Jim Clark

He switched from Jaguar D-type to Lister-Jaguar for 1959 and the success continued as Clark’s reputation burgeoned. He also made his debut at Le Mans when sharing the tenth-placed Lotus Elite with Sir John Whitmore. It was Boxing Day 1959 before Clark first drove a single-seater racing car – his Gemini finishing eighth in the Formula Junior race – but he was already regarded as a talent in waiting.

F1 debut with Lotus

He signed with Aston Martin for 1960 but introduction of the front-engine F1 challenger was delayed so Clark made his Grand Prix debut with Lotus at Zandvoort. Fifth next time out in the Belgian GP, Clark finished third in that year’s Le Mans 24 Hours when sharing a Border Reivers Aston Martin DBR1/300 with Roy Salvadori. He drove a works Lotus 18-Climax for the balance of the season and excelled in F1, F2 and Formula Junior. He narrowly beat Dan Gurney in the F2 Kentish 100 at Brands Hatch and was crowned John Davy and Motor Racing British Formula Junior Champion –tying team-mate Trevor Taylor for the latter. He also finished third in the Portuguese GP as he completed a fine maiden F1 season eighth in the World Championship.

Clark concentrated on F1 during 1961 – the first season of new 1.5-litre rules. Ferrari dominated that year but Clark won the non-championship Pau GP and finished third in Holland and France when points were on offer. Fourth in the German GP, Clark diced with the Ferrari of championship leader Wolfgang von Trips during the opening laps of the Italian GP. However, they touched as they approached Parabolica for the second time. Von Trips’s car was launched into the crowd killing the German and 14 spectators. Team-mate Innes Ireland won the final race of the year but was released as team owner Colin Chapman invested in Clark’s youthful promise.

Twice World Champion and acknowledged as F1’s leading star, the introduction of new 3000cc F1 rules for 1966 rendered another title challenge impossible. Most of the season was spent peddling an underpowered 2-litre Lotus 33-Climax but Clark still managed to finish third in Holland. The complex and ultimately disappointing BRM H16 engine was finally ready by the end of the European season and it held together long enough for Clark to win the United States GP – one of only three points finishes that season. He also starred at Indianapolis once more by qualifying second but was beaten by Hill’s Lola on Memorial Day.

Rather than persevere with BRM power in 1967, Lotus signed an exclusive deal with Ford and Cosworth to develop the new DFV engine. Clark also had a new team-mate with perennial rival Hill joining from BRM. The Lotus 49-Ford was introduced at the Dutch GP with Hill qualifying on pole position and Clark winning after the Englishman retired. Further victories in the British, United States and Mexican GPs confirmed his place as F1’s greatest star but crucial retirements restricted him to third overall. That season also included his remarkable comeback drive at Monza when Clark recovered a full lap lost in a pitstop to only lose victory by running out of fuel at the last corner.

Tragic accident at Hockenheim

Now a tax exile living in Paris and with his car and engine fully sorted, Clark converted pole position for the South African GP into victory at the start of 1968. That established new F1 records for both qualifying and race wins and lay the foundation for another expected title charge. However, before the Grand Prix circus reconvened, Jim Clark was dead. Uncharacteristically off the pace during qualifying for the F2 Deutschland Trophy at Hockenheim, Clark was running eighth after four laps of the wet track when his Lotus 48-Cosworth crashed into the trees at high speed with its driver killed instantly.