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motorsport spirit that had something almost wicked about
it. The wind of youth combined with excessive risks that
were never entirely taken into consideration.” The son of a
motorcycle racer, Stewart was affected by a form of autism
but he was also a clay pigeon champion (barely missing out
on taking part in the Rome Olympics in 1960). Yet Stewart
not only notched up records of his own, but in racing
history as a whole. He always combined his driving style with
a healthy dose of class, between the late ’60s and the early
’70s, at a time of enormous social upheaval in customs and
communication: “Well, the energy out there was incredible.
The student protests, the relationship between Europe and
the States, the music, the pop culture. It’s curious to think
that the attitude and clothing of the Beatles, for example,
not only influenced kids around the world, but sports
champions as well. If I think back to George Best, to Barry
Sheene and to myself, or if I see photographs taken then,
I can see many similarities, from the hair cut to the cut of
the suit. Somehow we wanted to be a part of the change,
and show that we aspired to be involved. A protagonist of
football, sport or music would become a star. But at the
same time his appearance closely resembled the kids sitting
in the stalls or on the bleachers.”

L ong hair, sunglasses and bell-bottom trousers. That’s
how it was; racing stars looked like show business
stars. The only difference was their work was a bit
riskier: “It’s a constant factor when we are talking about
racing,” says Jackie Stewart. “But I’m convinced that the
mental attitude of drivers hasn’t changed in the slightest.
Once upon a time, the dangers were fare more serious than
they are now. But racing drivers never think about it. They
race because they enjoy it, because they want to compete
and win. It’s the same now as it was then. The difference
is that an accident had more serious consequences. then.
Our cars were like rough mechanical pieces of equipment,
they were far less refined than they are now. We had oil,
grease, screws and mechanics with dirty hands. The list
might not have disappeared altogether, but I’m sure the way
a driver gets carried away emotionally and internally hasn’t
changed at all, and it’s not influenced by context either.
It’s just passion and ambition combined with the courage
needed which, of course, increases as your confidence in
your vehicle increases. Seen from the outside, the drivers of
my generation still look like a reckless bunch. Reckless and
dead, or reckless survivors. In actual fact, I think that if you
take the drivers of the past and analyse them as individuals,
as people, they are identical to today’s drivers. What drives
their spirit is something you can recognise instantly. And it’s
exactly what drove my own spirit fifty years ago.”

This page, Stewart at the first Monza variant behind the wheel of “his”
Brm P261 V8 from 1964: he also raced with Matra
and Tyrrell. He retired in 1973 after competing in 99 Grand Prix races.

80 PROTAGONIST / N. 108