Johnny Servoz-Gavin

Georges-Francis 'Johnny' Servoz-Gavin (18 January 1942 - 29 May 2006): French racing driver from Grenoble, a city in the foothills of the Alps. As a teenager he worked as a ski instructor, during which time he became known as 'Johnny.' He participated in 13 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix between 1967 and 1970, qualifying in all but one, achieving one podium and scoring nine championship points total. He drove for the Tyrrell Formula One team, mainly as Jackie Stewart's teammate.

The 1966 French Formula 3 champion and the 1969 European Formula 2 Champion, Servoz-Gavin seemed set for a great Formula 1 career, particularly when he signed full-time for Tyrrell in 1970. Notable achievements include scoring a sixth place in the 1969 Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport Park, which secured him a place in history as the only driver ever to score a world championship point with a four-wheel-driven Formula One car, the Matra MS84. His best result came at Monza where, after qualifying thirteenth, he went on to finish second and take six points with the Matra. Servoz-Gavin suffered an eye injury in an off-road event in the winter of 1969-70 and had been worrying that his eyesight had been damaged.

Driving a March 701 for the Tyrrell team he finished fifth (yet last) in the 1970 Spanish Grand Prix at Jarama. Then after hitting a barrier again and failing to qualify for the 1970 Monaco Grand Prix he decided to retire. After his racing career was over, Servoz-Gavin lived on a houseboat and suffered serious burns when a gas bottle exploded on his boat in 1982. He died in May 2006 as the result of a pulmonary embolism following a period of ill health.

He was 64 years old.