Jo Siffert

Joseph 'Jo' Siffert (7 July 1936 - 24 October 1971): Swiss racing driver from Fribourg, affectionately known as 'Seppi,' who competed in Formula 1 from 1962 to 1971, achieving 2 wins, 6 podiums, and starting 96 Grand Prix. From humble beginnings as a dairy owner's son, Siffert initially won the 1959 Swiss 350cc motorcycle championship before switching to four wheels. He entered F1 as a privateer in 1962 with a Lotus-Climax, later joining Scuderia Filipinetti and Rob Walker's private team from 1964. Siffert scored his first F1 victory at the 1968 British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch in a privateer Lotus 49B, regarded as the last Grand Prix victory by a genuine privateer.

He won his second race at the 1971 Austrian Grand Prix for BRM. While his F1 status grew slowly, Siffert achieved greater fame driving for factory Porsche in sports car racing, winning the 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, and Targa Florio. He was killed in the non-championship 1971 World Championship Victory Race at Brands Hatch when three fire extinguishers failed and he died of smoke inhalation despite suffering only a leg fracture. His funeral in Fribourg attracted 50,000 people.