T​he lap record that will never be broken

J​im Clark is potentially the greatest F1 driver of all time

1y ago
55.8K

Jim Clark was a standout talent in F1 during the 1960s, securing two world titles and a whole host of records. One of those records won't be going anywhere soon however – a lap record of his at a quaint circuit in the south of England.

That record – using a Lotus 25 – is fully stamped into the history books forever. Let me explain.

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Comments (29)

  • In one of Richard Hammonds documentaries, which I think are utterly brilliant, he made referenced through one of the mechanics that they could tell which car was Jim Clarke’s .... purely because of the fact that parts in the car were absolutely pristine, when other cars parts were showing serious signs of wear. He understood how to preserve the car, even when he was winning!

    The simple fact is that Jim Clarke had an affinity like no one else, before or since. Yes I thinks Senna was a brilliant driver, his record reflects that, but could he have driven a number of laps of the Nurburgring circuit single handed.... because his other hand HAD to stay on the gear leaver because the gear box was letting go? I honestly don’t think he could have, and nor could any of the modern drivers. I honestly don’t think even Senna increased the teams likelihood of winning to such a huge degree either.

    In my opinion, Clarke’s affinity with cars was something that we are unlikely to see again.

      1 year ago
    • Got to agree with that. There’s been some amazing drivers over the years and it’s hard to pick the best, but I think Clarke was just phenomenal.

        1 year ago
    • Could Jim Clark drive a race in the torrential rain locked in 4th gear and still win? Senna did. There are very few amazing drivers and I thing both senna and Clark are the two i can name.

        1 year ago
  • Jim Clark, he was a freak of nature, give him a car, put him in that car into a race and you have an above 95% chance of him winning that race, thats how freakish his skills were....he is equal to Senna but I put Senna ahead due to charity work and stuff, Clark hated titles, if he had lived, who knows where he would have landed up, probably done the Triple Crown eventually and Lotus would never have had to swap from Green and gold to Black and gold because of Clarks death....a sad accident that still to this day no one knows what caused it, tyre blow out, something on the track no one knows exactly....

      1 year ago
  • drivetribe.com/p/f1-the-story-so-far-jim-clark-ciZpdfTvS5yUhNDE6BfQZg?iid=I5gNDaKwSN2KFOrEsM4EnQ

    If anyone wants to know any more about this legend of a driver.

      1 year ago
  • I’ll always remember when my dad took me to Crystal Palace in the early ‘60s (1964ish) and Jim was driving a Lotus Cortina. I can’t remember which corner we were spectating from, but even as an 11 year old I was mesmerised how he was absolutely inch perfect at the apex on every lap. That Cortina was holding its front legs in the air too of course! A legend. Now as a 67 year old petrol head I still have that vision in my head.

      1 year ago
  • Not potentially he just is

      1 year ago
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