John Surtees

John Surtees
Born
John Norman Surtees

(1934-02-11)11 February 1934
Tatsfield, Surrey, England
Died10 March 2017(2017-03-10) (aged 83)
Tooting, London, England
Spouses
Patricia Burke
(m. 1962; div. 1979)
Janis Sheara
(m. 1979; div. 1982)
Jane Sparrow
(m. 1987)
Children3, including Henry
Motorcycle racing career statistics
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Active years19521960
First race1952 500cc Ulster Grand Prix
Last race1960 500cc Nations Grand Prix
First win1955 250cc Ulster Grand Prix
Last win1960 500cc Nations Grand Prix
Team(s)Norton, EMC, NSU, BMW, MV Agusta
Championships350cc – 1958, 1959, 1960
500cc – 1956, 1958, 1959, 1960
Starts Wins Podiums Poles F. laps Points
68 38 45 N/A 34 350
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityUnited Kingdom British
Active years19601972
TeamsLotus, Parnell, Ferrari, Cooper, Honda, BRM, Surtees
Entries113 (111 starts)
Championships1 (1964)
Wins6
Podiums24
Career points180
Pole positions8
Fastest laps10
First entry1960 Monaco Grand Prix
First win1963 German Grand Prix
Last win1967 Italian Grand Prix
Last entry1972 Italian Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years19631965, 1967
TeamsFerrari, Lola
Best finish3rd (1964)
Class wins0

John Norman Surtees CBE (11 February 1934 – 10 March 2017) was a British racing driver and motorcycle road racer, who competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing from 1952 to 1960 and in Formula One from 1960 to 1972. Surtees was a seven-time Grand Prix motorcycle World Champion, with four titles in the premier 500cc class with MV Agusta. Surtees won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 1964 with Ferrari, and remains the only driver to win World Championships on both two- and four-wheels; he won 38 motorcycle Grands Prix and six Formula One Grands Prix.

On his way to become a seven-time Grand Prix motorcycle World Champion, he won his first title in 1956, and followed with three consecutive doubles between 1958 and 1960, winning six World Championships in both the 500 and 350cc classes. Surtees then made the move to the pinnacle of four-wheeled motorsport, the Formula One World Championship, and in 1964 made motor racing history by becoming the Formula One World Champion. He founded the Surtees Racing Organisation team that competed as a constructor in Formula One, Formula 2 and Formula 5000 from 1970 to 1978. He was also the ambassador of the Racing Steps Foundation.