsche 956 Regout / Lässig / Pareja Obermaier-Racing GmbH 7th 1.9.1985 1000 km Spa 26 Porsche 956 Lässig / Regout / Pareja Obermaier-Racing 8th
Year: 1986
Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result 20.4.1986 360 km Monza 18 Porsche 962 Larrauri / Pareja Brun Motorsport 4th 20.4.1986 360 km Monza 19 Porsche 956 In entry list only Brun Motorsport 3rd 4.5.1986 1000 km Silverstone 18 Porsche 962 Larrauri / Pareja Brun Motorsport 10th 4.5.1986 1000 km Silverstone 19 Porsche 956 In entry list only Brun Motorsport 9th 1.6.1986 24 h Le Mans 17 Porsche 962 Larrauri / Pareja / Gouhier Brun Motorsport 2nd 20.7.1986 1000 km Brands Hatch 18 Porsche 962 Larrauri / Pareja Brun Motorsport DNF 3.8.1986 360 km Jerez 18 Porsche 962 Larrauri / Pareja Brun Motorsport 1st 24.8.1986 1000 km Nürburgring 18 Porsche 962 Larrauri / Pareja Brun Motorsport DNF 15.9.1986 1000 km Spa 18 Porsche 962 Larrauri / Pareja Brun Motorsport DNF 5.10.1986 1000 km Fuji 18 Porsche 962 Larrauri / Pareja Brun Motorsport 7th
Year: 1987
Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result 22.3.1987 360 km Jarama 3 Porsche 962 Larrauri / Pareja Brun Motorsport 5th 29.3.1987 1000 km Jerez 3 Porsche 962 Larrauri / Pareja / Brun Brun Motorsport 7th 12.4.1987 1000 km Monza 3 Porsche 962 Jelinski / Pareja / Larrauri Brun Motorsport 3rd 10.5.1987 1000 km Silverstone 1 Porsche 962 Brun / Schäfer / Pareja Brun Motorsport 5th 14.6.1987 24 h Le Mans 2 Porsche 962 Larrauri / Pareja / Schäfer Brun Motorsport DNF 14.6.1987 24 h Le Mans 3 Porsche 962 In entry list only Brun Motorsport DNF 28.6.1987 200 mile Norisring 1 Porsche 962 Brun / Pareja Brun MotorSport 10th 28.6.1987 200 mile Norisring 3 Porsche 962 In entry list only Brun MotorSport 2nd 26.7.1987 1000 km Brands Hatch 1 Porsche 962 Brun / Pareja Brun Motorsport T-car 26.7.1987 1000 km Brands Hatch 1T Porsche 962 Pareja / Brun Brun Motorsport 9th 30.8.1987 1000 km Nürburgring 1 Porsche 962 In entry list only Brun Motorsport 12th 30.8.1987 1000 km Nürburgring 3 Porsche 962 Kaufmann / Hunkeler / Pareja Brun Motorsport 6th 13.9.1987 1000 km Spa 3 Porsche 962 Pareja / Schäfer Brun Motorsport 8th 27.9.1987 1000 km Fuji 2 Porsche 962 Pareja / Schäfer / Reuter Brun Motor Sport DNF
Year: 1988
Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result 6.3.1988 800 km Jerez 6 Porsche 962 Pareja / Brun Brun Motorsport DNF 13.3.1988 360 km Jarama 6 Porsche 962 Pareja / Larrauri Brun Motorsport 6th 10.4.1988 1000 km Monza 5 Porsche 962 Reuter / Pareja Brun Motorsport DNF 12.6.1988 24 h Le Mans 4 Porsche 962 In entry list only Camel Brun Motorsport DNF 12.6.1988 24 h Le Mans 5 Porsche 962 Pareja / Sigala / Schäfer Repsol Brun Motorsport 7th 4.9.1988 1000 km Nürburgring 6 Porsche 962 Reuter / Pareja Brun Motorsport 5th 27.11.1988 Challenge Tampa 4 Porsche 962 Brun / Pareja Brun Motorsport DNF
Year: 1989
Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result 9.4.1989 480 km Suzuka 5 Porsche 962 In entry list only Repsol Brun Motorsport DNF 9.4.1989 480 km Suzuka 6 Porsche 962 Pareja / Brun Repsol Brun Motorsport 18th 21.5.1989 480 km Dijon 6 Porsche 962 Brun / Pareja Repsol Brun Motorsport 13th 11.6.1989 24 h Le Mans 17 Porsche 962 Larrauri / Brun / Pareja Brun Motorsport DNF 11.6.1989 24 h Le Mans 27 Porsche 962 In entry list only Brun Motorsport DNF 25.6.1989 480 km Jarama 6 Porsche 962 Larrauri / Pareja Repsol Brun Motorsport 3rd 23.7.1989 480 km Brands Hatch 6 Porsche 962 Brun / Pareja Repsol Brun Motorsport 6th 20.8.1989 480 km Nürburgring 6 Porsche 962 Brun / Pareja Repsol Brun Motorsport 4th 3.9.1989 480 km Donington 6 Porsche 962 Pareja / Brun Repsol Brun Motorsport DNF 17.9.1989 480 km Spa 6 Porsche 962 Brun / Pareja Repsol Brun Motorsport DNF 8.10.1989 1000 km Fuji 6 Porsche 962 Pareja / Brun / Los The Alpha Racing With Brun DNF 29.10.1989 480 km Mexico 6 Porsche 962 Pareja / Brun Repsol Brun Motorsport 7th
Year: 1990
Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result 8.4.1990 480 km Suzuka 16 Porsche 962 Pareja / Brun Brun Motorsport DNF 29.4.1990 480 km Monza 16 Porsche 962 Pareja / Brun Brun Motorsport DNF 20.5.1990 480 km Silverstone 16 Porsche 962 Brun / Pareja Brun Motorsport 7th 3.6.1990 480 km Spa 16 Porsche 962 Pareja / Brun Brun Motorsport DNF 17.6.1990 24 h Le Mans 15 Porsche 962 In entry list only Brun Motorsport 10th 17.6.1990 24 h Le Mans 16 Porsche 962 Larrauri / Pareja / Brun Brun Motorsport DNF 22.7.1990 480 km Dijon 16 Porsche 962 Pareja / Brun Brun Motorsport 11th 19.8.1990 480 km Nürburgring 16 Porsche 962 Brun / Pareja Brun Motorsport DNF 2.9.1990 480 km Donington 16 Porsche 962 Pareja / Brun Brun Motorsport 12th 23.9.1990 480 km Montreal 16 Porsche 962 Pareja / Brun Brun Motorsport DNF 23.9.1990 480 km Montreal 17 Porsche 962 Santal / Pareja Brun Motrosport 16th 7.10.1990 480 km Mexico 16 Porsche 962 Brun / Pareja Brun Motorsport DNF
Year: 1991
Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result 3.2.1991 24 h Daytona 17 Porsche 962 Larrauri / Sigala / Brun / Pareja / Purner Brun Motorsports DNA 3.2.1991 24 h Daytona 21 Porsche 962 Herzog / Stuck / Paul, Jr. / Haywood / Pareja / Sigala / Larrauri Alucraft DNA 14.4.1991 430 km Suzuka 16 Porsche 962 In entry list only Repsol Brun Motorsport DQ 14.4.1991 430 km Suzuka 17 Porsche 962 Sigala / Pareja Repsol Brun Motorsport 7th 5.5.1991 430 km Monza 16 Porsche 962 In entry list only Repsol Brun Motorsport 6th 5.5.1991 430 km Monza 17 Porsche 962 Pareja / Brun Repsol Brun Motorsport DNF 19.5.1991 430 km Silverstone 16 Porsche 962 Larrauri / Pareja Repsol Brun Motorsport 7th 19.5.1991 430 km Silverstone 17 Porsche 962 In entry list only Repsol Brun Motorsport 10th 23.6.1991 24 h Le Mans 16 Porsche 962 In entry list only Repsol Brun Motorsport DNF 23.6.1991 24 h Le Mans 17 Porsche 962 Larrauri / Pareja / Brun Repsol Brun Motorsport 10th 18.8.1991 430 km Nürburgring 16 Brun C91 In entry list only Repsol Brun Motorsport DNS 18.8.1991 430 km Nürburgring 17 Porsche 962 Pareja / Brun Repsol Brun Motorsport 7th 18.8.1991 430 km Nürburgring 17T Porsche 962 Pareja / Brun Repsol Brun Motorsport T-car 15.9.1991 430 km Magny-Cours 16 Brun C91 Larrauri / *Pareja Repsol Brun Motorsport DNF 15.9.1991 430 km Magny-Cours 17 Porsche 962 Pareja / Brun Repsol Brun Motorsport NC 6.10.1991 430 km Mexico City 17 Porsche 962 Pareja / Sigala Repsol Brun Motorsport 8th 27.10.1991 430 km Autopolis 16 Brun C91 Larrauri / *Pareja Repsol Brun Motorsport DNF 27.10.1991 430 km Autopolis 17 Porsche 962 Pareja / Santal Repsol Brun Motorsport DNF
Year: 1992
Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result 26.4.1992 500 km Monza 4 Lola T92/10 Johansson / Pareja Euro Racing DNS 10.5.1992 500 km Silverstone 4 Lola T92/10 Johansson / Pareja Euro Racing DQ 21.6.1992 24 h Le Mans 3 Lola T92/10 Zwolsman / Euser / Pareja Euro Racing DNF 21.6.1992 24 h Le Mans 4 Lola T92/10 In entry list only Euro Racing 13th 19.7.1992 500 km Donington 3 Lola T92/10 Euser / Pareja Euro Racing DNF 19.7.1992 500 km Donington 4 Lola T92/10 In entry list only Euro Racing 4th 30.8.1992 1000 km Suzuka 3 Lola T92/10 Pareja / Matsuda Euro Racing 5th 1.11.1992 Interserie Jarama 9 Porsche 962 Jésus Pareja Joest Racing DNF
Year: 1993
Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result 20.6.1993 24 h Le Mans 78 Porsche 911 Carrera Pareja / Leconte / de Thoisy Jack Leconte 16th 1.8.1993 24 h Spa 47 Porsche 964 Carrera Dupuy / Pareja / Gouhier M M I DNF 29.8.1993 1000 km Suzuka 47 Porsche 964 Carrera Dupuy / Pareja / Leconte Larbre Competition DNF
Year: 1994
Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result 6.2.1994 24 h Daytona 86 Porsche 964 Turbo Wollek / Dupuy / Pareja / Barth Larbre Competition 2nd 6.3.1994 4 h Paul Ricard 86 Porsche 964 Turbo Jarier / Wollek / Pareja Larbre Compétition 1st 10.4.1994 4 h Jarama 86 Porsche 964 Turbo Jarier / Pareja / Dupuy Larbre Compétition 1st 19.6.1994 24 h Le Mans 33 Porsche 964 Turbo Gouhier / Jarier / Leconte / Dupuy / Pareja Société Larbre Compétition DNA 19.6.1994 24 h Le Mans 52 Porsche 964 Carrera Pareja / Dupuy / Palau Société Larbre Compétition 8th 28.8.1994 1000 km Suzuka 86 Porsche 964 Turbo Jarier / Wollek / Pareja Larbre Compétition 1st
Year: 1995
Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result 18.6.1995 24 h Le Mans 36 Porsche 993 GT2 Jarier / Pareja / Comas Société Larbre Compétition DNF 18.6.1995 24 h Le Mans 37 Porsche 993 GT2 In entry list only Société Larbre Compétition DNF
Year: 1996
Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result 4.2.1996 24 h Daytona 47 Porsche 993 GT2 Barth / Pareja / Chéreau / Schuch / Leconte Larbre Competition 26th 14.4.1996 4 h Jarama 47 Porsche 993 GT2 Chéreau / Pareja / Leconte Larbre Competition DNF 16.6.1996 24 h Le Mans 55 Porsche 993 GT2 Jarier / Pareja / Chapell Roock Racing Team DNF
Year: 1997
Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result 15.6.1997 24 h Le Mans 14 BRM P301 Toivonen / Pareja / Salazar Pacific Racing DNF
Year: 1998
Date Race No. Car Drivers Entrant Result 22.3.1998 4 h Jarama 34 Porsche 993 GT2 Pareja / Chéreau / Leconte Chereau Sports 3rd
