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Jo Siffert

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Jo Siffert
Siffert in 1968
Born
Joseph Siffert

(1936-07-07)7 July 1936
Fribourg, Switzerland
Died24 October 1971(1971-10-24) (aged 35)
Brands Hatch, Kent, England
Cause of deathSmoke inhalation after a collision at the 1971 World Championship Victory Race
Children2
Formula One World Championship career
NationalitySwitzerland Swiss
Active years1962–1971
TeamsPrivateer Lotus, Filipinetti, privateer Brabham, Walker, March, BRM
Entries100 (96 starts)
Championships0
Wins2
Podiums6
Career points68
Pole positions2
Fastest laps4
First entry1962 Monaco Grand Prix
First win1968 British Grand Prix
Last win1971 Austrian Grand Prix
Last entry1971 United States Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years1965–1971
TeamsMaserati, Porsche
Best finish4th (1966)
Class wins2 (1966, 1967)

Joseph Siffert (French pronunciation: [ʒo sifɛʁ]; 7 July 1936 – 24 October 1971) was a Swiss racing driver, who competed in Formula One from 1962 to 1971. Siffert won two Formula One Grands Prix across 10 seasons.

Affectionately known as "Seppi" to his family and friends, Siffert was born in Fribourg, Switzerland, the son of a dairy owner. He initially made his name in racing on two wheels, winning the Swiss 350 cc motorcycle championship in 1959, before switching to four wheels with a Formula Junior Stanguellini. Siffert graduated to Formula One as a privateer in 1962, with a four-cylinder Lotus-Climax. He later moved to Swiss team Scuderia Filipinetti, and in 1964 joined Rob Walker's private British Rob Walker Racing Team. Early successes included victories in the non-Championship 1964 and 1965 Mediterranean Grands Prix, both times beating Jim Clark by a very narrow margin. He won two races in Formula One for the Rob Walker Racing Team and BRM. He died at the 1971 World Championship Victory Race, having his car roll over after a crash caused by a mechanical failure and being caught under the burning vehicle. Siffert was married twice and to his second wife Simone during the height of his career in the late 1960s and at the time of his death. They had two children together, Véronique and Philippe.

Life and career

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Early life

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Siffert was born in 1936 in the town of Fribourg, Switzerland, 35 km (22 mi) from Bern to a poor family. Aged 12, Siffert and his father went to Bern to see the 1948 Swiss Grand Prix at the Bremgarten circuit, and it was at this event where Siffert wanted to be a racing driver.[1]

Formula One

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Siffert at the wheel of a Porsche 906 in practice for the 1966 1000 km Nürburgring race

In 1968, Siffert drove into the F1 history books by winning the 1968 British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch in Rob Walker Racing Team's Lotus 49B, beating Chris Amon's Ferrari into second place after a race-long battle. This is regarded as the last GP victory by a genuine privateer.[2] In 1971 as a BRM team driver he scored his second Formula One Championship race victory at the Austrian Grand Prix held at the Österreichring.[3]

Sports cars

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While Siffert's status in F1 grew slowly, his fame came as a leading driver for the factory Porsche effort in its quest for the World Sportscar Championship. In 1968, Siffert and Hans Herrmann won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring in a Porsche 907, marking the first major outright wins for the company, apart from a few earlier victories on twisty tracks.

Siffert in the Porsche 908.03 at the 1970 1,000 km Nürburgring
Siffert at the wheel of a Porsche 908
Siffert at the 1969 Dutch Grand Prix.

Later on, Siffert's driving displays in the Porsche 917 earned him several major wins in Europe. In addition, Siffert was chosen by Porsche to help launch its CanAm development programme, driving a Porsche 917PA spyder in 1969 and finishing fourth in the championship despite few entries.

In 1970 he teamed up with Brian Redman to drive a Porsche 908/3 to victory at the Targa Florio. That same year, Porsche bankrolled Siffert's seat in a works March Engineering F1 since the German company did not wish to lose one of their prize drivers to rival Ferrari. His association with March in F1 was disastrous, so he was pleased to join rival Porsche racer Pedro Rodriguez at BRM the following season.

Death

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Siffert was killed in the non-championship World Championship Victory Race at Brands Hatch, Kent, England, the scene of his first victory in 1968. The suspension of his BRM had been damaged in a lap one incident with Ronnie Peterson, and broke later. This was not admitted by BRM until much later when it was accidentally divulged by a BRM ex-mechanic.[4] The BRM crashed and immediately caught fire. Siffert could not free himself from the burning car.

In the subsequent Royal Automobile Club (the UK organising and regulatory representative of the FIA at the time) investigation, it was discovered that Siffert had only suffered a leg fracture in the initial crash but because three fire extinguishers failed to work properly no rescuers could reach Siffert for five minutes and he died of smoke inhalation.[5] A fire marshall stated that if the fire extinguishers worked correctly then they could have reached Siffert within 20 seconds.[6]

This accident led to a rapid overhaul of safety, both in-car and on circuit. On-board fire extinguishers (using BCF—bromochlorodifluoromethane, an aircraft product) became mandatory and also piped air for the drivers, direct into their helmets.

His funeral in Switzerland was attended by 50,000 people and a Gulf-Porsche 917 of Team John Wyer led the hearse and procession through the streets of Fribourg.

Legacy

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In the final round of the 2007–08 A1GP season, at Brands Hatch, the A1 Team Switzerland car carried the message Jo 'Seppi' Siffert - 40th Anniversary - Brands Hatch. This commemorated his 1968 British Grand Prix victory at Brands Hatch.

Jo Siffert memorial bust outside Palexpo complexe (Geneva Feb.1997)

Racing record

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Career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
1962 Formula One Ecurie Filipinetti 3 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1963 Formula One Siffert Racing Team 9 0 0 0 0 1 14th
1964 Formula One Siffert Racing Team 8 0 0 0 0 7 10th
R.R.C. Walker Racing Team 2 0 0 0 1
Trophées de France Siffert Racing Team 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1965 Formula One R.R.C. Walker Racing Team 10 0 0 0 0 5 12th
24 Hours of Le Mans J.H. Simone 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1966 Formula One R.R.C. Walker Racing Team 8 0 0 0 0 3 14th
British Formula Two Joakim Bonnier 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
24 Hours of Le Mans Porsche System Engineering 1 1 0 ? 1 N/A 1st
1967 Formula One Rob Walker/Jack Durlacher Racing Team 10 0 0 0 0 6 12th
European Formula Two BMW AG München 3 0 0 0 0 0 NC‡
24 Hours of Le Mans Porsche System Engineering 1 1 0 ? 1 N/A 1st
1968 Formula One Rob Walker/Jack Durlacher Racing Team 12 1 1 3 1 12 7th
European Formula Two Bayerische Motoren Werke 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC‡
24 Hours of Le Mans Porsche System Engineering 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
24 Hours of Daytona 1 1 ? ? 1 N/A 1st
1969 Formula One Rob Walker/Jack Durlacher Racing Team 11 0 0 0 2 15 9th
Can-Am Porsche-Audi 8 0 0 0 1 56 4th
European Formula Two Bayerische Motoren Werke 3 0 1 0 1 0 NC‡
24 Hours of Le Mans Hart Ski Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A NC
24 Hours of Daytona Porsche System Engineering 1 0 0 0 0 N/A NC
1970 Formula One March Engineering 12 0 0 0 0 0 NC
European Formula Two Bayerische Motoren Werke 4 0 0 0 1 0 NC‡
Can-Am J.W. Automotive 1 0 0 0 1 15 17th
24 Hours of Le Mans 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1971 Formula One Yardley Team BRM 11 1 1 1 2 19 5th
Can-Am STP-Jo Siffert 6 0 0 0 3 68 4th
European Formula Two Jo Siffert - Chevron Racing Team 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC‡
24 Hours of Le Mans J.W. Automotive 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF

‡ Graded drivers not eligible for European Formula Two Championship points

Complete Formula One World Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 WDC Pts
1962 Ecurie Nationale Suisse Lotus 21 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 NED MON
DNQ 		NC 0
Ecurie Filipinetti BEL
10 		GER
12
Lotus 24 BRM P56 1.5 V8 FRA
Ret 		GBR ITA
DNQ 		USA RSA
1963 Siffert Racing Team Lotus 24 BRM P56 1.5 V8 MON
Ret 		BEL
Ret 		NED
7 		FRA
6 		GBR
Ret 		GER
9 		ITA
Ret 		USA
Ret 		MEX
9 		RSA 14th 1
1964 Siffert Racing Team Lotus 24 BRM P56 1.5 V8 MON
8 		10th 7
Brabham BT11 NED
13 		BEL
Ret 		FRA
Ret 		GBR
11 		GER
4 		AUT
Ret 		ITA
7
R.R.C. Walker Racing Team USA
3 		MEX
Ret
1965 R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Brabham BT11 BRM P56 1.5 V8 RSA
7 		MON
6 		BEL
8 		FRA
6 		GBR
9 		NED
13 		GER
Ret 		ITA
Ret 		USA
11 		MEX
4 		12th 5
1966 R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Brabham BT11 BRM P60 2.0 V8 MON
Ret 		14th 3
Cooper T81 Maserati 9/F1 3.0 V12 BEL
Ret 		FRA
Ret 		GBR
NC 		NED
Ret 		GER ITA
Ret 		USA
4 		MEX
Ret
1967 Rob Walker/Jack Durlacher Racing Team Cooper T81 Maserati 9/F1 3.0 V12 RSA
Ret 		MON
Ret 		NED
10 		BEL
7 		FRA
4 		GBR
Ret 		GER
Ret 		CAN
DNS 		ITA
Ret 		USA
4 		MEX
12 		12th 6
1968 Rob Walker/Jack Durlacher Racing Team Cooper T81 Maserati 9/F1 3.0 V12 RSA
7 		7th 12
Lotus 49 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ESP
Ret 		MON
Ret 		BEL
7 		NED
Ret 		FRA
11
Lotus 49B GBR
1 		GER
Ret 		ITA
Ret 		CAN
Ret 		USA
5 		MEX
6
1969 Rob Walker/Jack Durlacher Racing Team Lotus 49B Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 RSA
4 		ESP
Ret 		MON
3 		NED
2 		FRA
9 		GBR
8 		GER
111 		ITA
8 		CAN
Ret 		USA
Ret 		MEX
Ret 		9th 15
1970 March Engineering March 701 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 RSA
10 		ESP
DNQ 		MON
8 		BEL
7 		NED
Ret 		FRA
Ret 		GBR
Ret 		GER
8 		AUT
9 		ITA
Ret 		CAN
Ret 		USA
9 		MEX
Ret 		NC 0
1971 Yardley Team BRM BRM P153 BRM P142 3.0 V12 RSA
Ret 		5th 19
BRM P160 ESP
Ret 		MON
Ret 		NED
6 		FRA
4 		GBR
9 		GER
DSQ 		AUT
1 		ITA
9 		CAN
9 		USA
2
Source:[7]
Notes
  • ^1 – Formula Two cars occupied fifth to tenth positions in the 1969 German Grand Prix, however drivers of these cars were not eligible for championship points. The points for fifth and sixth were awarded to the drivers of the eleventh and twelfth placed cars.

Complete Formula One Non-Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
1962 Ecurie Nationale Suisse Lotus 22 Ford 105E 1.5 L4 CAP BRX
6 		LOM LAV GLV
Lotus 21 Climax FPF 1.5 L4 PAU
7 		AIN INT NAP MAL CLP
Scuderia Filipinetti RMS
9 		MED
4 		DAN OUL MEX RAN NAT
Lotus 24 BRM P56 1.5 V8 SOL
Ret 		KAN
1963 Ecurie Filipinetti Lotus 24 BRM P56 1.5 V8 LOM
DNS 		GLV PAU
Ret 		IMO
2 		SYR
1 		AIN INT
Siffert Racing Team ROM
DNS 		SOL
Ret 		KAN MED
5 		AUT
Ret 		OUL
11 		RAN
1964 Siffert Racing Team Lotus 24 BRM P56 1.5 V8 DMT NWT SYR
DNS 		AIN INT
11
Brabham BT11 SOL
7 		MED
1 		RAN
1965 R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Brabham BT11 BRM P56 1.5 V8 ROC
6 		SYR
Ret 		SMT
Ret 		INT MED
1 		RAN
5
1966 R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Brabham BT11 BRM P56 1.5 V8 RSA
2
Cooper T81 Maserati 9/F1 3.0 V12 SYR
Ret
Cooper T80 INT
Ret 		OUL
1967 Rob Walker/Jack Durlacher Racing Team Cooper T81 Maserati 9/F1 3.0 V12 ROC
3 		SPC INT
3 		SYR
3 		OUL
Bayerische Motoren Werke Lola T100 BMW M12 2.0 L4 ESP
Ret
1968 Rob Walker/Jack Durlacher Racing Team Lotus 49 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ROC
DNS 		INT
Ret 		OUL
1969 Rob Walker/Jack Durlacher Racing Team Lotus 49B Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ROC
4 		INT
11 		MAD OUL
1971 Jo Siffert Automobiles March 701 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG
Ret 		ROC
Yardley Team BRM BRM P160 BRM P142 3.0 V12 QUE
6 		INT
Ret 		RIN OUL VIC
4
BRM P153 SPR
Ret
Source:[7]

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

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Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1965 France J.H. Simone Germany Jochen Neerpasch Maserati Tipo 65 P +5.0 3 DNF DNF
1966 West Germany Porsche System Engineering United Kingdom Colin Davis Porsche 906/6L Carrera 6 P 2.0 339 4th 1st
1967 West Germany Porsche System Engineering West Germany Hans Herrmann Porsche 907/6L P 2.0 358 5th 1st
1968 West Germany Porsche System Engineering West Germany Hans Herrmann Porsche 908 P 3.0 59 DNF DNF
1969 Switzerland Hart Ski Racing United Kingdom Brian Redman Porsche 908/2L P 3.0 60 DNF DNF
1970 United Kingdom John Wyer Automotive Engineering Ltd. United Kingdom Brian Redman Porsche 917K S 5.0 156 DNF DNF
1971 United Kingdom John Wyer Automotive Engineering Ltd. United Kingdom Derek Bell Porsche 917LH S 5.0 DNF DNF
Source:[8]

Complete European Formula Two Championship results

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Pos. Pts
1967 Bayerische Motoren Werke Lola T100 BMW M11 SNE SIL
Ret 		NÜR
Ret 		HOC TUL JAR ZAN PER BRH VAL
9 		NC 0
1968 Bayerische Motoren Werke Lola T102 BMW M11 HOC THR JAR PAL TUL ZAN PER HOC
Ret 		VAL
18 		NC 0
1969 Bayerische Motoren Werke Lola T102 BMW M11 THR
Ret 		HOC NÜR
2 		JAR TUL NC 0‡
BMW 269 PER
Ret 		VAL
1970 Bayerische Motoren Werke BMW 270 BMW M11 THR
Ret 		HOC BAR ROU
1 		PER
2 		TUL
11 		IMO
Ret 		HOC NC 0‡
1971 Jo Siffert - Chevron Racing Team Chevron B18 Cosworth FVA HOC THR
Ret 		NÜR
10 		JAR PAL
DNQ 		ROU MAN TUL ALB VAL VAL NC 0
Source:[7]

‡ Graded drivers not eligible for European Formula Two Championship points

Other results

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References

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  1. ^ "No ordinary Jo". Motor Sport Magazine. 7 July 2014.
  2. ^ "8W – What? – R R C Walker Racing Team". Retrieved 19 April 2008.
  3. ^ Turner, Kevin (24 October 2021). "The 10 greatest drives of lost legend Jo Siffert". Autosport. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  4. ^ Benoit, Roger (24 December 2005). "Jo Siffert (7. Juli 1936 - 24. Oktober 1971)". blick.ch (in German). Der Blick. Archived from the original on 12 July 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  5. ^ "Faulty Fire Equipment Killed Driver". The Spokesman-Review. 27 November 1971. Retrieved 23 July 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Fire Extinguishers Are Blamed In Siffert Death". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 27 November 1971. Retrieved 23 July 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b c "Profile for racing driver Jo Siffert". MotorSportMagazine. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  8. ^ "All Results of Jo Siffert". RacingSportCars. Retrieved 19 January 2019.

Sources

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  • Lareida, Men (director) (2005). Jo Siffert. Live Fast, Die Young (DVD). Hugofilm.

F1 Results include information from the following sources:

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Joseph Siffert.
Preceded by Formula One fatal accidents
24 October 1971 		Succeeded by
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