Jody Scheckter
- Actor
When he arrived in F1 at the end of 1972, Jody was a rough talent, who
relied on his reflexes to get his car around corners. By the time he
retired, he was smoother, but just as exciting to watch.
Jody started his F1 career with McLaren, and after some promising
results, including almost winning the French Grand Prix, only his third
F1 start, he was responsible for the biggest pile up in F1 history at
Silverstone.
For 1974, he joined Tyrrell, and settled down to become a title
contender, finishing third that season. In 1976, Scheckter and team
mate Patrick Depailler had use of one of the most radical racing cars
ever, the Tyrrell P34, better known as the '6 wheeler.'
Although the car was competitive, Jody realized it would only
temporarily be so, and he left Tyrrell to join Wolf in 1977, winning
their first ever race in Argentina, and winning twice more to finish
second in the championship behind Niki Lauda.
Scheckter joined Ferrari and partnered the fiery Canadian Gilles
Villeneuve, just holding him off to win the 1979 world title, the last
time a driver would win the championship in one of the red cars for 21
years.
Jody retired from F1 at the end of 1980, and set up a successful arms
business. He has two sons, Tomas and Toby, both hoping to become racers
in the future.
relied on his reflexes to get his car around corners. By the time he
retired, he was smoother, but just as exciting to watch.
Jody started his F1 career with McLaren, and after some promising
results, including almost winning the French Grand Prix, only his third
F1 start, he was responsible for the biggest pile up in F1 history at
Silverstone.
For 1974, he joined Tyrrell, and settled down to become a title
contender, finishing third that season. In 1976, Scheckter and team
mate Patrick Depailler had use of one of the most radical racing cars
ever, the Tyrrell P34, better known as the '6 wheeler.'
Although the car was competitive, Jody realized it would only
temporarily be so, and he left Tyrrell to join Wolf in 1977, winning
their first ever race in Argentina, and winning twice more to finish
second in the championship behind Niki Lauda.
Scheckter joined Ferrari and partnered the fiery Canadian Gilles
Villeneuve, just holding him off to win the 1979 world title, the last
time a driver would win the championship in one of the red cars for 21
years.
Jody retired from F1 at the end of 1980, and set up a successful arms
business. He has two sons, Tomas and Toby, both hoping to become racers
in the future.