A Swiss garage owner and former Alfa saloon racer, Kessel graduated from Formula 3 with no great record of success outside his native championship. A season of Formula 2 with a March in 1975 saw him briefly lead the opening race at Estoril and score a couple of fourth places at Hockenheim, but little else.

    His undistinguished spell in the RAM F1 team in 1976 ended in legal acrimony, then followed a brief flirtation with the Apollon. Thereafter he made occasional appearances in F3 until 1981, when he returned to Formula 2 without success. However, in 1993, after many years out of the spotlight, he was to be found in the Porsche 962C that finished seventh in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

(c) 'Who is Who' by Steve Small, 2000