Jacky Ickx

About Jacky Ickx

Jacques Bernard "Jacky" Ickx (last name pronounced "Ix" or "Icks") (born 1 January 1945 in Brussels) is a Belgian former racing driver who won the highly prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans six times, achieved eight wins and 25 podium finishes in Formula One, won the Can-Am Championship in 1979 and is a former winner of the Dakar Rally.

Early racing career:

Jacky Ickx was introduced to the sport when he was taken by his father, motoring journalist Jacques Ickx, to races which he covered. Despite this family background, Jacky had limited interest in the sport until his father bought him a 50 cc Zündapp motorcycle. Soon afterwards, Ickx won 8 of 13 races at the first season and the European 50 cc trials title. He took another two titles before he moved to racing a Lotus Cortina in touring car racing, taking his national saloon car championship in 1965, as well as winning the Spa 24 Hours race in 1966 driving a BMW 2000TI. He also competed in sports car races where he had already significant experience from taking part in the 1000 km races at the Nürburgring.

Jacky Ickx Achievements

24 hours of Le Mans victories:

1969 – Jacky Ickx / Jackie Oliver (Ford GT-40)

1975 – Jacky Ickx / Derek Bell (Mirage GR8)

1976 – Jacky Ickx / Gijs van Lennep (Porsche 936)

1977 – Jacky Ickx / Hurley Haywood / Jürgen Barth (Porsche 936)

1981 – Jacky Ickx / Derek Bell (Porsche 936)

1982 – Jacky Ickx / Derek Bell (Porsche 956)

Awards:

Awarded the Honorary Citizen of Le Mans prior to the 2000 race, the first sports person to do so.

Inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2002.