Surtees, champion in red

John Surtees (1934-2017) was already a seven-time motorcycle world champion, before making the move to the pinnacle of motorsport, the Formula 1 World Championship, and in 1964 made motor sport history by also becoming the F1 World Champion, for Ferrari.

Picture above: John Surtees, qualified his Ferrari 158 in fifth position at the 1965 Monaco Grand Prix, and finished fourth in the race, despite running out of fuel on lap 99 of 100.

The 1964 World Championship of Drivers, fiercely contested by Jim Clark, John Surtees and Graham Hill, was decided in favour of Surtees at the Mexican Grand Prix, last race of the season, when Hill (BRM) was delayed after a collision with Lorenzo Bandini’s Ferrari and Clark (Lotus) had to stop because of an oil leak.

To this day Surtees remains the only person to have won World Championships in both two and four wheels. He later founded the Surtees Racing Organisation team that competed as a constructor in Formula 1, Formula 2 and Formula 5000, from 1970 to 1978.

Highlights of his 1964 season were dominant victories, including pole position and fastest lap, at the Nürburgring and Monza (picture-below). I was fortunate to meet John Surtees years later, a charming man indeed, and a great champion.