John Surtees: 1934 – 2017
Everyone at Goodwood is saddened to hear the news today that motorsporting god John Surtees has died after a short illness, at the age of 83. The only man, almost certainly in perpetuity, to win the World Championship on two and four wheels, Surtees was a gritty racer, successful team boss and tireless charity campaigner who held a special place in the hearts of race fans all over the world.
Appropriately, he made his four-wheeled debut in a Formula Junior race right here at Goodwood in 1960, duking it out with fellow future World Champion Jim Clark.
Surtees' extensive CV includes seven motorcycle world titles in the 1950s, the Formula 1 crown for Ferrari in 1964, the inaugural Can-Am title in 1966 and numerous World Sportscar Championship race wins for Ferrari.
A full appreciation of this giant of our sport will appear in due course.
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