18/3/1946
Record updated
A runner-up in the 1972 Formule Renault series, Leclere won the French Formula 3 championship for Alpine the following year.
Michel's career seemed to be taking shape well during 1974-75 when he was a front-runner in Formula 2 and won races at Rouen, Zolder and Silverstone, earning an F1 chance with Tyrrell and a contract with Wolf-Williams for 1976. In the event, the car was awful and the team despondent, and poor Leclere was jettisoned in mid-season, returning to Formula 2 with Elf-Renault and finishing fourth in the championship.
His career never really recovered after a disastrous F2 season with Kauhsen in 1977 destroyed his chances of a Formula 1 comeback. Thereafter he scratched about with only occasional sports car and single-seater outings before quitting for good.
(c) 'Who is Who' by Steve Small, 2000