# Louis Meznarie > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Louis_Meznarie > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Louis_Meznarie.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Meznarie > Source revision: 1353577618 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) French engineer (1930–2020) This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This biographical article is written like a résumé. Please help improve it by revising it to be neutral and encyclopedic. (August 2020) This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Louis Meznarie" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2026) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message) **Louis Meznarie** (14 January 1930 – 6 August 2020) was a French engine expert and a team owner entrant to [24 Hours of Le Mans](/source/24_Hours_of_Le_Mans). The Louis Meznarie racing team working on Porsche flat-6 motor at 24 Hours of Le Mans 1975; [Luc Melua](/source/Luc_Melua) is in the background, his colleague unidentified. ## Early life Meznarie was born in [Saintry-sur-Seine](/source/Saintry-sur-Seine) ([Essonne](/source/Essonne)), France, to migrant parents from [Yugoslavia](/source/Yugoslavia). As a child, he was fond of mechanical games, tinkering with bicycle parts to make them faster. At thirteen, he joined a workshop and got [NSU Quickly](/source/NSU_Quickly), a bicycle with an auxiliary engine. From 1945 to 1948 he worked for [Sachs](/source/Sachs_Motorcycles) motorcycle factory, MR, working with [two-stroke engines](/source/Two-stroke_engine). From 1948 to 1949 whilst serving in the [French Army](/source/French_Army) he remained involved with motorcycles. In the 1950s, Meznarie began regional [motocross](/source/Motocross) races on a [NSU](/source/NSU_Motorenwerke) Max 250 cm3 OSL. From 1959 to 1971, Meznarie was an official dealer of NSU for motorcycles and motorcars and engine preparation expert for French races. In 1968, he opened a large workshop in Le Plessis-Chenet ([Le Coudray-Montceaux](/source/Le_Coudray-Montceaux) town) with the support of [Shell Oil Company](/source/Shell_Oil_Company). From 1971 to 1983, he was the official engine preparation expert for [Porsche](/source/Porsche), with many victories in [24 Hours of Le Mans](/source/24_Hours_of_Le_Mans), [French Rally Championship](/source/French_Rally_Championship) and [European Rally Championship](/source/European_Rally_Championship). ## Career "Prepare or sale a car, is not interesting to me if I don’t know who will drive it", Louis Meznarie.[1] ### NSU official dealer From 1960 to 1963, Meznarie prepared several official [Prinz 3](/source/NSU_Prinz) (inline two-cylinders) for the [Tour de France](/source/Tour_de_France_Automobile), with French driver [José Behra](/source/Jos%C3%A9_Behra). In 1963, Meznarie prepared one [Prinz 4](/source/NSU_Prinz) for Behra who won the [Tour de Corse](/source/Tour_de_Corse) and [Monte Carlo Rally](/source/Monte_Carlo_Rally) in Tourism category. From 1964 to 1971, Meznarie prepared several official cars (1000, 1200 or 1300 cm3, four-cylinders, 115 hp) for French drivers such as Marie-Claude Beaumont (second of women [French Rally Championship](/source/French_Rally_Championship), 1966), [Guy Chasseuil](/source/Guy_Chasseuil) (second of [French Rally Championship](/source/French_Rally_Championship), 1966), [Bernard Darniche](/source/Bernard_Darniche) (1st of Rallye du Forez and [Rallye du Var](/source/Rallye_du_Var) in 1969) and [Gérard Larrousse](/source/G%C3%A9rard_Larrousse) (fourth of [French Rally Championship](/source/French_Rally_Championship), 1966).[2] After an agreement between NSU and the French manufacturer [Citroën](/source/Citro%C3%ABn), he prepared in 1968 a 4-cylinder engine NSU for formula 3 Citroen MEP X7 : 2 cars compete in hill races.[3] ### Porsche official engine preparation expert This section may be confusing or unclear to readers. In particular, this does not explain what the subject did or how the other details are relevant - try using complete sentences instead of a list. Please help clarify the section. There might be a discussion about this on the talk page. (August 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) In 1971 911 2.4-litre, 260 hp and 2.6-litre, 284 hp for [Gérard Larrousse](/source/G%C3%A9rard_Larrousse) and [Jürgen Barth](/source/J%C3%BCrgen_Barth), 9 victories ([Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry](/source/Autodrome_de_Linas-Montlh%C3%A9ry), [Rouen-Les-Essarts](/source/Rouen-Les-Essarts), [Magny Cours](/source/Circuit_de_Nevers_Magny-Cours) and others). In 1972 911 2.4-litres for [Jürgen Barth](/source/J%C3%BCrgen_Barth), Sylvain Garant and Mike Kyser at the [24 Hours of Le Mans](/source/24_Hours_of_Le_Mans). They achieved 13th scratch ranking, 1st in category, with only one 911 finishing, In 1973 a 911 RSR 3-litre with 310 hp (950 kg) for [Guy Frequelin](/source/Guy_Frequelin) ([Tour de France](/source/Tour_de_France_Automobile) and several hill climbs). In 1974 911 Carrera RSR 3-litres, at 330 hp for Hubert Striebig and Hughes Kirschhoffer ([24 Hours of Le Mans](/source/24_Hours_of_Le_Mans))[4] and a 911 RS 3-litre for [Thierry Sabine](/source/Thierry_Sabine) ([French Championship](/source/French_Championship), 1st in category 3). In 1975 and 1976 911 Carrera RSR 3-litres. In 1976 he prepared 934 turbos at 500 hp for Hubert Striebig and Charlotte Vernet ([Albi](/source/Circuit_d'Albi), [Silverstone](/source/Silverstone_Circuit) and [24 Hours of Le Mans](/source/24_Hours_of_Le_Mans)). In 1977 935 turbo for [Thierry Sabine](/source/Thierry_Sabine). From 1979 to 1982 911 SC 3-litre (315 to 330 hp) for [Bernard Béguin](/source/Bernard_B%C3%A9guin), [French Rally Championship](/source/French_Rally_Championship) 1st in 1979, [European Rally Championship](/source/European_Rally_Championship) 2nd in 1980, scoring two victories in [European Rally Championship](/source/European_Rally_Championship) and one in [Belgium Ypres Westhoek Rally](/source/Belgium_Ypres_Westhoek_Rally) in 1981, [French Rally Championship](/source/French_Rally_Championship) 2nd in 1982. In 1982 and 1983 911 SC 3-litre, 315 hp for Michel Teilhol ([French Rally Championship](/source/French_Rally_Championship) 1st in Division 2). ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [(French) Book of Gérard Clarac : "*NSU et Porsche 911 de compétition préparées par Louis Meznarie*", 2008, ETAI](http://livre.fnac.com/mobile/Product/ZoomArticle/1/2196167). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [(French, Dutch, German, English) Auto Passion : "*Interview of Louis Meznarie, NSU, 1989*"](http://passionnsujcb.canalblog.com/archives/2007/12/28/7367921.html). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [(French) La MEP X7 NSU](http://panhard-racing-team.fr/?page_id=4402). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [(French) Thierry Chargé : "*Les 24 heures du Mans 1974 de la Porsche Carrera RSR d'Hubert Striebig préparée par Louis Meznarie*", 2013](http://www.les24heures.fr/index.php/1974/207-1974-voitures/542-1974-60-porsche-carrera-rsr). ## Sources - [1972 24 Hours of Le Mans](/source/1972_24_Hours_of_Le_Mans) : 13th position for Team Louis Meznarie - [Tour de Corse](/source/Tour_de_Corse) 1973 : [Audi](/source/Audi) 80 for [Guy Fréquelin](/source/Guy_Fr%C3%A9quelin) prepared by Louis Meznarie - [1974 24 Hours of Le Mans](/source/1974_24_Hours_of_Le_Mans) : 44th position for Team Louis Meznarie - [1975 24 Hours of Le Mans](/source/1975_24_Hours_of_Le_Mans) : 28th position for Team Louis Meznarie - [1976 24 Hours of Le Mans](/source/1976_24_Hours_of_Le_Mans) : 11th position for Team Louis Meznarie - [(French) February 2006 Newspaper (1/2): "*Louis Meznarie, not so tall, but strong ...*"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141224024654/http://www.csa911.com/images/accueil/louis1.jpg) - [(French) February 2006 Newspaper (2/2): "*Louis Meznarie, not so tall, but strong...*"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141224025754/http://www.csa911.com/images/accueil/louis3.jpg). ## External links - [P'tit Louis - Louis Meznarie ... Sorcier français NSU !](http://stationnsu.e-monsite.com/pages/sorciers-nsu/p-tit-louis-louis-meznarie-sorcier-francais-nsu.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190727215333/http://stationnsu.e-monsite.com/pages/sorciers-nsu/p-tit-louis-louis-meznarie-sorcier-francais-nsu.html) 2019-07-27 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (Station NSU) - [Les RSR d'usine en course en 1973](http://porscheclubrsdefrance.com/reportages/les-rsr-dusine-en-course-en-1973/4/) (Porsche Club de France) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Louis Meznarie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Meznarie) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Meznarie?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.