Sir Jackie Stewart

In the Ardennes, not too far from where in the winter of 1944 a group of brave Americans fought the Battle of the Bulge, lies the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. A triangle shaped course made up of public roads connecting the towns of Francorchamps, Malmedy and Stavelot, the circuit has been home to the Belgian Grand Prix on and off since 1924. Though shortened by nearly half from it's original 15 km layout, corners such as Eau Rouge, Pouhon, and Blanchimont still famously test a drivers courage as well as skill. Instead of the gravel traps and tire barriers that we're used to seeing at modern tracks, a driver putting a wheel off at the original Spa was more likely to be greeted by one of the trees, telephone poles, stone walls, or farmhouses that lined the circuit. On June 12, 1966, a 27 year old Jackie Stewart found himself approaching one of these corners, the fearsome Masta Kink, at 160 mph, in the rain...backwards.

Stewart lay trapped in his BRM, his overalls soaked in racing fuel from a ruptured gas tank, waiting for the spark that would end his life, while fellow driver Graham Hill ran to a nearby farm to borrow tools to free him. 30 minutes later Hill succeeded and 10 minutes after that the ambulance finally showed up. And promptly proceeded to lose it's police escort and it's way en route to the hospital. Not until he was transported by air to London did Stewart receive the care he needed. It was, thankfully, the only major accident of his career, but it led to a tireless safety campaign on his part. His organizing of driver boycotts of unsafe circuits won him few friends among promotors and race officials, but his reputation behind the wheel and his persistence ultimately led to the safety that we've come to take for granted in modern grand prix racing.

Watching the quick and competent extrication of an unconscious Felipe Massa from the turn six tire barrier at the Hungaroring last week, I couldn't help but be reminded of the debt of gratitude that fans, spectators, crews, and drivers in any formula owe to the three time World Champion from Scotland.

Thanks Jackie!