17 Jun Jim Clark

Jim Clark was a double British Formula One World Champion who won the Drivers’ Title driving for Lotus in 1963 and 1965. He has been described by many (including Jackie Stewart) as the best of his generation and during his career, in seemingly effortless fashion, he won 25 Grands Prix and claimed 33 pole positions. His prolific role-call of victories included 5 wins in his home race, the British Grand Prix, where he triumphed in 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1967. He was also a 4-time winner of the Belgian Grand Prix and the Dutch Grand Prix, a triple winner of the United States Grand Prix and the South African Grand Prix and a double winner of the Mexican Grand Prix and the French Grand Prix (at Reims and Charade). He also achieved great success across the Atlantic in the Indianapolis 500, which he won in 1965 and finished 2nd in twice (in 1963 and 1966), Every one of his victories came with the Lotus team, where he formed a close partnership with his friend, the late, great Colin Chapman. The motorsport world was shaken to its core when on 7 April 1968, during a relatively inconsequential Formula 2 race at Hockenheim, Jimmy left the road in unexplained circumstances and was killed when he crashed into trees in woodland surrounding the circuit. Clark is buried in the village of Chirnside in Berwickshire, Scotland and his legacy lives on.