Fifty years ago, one of the most naturally talented motor racing drivers of all time died when Jim Clark’s Lotus-Cosworth left the wet track at Hockenheim — in a relatively inconsequential F2 race — at 140 mph and hit a tree.
Clark’s death was a bitter blow for the racing community; Lotus team boss Colin Chapman and Clark’s team mate Graham Hill were said to be devastated, though Hill would go on to take the 1968 Formula 1 title, which he dedicated to his friend’s memory.
The Scot, who won the F1 title for Lotus in 1963 and 1965, was considered one of the safest and most ‘natural’ drivers on the circuit, and many of his fellow racers expressed doubt that driver error had caused the crash. A deflated rear tyre was widely blamed for the incident.
April 7, 1968: Formula One champion Jim Clark killed in Hockenheim crash | BT.
Gone but never forgotten #JimClark https://t.co/YxkY3stl9Y
— Dario Franchitti (@dariofranchitti) April 7, 2015
The ‘Champion of Champions’ is still remembered and revered till this day for his accomplishments and contributions to the sport of Motor Racing.
The film taken at the scene by he photographer – first at the wreckage – should be sought – traced – found because it
has the key to what caused Jim to lose his very valuable life .
It should have been given to the the “Race Director” at the time , why was a Marshall who asked the photographer to
hand it over – not urgent at the time ?.