Currently reading: 1964 F1 World Champion John Surtees dies aged 83

The only person to have won world championships on two and four wheels has passed away

John Surtees, the 1964 Formula 1 World Champion, has died aged 83.

Surtees passed away at St George's Hospital in London today after being admitted last month for an ongoing respiratory illness. His wife, Jane, and daughters, Leonora and Edwina, were by his side.

Surtees remains the only person to win world championships on two and four wheels, winning seven motorcycle titles on 350cc and 500cc motorbikes between 1956 and 1960, before securing the F1 title four years later.

His subsequent work in motorsport included establishing his own eponymous team, which competed in F1, Formula 2 and Formula 5000 through the 1970s.

His son, Henry Surtees, was born in 1991 and eventually pursued a career through the junior ranks as a racing driver. However, he tragically died in 2009 during a Formula 2 race at Brands Hatch.

In his memory his father established the Henry Surtees Foundation charity, which assists people with brain or physical injuries and can provide them with motorsport-related training.

Most recently, John Surtees was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 2016 for his services to motorsport.

Autocar offers its deepest condolences to family and friends of Surtees.

Advertisement

Read our review

Car review

Hethel goes back to basics with its Lotus Exige, which makes for a capable track day machine, but one less refined than its direct rivals on the road

Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. Our community is the best, easiest and most direct place to tap into the minds of Autocar, and if you join you’ll also be treated to unique WhatsApp content. You can leave at any time after joining - check our full privacy policy here.