For the rubric of History of Formula 1, we remember today the champion, twice world champion Jim Clark. According to many, one of the greatest drivers in F1.
Jim Clark, the origins
James “Jim” Clark was born on 4 March 1936 on a farm in Scotland, near the English border. After growing up in the hills of Berwickshire, a 13 years Clark discovers his interest in motorsport through books and magazines. Young Jim had already revealed himself prepared for some sports, having hitherto successfully devoted himself to cricket and hockey. But that for the engines it's a new love, a real love at first sight, which will take him to overcome parental resistance and to drive the family car secretly In fields. Almost symbolic event: on March 4, 1953, day of his seventeenth birthday, Jim Clark manages to take the license. His debut in motorsport it is now imminent.

The beginnings in motorsport
Three years later the family friend Ian Scott Watson takes Jim to compete with one Sunbeam Talbot a Edinburgh, in rally of the 1956. The talent of Jim comes immediately noticed. Other local rallies follow and, in 1958, has the opportunity to drive a Lotus Elite coupe a Brands Hatch. Fact that will seal a ten-year report with the known stable, as well as with its owner Colin chapman. From the beginning, a bond is established between them great understanding, and Chapman leads Clark in Formula 1 already towards dates of the World Cup 1960.
The following year, in 1961, Jim disputes his first full season in Formula 1. An innate driving agility, his. Unfortunately, however, a Monza remains involved in the tragic accident with the Ferrari di Wolfgang von Trips. That terrible accident in which the German pilot and 14 spectators die. A tragedy that will mark Clark forever. Jimmy review even of retire from racing, but then chooses to continue to race in Chapman's Lotus cars with Climax V8 engines. This decision soon turns out to be wrong success. It gets so good two F1 world titles (1963 and 1965) and ne touches just as many (1962 and 1964).

Let's go back to relationship between Jim Clark and the head of the stable Colin chapman. The latter admires the sincerity, humility and integrity of the Scottish driver. Driver who is not particularly interested in the technical aspects of cars, but relies on Chapman, that results punctually sensations by Jim in engineering solutions. Also fans they appreciate the Clark's personality beyond his motor skills, even if he you don't like the limelight. However, its popularity only grows, as a result of the victory in the Indianapolis 500 since 1965. With this victory, the young Scottish driver obtains the also famous in the United States.
Dreams and Death by Jim Clark
Jim, however, will always remain tied to its roots. One day she reveals to a girlfriend her desire to return to the Scottish farm after retiring from racing start a family. What dream, however, will never come true: 7 April 1968, during a competition Formula 2 a Hockenheim, Jim Clark dies, just 32 years. The cause of the accident lies in a problem to his car that isn't May state clarified. The young Scottish driver therefore ends his life in the German woods around the track, during a race to which he shouldn't even have attended. Like another double champion of the world of Formula 1, the Milanese Alberto Ascari.
In his short but intense career in F1, Jim Clark took part in 72 Grands Prix and it has won 25. She got it too 33nd pole position, 28 fast laps, totaling 274 points, of which 255 valid world champions. He also has ran and won on cars tourism and sports prototypes, as well as being the author of impressive comebacks, such as Monza 1967.
sources: quattroruote.it
Jim Clark by Enrico Minazzi, published by: “La gazzetta dello sport”, series: “The myths of F.1 in X-rays”.