A remarkable career tragically cut short. Who can say just how much Jim Clark could have achieved if it were not for his untimely death in 1968, by which time he had two championships and 25 wins from 72 starts?
Clark made every one of his Grand Prix starts for Lotus – he and team boss Colin Chapman forged a close bond during their nine years at the top level. His first full year in F1 was marred by his collision with Wolfgang von Trips at Monza, which killed the German (who was bidding for the world championship) and thirteen spectators.
In 1962 he took his first Grand Prix win at Spa-Francorchamps, but Clark loathed the circuit from his first race there two years earlier when two drivers were killed: team mate Alan Stacey and Chris Bristow, who Clark nearly ran over at Burnenville. Nonetheless, he would win four times at the fearsome track.
He lost out on the championship in 1962 at the final round when his car failed – Graham Hill took the title instead, suffering just one car failure all year to Clark’s four. Clark made amends in ’63, winning seven of the ten rounds and clinching the title. He also finished second in the Indy 500, and could have won had victor Parnelli Jones been told to retire his car that was visibly leaking oil.
He cracked Indy in 1965 and took the F1 title for a second time as well. In 1966 revised rules increased engine size from 1.5 litres to 3 and Lotus didn’t have a competitive package until getting the Ford Cosworth DFV, which Clark gave a maiden win at Zandvoort. Denny Hulme pipped him to the title in the Brabham but Clark looked strong for 1968. He won at Kyalami but had run his final F1 race. He was killed competing in a Formula Two race at Hockenheim. The death of one of the greatest drivers at the height of his competitiveness shocked Formula One.
Keith killigrew said on 24th February 2009, 20:44
My Hero
John_Mac said on 26th December 2010, 11:24
Mine too.
Peter Zammit said on 27th December 2009, 18:43
I might be wrong in saying that Jim Clark was commerated
by Lotus before they built 100 Lotus Europa with a black
Lotus Badge
Derek said on 19th January 2011, 22:27
72 Race starts, 25 wins, 32 podiums, 48 front row starts, 33 poles, 28 fastest race laps, 11 hat tricks.
John_Mac said on 21st January 2011, 17:47
And second only once!
Basically he won every race in which his car
did not develop a fault (and many of those
as well!)
And yet, no statistics do justice to his
utterly sublime elegance as a complete artist
of a racing driver, with immense versatility
across all classes, conditions and types of
motor racing. He was in a class all of
his own. For me, still the greatest ever.
And charming and modest with it.
I’ve been missing him and pining for him
ever since that gut-wrenching day in
April ’68.
Chux said on 20th February 2011, 5:24
…and I owned and raced a Lotus 27 that may have been touched by Clark… 27JM23
My Boss blames Chapman squarely for the loss of Clark and I agree. I am closer to this than most and regret that there was nothing that could be done to change this event.
Chux
John_Mac said on 20th February 2011, 11:45
I second that emotion.
SVettel said on 31st October 2011, 20:28
He is, for me, the greatest F1 driver that has ever lived; the second best being Fangio
John_Mac said on 1st November 2011, 20:29
I’m in total agreement with that assessment.
I’m curious – who would you rate as third?
SVettel said on 1st November 2011, 21:59
I would put either Schumacher, Prost, Hakkinen or Lauda third
John_Mac said on 1st November 2011, 22:07
That’s very interesting. I rate Schumacher third.
I did have him second, but seeing Schumacher’s
somewhat reduced performance in his forties,
and considering that the whole of Fangio’s career
was in his forties, I have revised my estimate of him
(Fangio) upwards.
Who do you rate most highly of the present
?
generation, or is the clue in your name perhaps
SVettel said on 2nd November 2011, 7:09
Of the current generation, I rate Heikki Kovalainen, Robert Kubica, Sebastian Vettel, and Jenson Button very highly.
Can’t choose between them to be very honest. I just prefer Sebastian Vettel
xjr15jaaag said on 28th January 2012, 13:25
I forgot to add Keke Rosberg: His wins at Monaco and Dallas were epic
John_Mac said on 28th January 2012, 19:39
I really liked Mr Rosberg Snr too.
That was really something to be champion with
his “normally” aspirated engine in that turbo era.
Keith Killigrew said on 17th December 2011, 17:31
As the third best ever F1 driver I would say Ayrton Senna, Ronnie Peterson, Nikki lauda or for sherr “Racer” Nigel Mansell but as the complete racer Jim clark must be tops. I saw him race a Mk1 Ford Lotus Cortina at Ithink mallory Park, how many of todays drivers would do that, he made that car dance. as for the comment above that Colin Chapman is to blame for Jimmys loss, This can be construed to be true in that Chapman said that if a winning car did not start to fall apart as it crossed the line then it was built too heavy, but why were the trees so close to the track ???. Jimmy knew the risks and took them with a feirce and glad heart. So many great memories. Go and vist the JC Museum in his home town, the day before my family and I visited the, visitors book was signed by the greatest Brazilian driver “Ayrton Senna Da Silva” a very proud moment for me. Jimmy was just magical.
John_Mac said on 18th December 2011, 11:31
Gosh! If only you’d been a day earlier, Keith
!
It’s been too long since I visited that lovely room
at Duns.
Who would you rate as second best after Jimmy?
John_Mac said on 2nd November 2011, 19:36
Thank you. It’s always interesting to get others’ views.
If you’ve time sometime, and would like to, it would be fascinating to learn
WHY you (and I’m in total agreement) rate Jim Clark as the greatest ever.
SVettel said on 2nd November 2011, 19:46
Spa 1965, and the Indy 500 race he won by 2 laps. Also, he was always faster than jackie Stewart, who won 3 titles, all of which were after Jims untimely death, and jackie Stewart is widely recognised to be one of the greatest drivers of all time
xjr15jaaag said on 28th January 2012, 13:25
(meant Spa 63)
John_Mac said on 28th January 2012, 19:37
Yes I imagined that’s what you meant.
.
Wasn’t going to pick you up on it
John_Mac said on 2nd November 2011, 20:36
Good points.