James Clark, known as Jim Clark, was born in Scotland in 1936. So successful was his performance in the Lotus 18 in the 1960 Formula Junior that the English racing car designer Colin Chapman helped him to his first race in Formula One in the same year. Colin Chapman, the drawing board genius, and Jim Clark, the virtuoso on the track, uniquely complemented each other. That which Colin Chapman designed as an engineer was transformed with perfection into speed by Jim Clark. A real friendship blossomed over the years between the two, further intensifying their cooperation.

Jim Clark was the preeminent driver of the 1960’s. He won 25 Grand Prix, achieved 33 pole positions and, in 1965, became the first European to win the Indy 500 since 1916. He became World Champion in 1963 and 1965, losing the title in 1962 and 1964 due to technical faults and on each occasion late in the race.

Jim Clark: “The supreme attraction of motor racing for me is driving a car as near the phy- sical limit as possible without stepping over it. I have always recognised and respected the safety limit for myself and for other drivers, and I would far rather lose a race any day than overstep myself or my car.”

7 April 1968, Hockenheimring: The 32-year-old champion was unambiguous in his opinion of the course: “Absolutely ridiculous.” In pouring rain, Clark suffered a fatal accident in what for him was a completely insignificant Formula Two race. What remains is the memory of a wonderful person and a great driver.