Not unlucky, after all

One of the fastest drivers in the 60’s, New-Zealander Chris Amon (picture above, in 1968 with Ferrari engineer Mauro Forghieri), never succeeded to win a Formula One Grand Prix.

During his fourteen seasons at the highest level, from 1963 to 1976, he was always struck by mechanical problems when victory was in sight.

His reputation for bad luck was such, that Mario Andretti once, with humour said : “If he became an undertaker, people would stop dying”.

Ferrari technical director Mauro Forghieri was full of praise : “Chris is the best test driver I have ever worked with. He had all the qualities to be a World Champion but bad luck just wouldn’t let him be”.

Amon, winner of the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Ford GT40, with fellow Kiwi Bruce McLaren (picture below), did not feel unlucky.

In an interview with Motorsport Magazine many years after retiring in his farm in New-Zealand he declared: “I absolutely do not feel unlucky. On the contrary, I feel very lucky to have survived. So many drivers of my era did not.”