Jody Scheckter

South African racecar driver

Africa's world champion at Ferrari

Jody Scheckter won with Tyrrell, Wolf and Ferrari, and his 1979 title made him the first and so far only world champion from Africa.

Jody Scheckter was born in East London, South Africa, on 29 January 1950. He moved to Britain in 1971 and climbed quickly, racing Formula Two for McLaren, and the same team gave him his Grand Prix debut at the 1972 United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. In 1973 he made five more starts for McLaren while also winning the SCCA Formula 5000 championship in America.

Tyrrell signed him full time for 1974, and he won in Sweden and Britain on the way to third in the standings. A year later he won his home race in South Africa. In 1976 he drove the six wheeled Tyrrell P34, won the Swedish Grand Prix with it and again finished third, and he remains the only driver to win a Grand Prix in a six wheeled car.

For 1977 he joined the new Wolf team and won three races, Argentina, Monaco and Canada among them, to finish runner up to Niki Lauda. After a winless 1978 he moved to Ferrari alongside Gilles Villeneuve. He won in Belgium and Monaco, then clinched the 1979 championship by winning the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the first title for a driver from Africa.

Ferrari's 1980 car was not competitive, and he retired at the end of that season with 112 starts, 10 wins, 3 pole positions, 5 fastest laps and 33 podiums. He remains the only African driver to have won a Grand Prix. Later he worked as a broadcaster for CBS, ABC and ITV and turned to organic farming at Laverstoke Park Farm in England.

1 world titles, 10 wins, 3 pole positions, 112 starts.

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