John Surtees

The only man to conquer two and four wheels at the highest level.

John Norman Surtees (11 February 1934 – 10 March 2017) was a British racing driver and motorcycle road racer who competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing and Formula One. Surtees was a seven-time Grand Prix motorcycle World Champion, with four titles in the premier 500cc class with MV Agusta. Surtees won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 1964 with Ferrari, and remains the only driver to win World Championships on both two- and four-wheels; he won 38 motorcycle Grands Prix and six Formula One Grands Prix.

Quick Facts

Birth name: John Norman Surtees
Born: 11 February 1934
Birthplace: Tatsfield, Surrey, England
Died: 10 March 2017
Place of death: Tooting, London, England
Children: 3, including Henry

Lore & Background

Surtees won his first motorcycle world title in 1956, and followed with three consecutive doubles between 1958 and 1960, winning six World Championships in both the 500 and 350cc classes. He moved to Formula One and in 1964 became Formula One World Champion with Ferrari. He founded the Surtees Racing Organisation team that competed as a constructor in Formula One, Formula 2 and Formula 5000 from 1970 to 1978.

Reader's Guide

Surtees drove for Scuderia Ferrari from 1963 to 1966, winning the World Championship in 1964. During his Ferrari tenure, car numbers were assigned by constructor standing, typically #5 or #6. He did not drive car #20 for Ferrari; that number is associated with his later Honda career.