Jacky Ickx celebrates his 79th birthday: a look back at his first victory at Le Mans in 1969

Until 1965, Jacky Ickx only drove touring cars, which allowed him to start in Endurance during the 24 1964 Hours of Spa. We had to wait until 1966 to see him try his hand at sports cars, at the 24 Hours of Daytona. At just 21 years old, he shares a Ferrari 250 LM from Ecurie Francorchamps with the veteran “Eldé” (Léon Dernier), the adventure ending with a gearbox failure. We must believe that Jacky gave satisfaction since it was at the wheel of the 365 P2 of the Belgian team that he discovered the world of 24 Hours of Le Mans, during the preliminary tests in April. However, Jacky remains a Ford driver and seeing him behind the wheel of a Ferrari must give ulcers to his benefactors. This is how, a few days before the 24 Hours, he learned that he would support the German Jochen Neerpasch in one of the Ford GT40s from Essex Wire Corporation. This company, specializing in electrical wiring, sponsors the team of American driver Skip Scott. Which has its cars prepared in Slough (England), at the premises of FAV (Ford Advanced Vehicles), under the responsibility of John Wyer and his engineer John Horsman. On Wyer's advice, Scott hired David Yorke, former Vanwall team manager, to F1, to lead his team. Wyer, Horsman, Yorke: the magical trio that would cover itself in glory under the Gulf colors is taking shape and, without knowing it, Jacky Ickx has just set foot in this adventure, which begins six months later.

The Mirage M2 quickly fell into the oblivion of Motorsport © DPPI

For now, it is a question of starting at Le Mans, with the objective of victory in the Sport category (cars built in 50 examples). Unfortunately, the lack of reliability of the 4.7 liter engine will cause Ickx-Neerpasch to retire in the 11th^e hour, while they occupied the 7^e place in the general and the head of their category. Jacky made up for it a few weeks later by succeeding his brother Pascal on the winners list at the 24 Hours of Spa, on a BMW, confirming his disposition for prolonged efforts.

Ickx was not a mirage

No doubt convinced by Yorke, Wyer welcomed the young Belgian in 1967 to the new JW Automotive Engineering team, sponsored by the Gulf Oil Corporation. Vice president of this company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Grady Davis is an enthusiast who races the experienced Richard “Dick” Thompson in his personal GT40. Also, when he learned of Jacky’s recruitment, the American was skeptical: “ Ickx? Who is this Ickx? I bet you Thompson will make short work of it! ". Lost bet, because Jacky asserts himself as the leader of the team, under the kindness of David Yorke who swears by him. The adventure begins in the best possible way at Daytona: while Ferrari signs a hat-trick following the massacre that struck the Fords, Ickx-Thompson saves Detroit's honor by ranking 6^e and winners in Sport class. It was during preliminary tests for the 24 Hours of Le Mans that the Mirage M1 appeared, at the same time as these sky blue-orange colors destined to become legendary. Under this evocative name, hides a refined version of the GT40, studied by Len Bailey and equipped with a 5.7 liter 470 hp. The Mirage debuts at the 1000 Km of Monza where Ickx is associated with the hope of the F2 Alan Rees, who does not look favorably on the preferential treatment that Yorke provides to his protégé. Forced to retire in Italy, the Ickx-Rees team exploded in flight at the 1000 Km of Spa, where Ickx won with Thompson.

Ickx World Champion with Ford

Unlike Jackie Stewart who devotes all his energy to winning the F1 world title, Ickx appreciates Endurance races as much, the Ford-Ferrari duel having brought them to the peak of their popularity. As incredible as it may seem, Jacky raced for these two brands in 1968. Convinced that the new regulations limiting the displacement of Sport-Prototypes to 3.0 liters would be an insurmountable handicap against the 5.0 liter Sport, Enzo Ferrari decided to shun this type of race, authorizing Jacky to continue with Wyer. With the Mirage no longer regulatory, the English team returned to the GT40 in a 4.9 liter version, with support from Ford for the engines. This time the main opponent is Porsche, whose 907s have achieved a remarkable level of reliability. They signed a resounding hat-trick at the 24 Hours of Daytona, after the retirement of the Fords. Starting from pole position, Ickx-Redman were quickly eliminated by a broken box while they were leading the race. At the 12 Hours of Sebring, it was the clutch that caused the Ford to retire following a spin by Redman. Although the American campaign did not favor the duo, they won for the first time at the 6 Hours of Brands Hatch thanks to an inspired strategy that saved them from having to refuel. The same weekend takes place the preliminary tests for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Jumping on a plane, Ickx achieved the best time ahead of the new Porsche 908s. After another retirement at Monza, he finished 3^e of the 1000 Km of the Nürburgring in the company of Paul Hawkins, whom Wyer considered more experienced than Redman on this route.

There is a time for everything at Le Mans © DPPI

Ferrari's withdrawal from the Monaco GP allows Jacky to compete in the 1000 km of Spa where he meets Redman. This is the scene of a new major exploit on the part of the Belgian. At the end of the first lap, the local hero crosses the Raidillon, and while the sound of the V8 is lost beyond the Combes corner, the stands are plunged into perplexity and silence. We will have to wait until 39" to see Willy Mairesse's GT40 go into 2^e position ! Repeating his performance from the previous year, with the help of the excellent Redman, Jacky reigned over the Belgian event, which he won with one lap ahead of the Porsche 907 of Gerhard Mitter-Jo Schlesser. Where did this flash of genius in pea puree come from? “ Before taking the start, I had won the side event of the Spa Cups at the wheel of a Ford Falcon, which allowed me to acclimatize to the atmospheric circumstances of the day and to identify where the puddles were. the most dangerous water »

At the start of the last lap at Le Mans 1969 © DPPI

The events of May 68 having caused the postponement of the 24 Hours of Le Mans to the end of September, the season continued with a new event, the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen. Jacky won his third victory there with Lucien Bianchi, not without internal controversies. While the other Ford was leading the race in the hands of David Hobbs and the “slow” signs were presented, Jacky ignored them and overtook his teammate without David Yorke finding fault. An episode illustrating the privileged status that Jacky enjoyed. Between Porsche and Ford, the title will be played out at Le Mans, but the previous weekend, Jacky breaks his leg during testing for the Canadian GP. It's a double penalty for the Belgian, who loses his chances of a F1 title while being deprived of an event in which he is the big favorite. Once again, Pedro Rodríguez will prove to be an impeccable replacement, leading the Ford shared with Lucien Bianchi to victory and the title. Jacky will soon return to school, despite the pain caused by his leg. Redman being unavailable, it was with David Hobbs that he triumphed again at the 9 Hours of Kyalami, at the wheel of the Mirage M1 brought out for the occasion. As is often the case, the Belgian took advantage of a downpour to make the difference...

Sebring before Le Mans

Having left Ferrari, Ickx was able to stay at Gulf in 1969 where he had to deal with an aging GT40, which Wyer reserved for long races, and a Mirage-BRM M2 under development. Associated this time with Jackie Oliver, due to Redman's departure from Porsche, Jacky will make the best use of the equipment at his disposal. At Daytona, he was involved in an accident following a broken suspension, while leading in 17th place.^e hour, but will do it again in Sebring. Faced with the beginners, the harsh Floridian track shows itself mercilessly: the frail chassis of the Porsche 908/2 does not resist the concrete slabs, the Alfa Romeo 33-3 are not on point and Amon-Andretti's Ferrari 312 P overheats as it races towards victory. Doubling this in the penultimate hour, Ickx-Oliver won an unexpected race, which Jacky considers one of the most beautiful of his career.

The GT40 returns to service one last time at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. No one, not even John Wyer – who remained in England at the bedside of his ailing wife – would have bet on a fourth Ford victory against the Porsche armada. However, it was the grandmother, skillfully led by her young servant, who had the last word.