David Thieme
David Thieme | |
---|---|
Born | David Thieme 1942 Minneapolis, US |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Pratt Institute |
Occupation(s) | Designer, Oil Trader and former CEO of Essex Overseas Petroleum Corporation |
David Thieme (born in 1942) is an American designer, son of the artist and designer Anthony Thieme.[1] He is best known for having been the former owner of the Essex Overseas Petroleum Corporation, the company that sponsored Team Lotus, between 1979 and 1981, and also the official entry for Porsche in the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans.[2]
Education and affairs
Thieme studied industrial design at the
Motorsport connections
Thieme's passion for racing cars, and the fact that he struck up a friendship with
In 1979 Essex, also sponsored the official Porsche entries for the 24 Hours of Le Mans,[2] but the two 936s, #12 (driven by Jacky Ickx, Brian Redman and Jürgen Barth) and the #14 (with Bob Wollek and Hurley Haywood) did not finish the race, although the number 14 car took pole position and the number 12 car set the fastest lap.
Fraud charges and jail
In April 1981, David Thieme was arrested at an airport in Zurich because of accusations of fraud to the amount of $7.6 million from the bank Credit Suisse.[6] After two weeks of investigation he was released on bail, which according to sources was $150,000 dollars and paid by Mansour Ojjeh. Subsequently the Essex empire collapsed and Thieme disappeared.[7]
Personal life
According to what is stated Thieme now lives in Paris with his wife, the daughter of comedian André Pousse.[8]
References
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ a b "Kentucky New Era - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ^ "F1 News - Grandprix.com > GP Encyclopedia > Sponsors > Essex Petroleum". Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ISBN 1-85960-844-2Page 290 and Chapter 19
- ^ "F1 launches on the grand scale". ESPN F1. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ^ "The Bulletin - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ^ "The Tuscaloosa News - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved 18 January 2016.
- ^ "David Thieme : Brillante et filante etoile" (JPG). W124.org. Retrieved 2016-01-18.