John Surtees

John Norman Surtees (February 11, 1934 - March 10, 2017): A British motorsport racer, John Surtees achieved the unique distinction of winning World Championships on both motorcycles and in Formula One, a feat that has never been replicated. Surtees was a seven-time Grand Prix motorcycle World Champion, winning four 500cc titles with MV Agusta (1956, 1958, 1959, 1960), earning him the Italian nickname "figlio del vento" (son of the wind). In 1960, at age 26, Surtees made the transition from motorcycles to four wheels full-time, joining Formula One. He competed in Formula One from 1960 to 1972, winning six Grands Prix and achieving 24 podiums.

After initially driving for smaller teams, Surtees joined Scuderia Ferrari in 1963, where he won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 1964. The championship battle went down to the final race in Mexico City, where Surtees secured a one-point victory over his nearest competitor in dramatic fashion. This made Surtees the only person in history to win World Championships on both two wheels and four wheels. After leaving Ferrari following a dispute in 1966, Surtees drove for Cooper, Honda, and BRM.

He later established his own team, Team Surtees, which competed in Formula One from 1970 to 1978. The team achieved moderate success in Formula One and considerable success in Formula 5000 and Formula Two. Surtees remained involved in motorsport throughout his life and was known for his technical expertise, versatility, and determination. He was appointed CBE in 2008 for his services to motorsport.

Tragically, his son Henry Surtees was killed in a Formula Two race in 2009, after which John established the Henry Surtees Foundation to help injured racing drivers and others with physical disabilities. Surtees died in 2017 at age 83, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy in motorsport history.