Promises, drama and heroism

Johnny Herbert, born 25 June 1964, is a British former racing driver who raced in Formula 1 from 1989 to 2000, for seven different teams, winning three Grand Prix and placing 4th in the 1995 World Drivers’ Championship. He also raced in sports cars, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991, driving a Mazda 787B.

Right from the start, Herbert was fast, very fast. Winning the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch in 1985, Johnny caught Eddie Jordan’s attention, who took him in his Formula 3 team. Together they won the 1987 British Formula 3 title, and Herbert soon moved up, into Eddie’s F3000 team. Hopes were very high for the 1988 season, and Johnny soon won a race and took two pole positions. Formula 1 team bosses started to pay attention.

Unfortunately, Herbert suffered career-threatening injuries in the 1988 Formula 3000 round at Brands Hatch, when Swiss Gregor Foitek reckless driving nudged the side of his car, causing Herbert to slam into the wall head-on, then bounce across the track and slam head-on again into the opposite barrier, sustaining severe ankle and foot injuries.

The threat of amputation loomed, but it eventually passed after multiple surgeries and months of physiotherapy, though the extent of his injuries would permanently hinder his mobility. Despite all this, Herbert still in terrible pain and walking around the paddock with crutches, heroically returned to racing at the start of the 1989 season, and finished fourth on his debut for Benetton at the Brazilian Grand Prix (picture below). Legendary stuff.