Jackie Stewart

Biography of Jackie Stewart

Sir Jackie Stewart Profile

Three-time Formula 1 world champion Sir Jackie Stewart is the last surviving title winner of the 1960s. During his nine-year spell as a driver, Stewart raced in cars badged as BRM, Matra, March and Tyrrell.

By the end of his career, Stewart's haul of 27 F1 wins was a record that surpassed his friend Jim Clark's previous best of 25.

Stewart joined the F1 grid in 1965 driving an Owen Racing Organisation BRM with his first win coming in only his eighth outing for the team at Monza. He would achieve just one further victory with the team, Monaco '66, before leaving the team at the end of the '67 season, the only year in which he wailed to top the podium.

A two-year spell driving for Matra yielded nine wins, two further podiums and a maiden world title in '69.

In 1970, the team was badged for the first time as Tyrrell Racing and it is alongside this name that Stewart is perhaps best remembered with further championship successes in '71 and in his final year of competition in '73.

Stewart remains a prominent figure in the F1 paddock and briefly ran his own Stewart Grand Prix team from 1997-99 before it was purchased by Ford and became Jaguar. The outfit continues to this day as Red Bull.

Stewart - An advocate for F1 safety

Stewart has been one of the most vocal advocates for the need to improve safety in Formula 1 with regard to the cars, circuits and medical facilities.

An accident at Spa Francorchamps proved to be the catalyst for this after Stewart crashed into a telephone pole whilst driving at 165 mph in heavy rain in 1966. Stewart was pinned into his car by his steering column with his fuel tank ruptured and leaking into the cockpit.

With no officials to extract him from the car, Stewart was moved to safety by Graham Hill and Bob Bondurant who had also crashed.