Jacky Ickx: Belgium’s F1 + Le Mans legend

Jacky Ickx didn’t grow up wanting to be a racing driver, so how did he become Belgium’s most successful Formula 1 driver and one of the most versatile racers in the history of motorsport?

Competing in all types of cars and competitions, not only did Jacky win eight F1 races and finish runner-up in the Drivers’ Standings twice, he was also a serial winner in Le Mans, the World Endurance Championship and even the Paris-Dakar rally.

Speaking to Tom Clarkson, Jacky tells the remarkable story of how he made his Formula 1 debut in a Formula 2 car at the 1966 German Grand Prix. At that time, F2 cars were allowed to race alongside F1 machinery because of how long the iconic Nürburgring Nordschleiffe track was.

Jacky reveals how his impressive performances in the F2 car led to him joining Ferrari in 1968, why he left the team after just one season, only to return a year later, and what his relationship with Enzo Ferrari was like.

Jacky also remembers how he felt finishing runner-up in 1970 to Jochen Rindt, the only driver to be crowned World Champion posthumously, and you’ll hear the story of his inspirational one-man protest on track that changed the safety of Le Mans forever.

F1 Beyond The Grid will return on Wednesday 27th August.

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