Jo Siffert facts for kids
Siffert in 1968
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| Born | 7 July 1936 Fribourg, Switzerland |
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| Died | 24 October 1971 (aged 35) Kent, England |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  Swiss |
| Active years | 1962–1971 |
| Teams | Privateer Lotus and Brabham, Rob Walker Racing Team, March, BRM |
| Entries | 100 (96 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 2 |
| Podiums | 6 |
| Career points | 68 |
| Pole positions | 2 |
| Fastest laps | 4 |
| First entry | 1962 Monaco Grand Prix |
| First win | 1968 British Grand Prix |
| Last win | 1971 Austrian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1971 United States Grand Prix |
Joseph Siffert (7 July 1936 – 24 October 1971) was a famous Swiss racing driver. His friends and family called him "Seppi". He was born in Fribourg, Switzerland, where his father owned a dairy.
Jo Siffert started his racing career on motorcycles. He even won the Swiss 350 cc motorcycle championship in 1959. After that, he switched to racing cars. He joined Formula One in 1962 as a private driver. This means he raced with his own team and car. Later, he joined bigger teams like the Rob Walker Racing Team and BRM. He won two Formula One races during his career. Jo Siffert sadly died in a racing accident in 1971. He was married to Simone and had two children, Véronique and Philippe.
Contents
Jo Siffert's Racing Journey
Early Life and Dreams
Jo Siffert was born in 1936 in Fribourg, Switzerland. His family was not wealthy. When he was 12, he went to see the 1948 Swiss Grand Prix. This exciting race made him dream of becoming a racing driver.
Formula One Success
In 1968, Jo Siffert made history in Formula One. He won the 1968 British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch. He was driving for the Rob Walker Racing Team. This was a big win because it was the last time a private team won a Grand Prix. In 1971, he won his second Formula One race. This was the 1971 Austrian Grand Prix while driving for the BRM team.
Excelling in Sports Cars
While his Formula One career grew, Siffert also became very famous in sports car racing. He was a top driver for Porsche. In 1968, Siffert and Hans Herrmann won two major races. They won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. These were the first big wins for Porsche.
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Siffert's amazing driving in the Porsche 917 led to many wins in Europe. Porsche also chose him to help develop their CanAm racing program. He drove a Porsche 917PA spyder in 1969. In 1970, he and Brian Redman won the Targa Florio race.
Tragic Accident and Safety Changes
Jo Siffert was tragically killed in a non-championship race in 1971. This race was called the 1971 World Championship Victory Race. It took place at Brands Hatch in England. His car crashed due to a mechanical problem.
After the accident, an investigation found that Siffert had a leg injury. However, rescue efforts were delayed because some fire extinguishers did not work. This meant rescuers could not reach him quickly enough. This sad event led to important safety improvements in racing. Cars had to have fire extinguishers inside. Drivers also got fresh air piped directly into their helmets. These changes made racing much safer for everyone.
His funeral in Switzerland was attended by 50,000 people. A special Gulf-Porsche 917 race car led the procession.
Siffert's Legacy
Jo Siffert is still remembered today. In 2008, a Swiss racing car carried a message. It said "Jo 'Seppi' Siffert - 40th Anniversary - Brands Hatch". This was to remember his famous win at Brands Hatch in 1968.
Other Racing Achievements
Jo Siffert won many other important races, including:
- Targa Florio: 1st place, 1970
- Coppa Cittá di Enna: 1st place, 1968
- 12 hours of Sebring: 1st place, 1968
- 24 hours of Daytona: 1st place, 1968
- 6 Hours of Nürburgring: 1st place, 1968, 1969
- 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps: 1st place, 1969, 1970
- 1000 km of Zeltweg: 1st place, 1968, 1969, 1970
- 1000 km of Monza: 1st place, 1969
- 1000 km of Buenos Aires: 1st place, 1971
- 6 Hours of Watkins Glen: 1st place, 1969
- 1000 km of Brands Hatch: 1st place, 1968
