Jackie Stewart

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Stewart was born in Milton, Dunbartonshire, Scotland. He attended Hartfield primary school and later Dumbarton Academy. He experienced learning difficulties due to undiagnosed dyslexia, which was not diagnosed until 1980. At age 13, he won a clay pigeon shooting competition and went on to become a prize-winning member of the Scottish shooting team, winning the British, Irish, and Scottish skeet shooting championships and twice winning the "Coupe de Nations" European championship. He competed for a place in the British trap shooting team for the 1960 Summer Olympics but finished third.

In Their Own Story

In 1964, Ken Tyrrell heard of Stewart from Goodwood's track manager and arranged a test where the young Scot drove a Formula Three T72-BMC. Stewart quickly bettered times set by Bruce McLaren, prompting McLaren to return for quicker laps, only to be beaten again. This performance secured Stewart a spot on the Tyrrell team. His debut in F3 at Snetterton was dominant; driving in wet conditions, he took a 25-second lead in just two laps and coasted home to win by 44 seconds. Later, during his time with BRM, Stewart faced severe reliability issues with the H16 engine but still managed to win the Monaco Grand Prix in a 2-litre engined car in 1966. In 1967, despite driving one-handed at Spa due to mechanical failure requiring him to hold the car in gear, he finished second, showcasing his resilience against the unreliable machinery of the era.

Reader's Guide

Stewart's racing career began in 1961 with a Marcos provided by Barry Filer, scoring four wins. In 1962, he tested a Jaguar E-type at Oulton Park and won two races. In 1963, he earned fourteen wins. In 1964, he drove in Formula Three for Ken Tyrrell, becoming F3 champion. He signed with BRM in 1965, winning his first World Championship race at Monza. He won the Tasman Series in 1966 and the Monaco Grand Prix. His accident at the 1966 Belgian Grand Prix sparked his safety campaign. He won three World Drivers' Championships with Tyrrell.

Did You Know?

• Stewart won the British, Irish, and Scottish skeet shooting championships, but the Welsh championship is not documented in his skeet shooting record.
• He was the only British driver with three championships until Lewis Hamilton equalled him in 2015.
• Stewart was instrumental in improving motor racing safety, campaigning for better medical facilities and track improvements.