Gotfrid Köchert

Gotfrid Köchert became far better known in Austria as an automobile racer than a sailor. He was nicknamed “Racing Jeweller”, because he was born into the very wealthy jewellery dynasty A.E. Köchert, based in Wien (Vienna). He was briefly married to well-known actress Gusti Huber and had two daughters; one of them, Bibiana Besch, also became an actress. Köchert’s granddaughter Samantha Mathis also had a long-lasting acting career in the USA.

Köchert’s racing career started in 1956 participating in the Mille Miglia driving a Porsche 550. He drove several races in the Sports Car World Championship series from 1956-58 in different cars. Only a few weeks after his Mille Miglia début he won the 1956 long-distance race of Nürburgring and became the first Austrian to win a Grand Prix after World War II. In 1957 Köchert again participated in the Mille Miglia, Nürburgring, and the 24 hours of Le Mans in a Ferrari 500 TRC. In 1958 he drove the long-distance race of Nürburgring again, now on Ferrari 250 TR.

After several severe accidents Köchert turned to sailing in 1960. He participated at the Rome Olympics that year and finished 17th with 5.5 metres class crew. The same year he won his only Austrian national title.