100.000 laps later

Jacky Ickx, born on 1 January 1945, turns 80 today. He is seen here-above in 1973 wearing his iconic dark blue and white helmet in his Ferrari 312B3. He reflects on the dangers of motor racing: “In the past, two, even three colleagues died each season. It was generally accepted this could happen. The fact that I am still alive after 100.000 laps is my championship.”

The Belgian, who won 8 F1 Grand Prix (+3 non-championship F1 events and 6 24 Hours of Le Mans) was second in the Drivers’ Formula One championship twice: in 1969 to Jackie Stewart and in 1970 to the regretted Jochen Rindt.

Picture here-under: Ickx miraculously survived this fiery crash, when a collision with the BRM of Oliver ignited his Ferrari, at the start of the 1970 Spanish Grand Prix. We wish this great champion who survived the most dangerous years of motorsport, many more healthy years.