Jim Clark, one of the greatest all-round drivers Britain has ever produced, would have been 78 this month. Born in Fife on 4 March 1936, the Scot was as famous for his quiet unassuming nature as for his pre-eminence in a racing car. When he was taken from us in an F2 race at Hockenheim on 7 April 1968 Jimmy was just 32, but had already racked up two Formula 1 drivers' titles – in 1963 and 1965 – Britain's first-ever win in the Indy 500 (again in 1965) and had thrilled the world in touring cars and even a rally car. Although he did drive other machines, it was Clark's career-long association with Colin Chapman's Lotus that came to define both the man and the marque. So much so that, after Clark's death, Lotus cars were sold with a black badge in remembrance. We can only speculate what other triumphs Clark might have had had he survived, but the truth is that even in his short life he achieved enough to rank him in the pantheon of true greats. All pictures copyright LAT
When Jim Clark was just a youngster his family moved to Edington Mains Farm near Duns and by his late teens was competing in local motor sport. It was when he was spotted by Ian Scott Watson's Border Reivers team that Clark started to make waves, initially driving Scott Watson's own DKW and rapidly graduating to a stable of cars that included everything up to a Jaguar D-type (seen here with Clark, Scott-Watson and Jock McBain).
After coming to the attention of Colin Chapman during a fierce Lotus Elite dice at Brands Hatch in 1958 (Chapman won), Clark was snapped up by the enterprising Lotus owner.
He made his F1 debut for the team in the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort in 1960. Driving the Lotus 18-Climax, the young Scot who was a stand-in for John Surtees retired on lap 49.
Just two years after making his F1 debut, Jimmy Clark was crowned World Champion after winning seven of the 10 championship races in one of the most dominant performances ever seen. Here his Lotus 25 leads Trevor Taylor's similar model at East London, South Africa
After coming within a whisker of repeating his win in 1964, it all came good again for Jimmy on 1965 when he took his second championship winning six races out of nine appearances, primarily in the Lotus 33, but driving the Climax V8-powered 25 in France. Here he is leading Stewart, Hill and Gurney in a majestic synchronised drift through the Parabolica at Monza.
To cap his most successful year, Clark bettered 1963's second place at the Brickyard by driving his Lotus 38 to victory in the Indy 500, becoming the first Briton and the first mid-engined car to win there.
Jim Clark's final F1 victory came in the DFV-powered Lotus 49 in the 1968 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami, just a few months before his death. It is testament to his greatness that during that race he broke a raft of records including leading the most Grands Prix, leading more laps than any other driver had, recording the most pole positions and the most wins.
For many, Clark's greatest ever drive was in the 1963 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa. Starting from eighth on the grid and racing in torrential rain and thick fog, Jimmy quickly took the lead and by lap 17 had lapped the entire field bar one (Bruce McLaren).
One of the most astonishing facets of Jim Clark was his ability to drive anything. He was never quite as famous for three-wheeling a Lotus Cortina to take the British Touring Car Championship as he was for his F1 career, but he won over thousands more fans with his tin-top feats, like this drive at Crystal Palace in 1964.
Clark even had a go at rallying on the 1966 RAC and, though he ultimately crashed out, his pace from the outset was mesmerising.
Other drivers tripped over themselves in period (and ever since) to praise Jim Clark's skill behind the wheel and it is easy to see why. This shot of him drifting the famous Aston Martin DB4GT Zagato VEV 2 during the 1961 Tourist Trophy at Goodwood has become one of the most famous motor sport images of all time.
Clark's car control was sublime, as shown in the cockpit shot of him during the 1964 Monaco Grand Prix in the Lotus 25-Climax. The Scot came fourth.
Jimmy was such a cool and unflustered character that his calmness was often mistaken for dourness, but he knew how to relax, too. In this case enjoying an ice cream at Monza in 1967.
If ever there were a dream team in F1, it was the combination of Colin Chapman, Jim Clark and Lotus. Here Clark gives 'Chunky' a lift on the back on his Lotus 25 after victory at Monza in 1963 secured both the drivers' and constructors' championships.
James Elliott is a former Editor of Classic & Sports Car