Biography
Jacques Bernard "Jacky" Ickx (born 1 January 1945) is a retired Belgian racing driver known for winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans six times, the second-highest number of wins ever. In Formula One, he secured eight victories and 25 podium finishes. Ickx played a key role in several World Championships for Makes and World Sports Car titles, contributing to Ford (1968), Ferrari (1972), and Porsche (1976–1977, 1982–1985) with 37 major World Sports Car victories. Additionally, he claimed the Can-Am Championship in 1979 and won the Paris–Dakar Rally in 1983.
He finished as the runner-up in the Formula One World Championship twice, consecutively in 1969 and 1970. Most of his Formula One wins came with Scuderia Ferrari, where he was the lead driver during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Born in Brussels on 1 January 1945, Ickx was introduced to motorsports through his father, Jacques Ickx, a motoring journalist who took him to races. Although initially showing little interest, his enthusiasm grew after his father bought him a 50 cc Zündapp motorcycle.
Ickx started competing in motorcycle trials, showcasing his skill by defeating future motocross world champion Roger De Coster in the Belgian 50 cc trials national championship. He went on to win 8 of 13 races in his first season and secured the European 50 cc trials title.
After earning two more titles, Ickx transitioned to touring car racing, piloting a Lotus Cortina. He won the national saloon car championship in 1965 and triumphed at the Spa 24 Hours in 1966 driving a BMW 2000TI. He also gained experience in sports car racing, participating in the 1000 km Nürburgring events.
Ickx made his Grand Prix debut at the Nürburgring in 1966, driving a Matra MS5-Cosworth one-litre Formula Two (F2) car entered by Ken Tyrrell. Unfortunately, a first-lap collision with John Taylor forced both to retire; Taylor later died due to injuries sustained. The following year, at the Nürburgring, Ickx drove a Matra MS7-Cosworth 1.6-litre F2 car, again entered by Tyrrell. Despite the superior power of Formula One cars, only Denny Hulme and Jim Clark qualified faster than him. Although starting behind all Formula One cars due to his F2 classification, he climbed to fifth place within four laps, overtaking 12 Formula One cars. He retired after 12 laps with a broken front suspension but recorded the fastest lap among F2 drivers.
At Monza in 1967, Ickx debuted in Formula One with a Cooper T81B-Maserati, finishing sixth despite a puncture on the last lap. He also raced for Cooper at the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen but retired on lap 45 due to overheating.
