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Such a natural talent!

16. Dec 2021 
by Ziv Knoll
4026 views

John Surtees (1934 – 2017) was an English World Champion in both motorcycle Grand Prix and in Formula 1. While still racing motorcycles full-time, Surtees was invited to test drive an Aston Martin DBR1 sports car, and impressed team manager Reg Parnell.

In 1960, at the age of 26, Surtees switched from motorcycles to racing cars full-time, making his Formula 1 debut for Team Lotus at Silverstone, in the BRDC International Trophy. He made an immediate impact with a second-place finish in only his second F1 race aboard a Lotus-Climax, at the 1960 British Grand Prix at Silverstone, and a pole position at his third, the 1960 Portuguese Grand Prix. Such was his natural talent.

Attracted by the charisma of Enzo Ferrari and his red cars, he moved to the Scuderia Ferrari in 1963, and won the Drivers’ World Championship for the Italian team in 1964. He became a legend of our sport.

John Surtees, here aboard his Ferrari 156/63 at the Monaco Grand Prix in 1963. He qualified third behind Jim Clark (Lotus Climax) and Graham Hill (BRM). Hill won the race in front of team-mate Richie Ginther, scoring a fantastic one-two for BRM, while Surtees set the fastest lap of the race and finished fourth.

 

Source: DR

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