Jody Scheckter

Infamous for causing one of the largest accidents in Formula One history, Jody Scheckter started his association with cars early in life. Working as an engineering apprentice at his father's Renault dealership, Jody learnt driving very early in life and even then drove only at the highest speeds. This attribute eventually led him to racing, and he began with motorcycles, moving on to saloon cars. In his very first national race he was black flagged off the circuit, as his driving was considered dangerous. Jody had to eventually learn to control and channel his aggression in a better manner and his wins became more consistent. In 1970, he won the Driver to Europe scholarship after winning the South African Formula Ford series. With the prize money of 300 pounds cash and air tickets to England, Jody and his wife Pam moved to England, with the aim of becoming the World Champion.

Jody quickly conquered the Formula Ford and Formula Three and he drove their cars fearlessly, crashing more often than not. Termed the 'South African Wild Man', Jody' personality and rugged features matched his almost reckless driving. Despite his temper and style of driving, his talent was unquestionable, and his car control, whenever he could manage it, especially at breakneck speeds was commendable. Many talent spotters, termed him as a diamond in the rough, and believed that he only needed a little polishing to become a Formula One success. In 1972, McLaren offered him a trial run in the 1972 US Grand Prix, and then offered him a third car in the team for the 1973 season.

During the French Grand Prix, even though Jody impressed everyone by taking the lead right at the start, what followed started a chain reaction against the South African. Jody collided with Emerson Fittipaldi's Lotus, which caused Jody's McLaren to somersault off the circuit and enraged the reigning World Champion immensely. Terming Jody as a madman who was a menace to himself as well as everybody else, Fittipaldi further added that Jody did not belong in F1. Things became worse in his next race, at the British Grand Prix, in Silverstone. Jody who had qualified sixth was in the fourth position in the opening lap, when nearly 28 cars converged at the 150 mile an hour Woodcote corner. At the point Jody lost control of his McLaren and it spun wildly through the pack of cars before stopping hard against the cement wall in front of the Silverstone pits. Even after Jody, who was unhurt, clambered out of his wrecked car, the chaos he had caused continued on for some more time. Even though most of the details were obscured by huge clouds of smoke and dust, one could make out glimpses of cars flying through the air and parts of the wreckage were everywhere. Though fortunately the most severe injury sustained from this was a broken leg by Andrea de Adamich, Surtees driver, eight cars were completely destroyed. Jody Scheckter was held responsible for the entire accident, which was one of the worst in Formula One history. This resulted in an immediate demand for the banishment of Jody by the Grand Prix Drivers Association, but McLaren managed to put that off by 'resting' their rash driver.

Even on his return at the Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport, Jody immediately caused an accident when he collided with Francois Cevert's Tyrrell, which put them both out of the race. Despite this unfortunate incident Jody was signed by Ken Tyrrell, to replace Jack Stewart who was retiring that season. He became Cevert's team mate for the 1974 season, but this partnership never got the chance to happen when Cevert was killed in a tragic accident during practice for the US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. Jody was the first driver at the scene and what he witnessed that day changed him forever. Jody said, "From then on all I was trying to do in Formula One was save my life".

Ken Tyrrell began work on Jody, and insisted that he must concentrate on finishing his races and avoid making mistakes. Jody soon managed to regain control over his aggression as well as his Tyrrell and soon began winning races, with two Grands Prix under his belt in 1974, and he finished third in rankings at the end of the season. Jody remained with Tyrrell for two more seasons and won a single race each year, but soon decided that Ken Tyrrell's machines were not up to the task for winning the championship. He switched to Wolf team in 1977 and won three races with them, finished second to Ferrari's Niki Lauda.

Jody made another switch to Enzo Ferrari, who was more than happy to receive him. Commenting on Jody, Enzo remarked, "He is a fighter who does not burn himself up by coming on too strongly at the beginning, but measures himself fully and evenly throughout the race".

Even though Enzo's 1978 cars were not of the required caliber the next season proved to be the lucky one for Jody, with the legendary Gilles Villeneuve joining him as team mate. Jody and Gilles soon became good friends and a friendly rivalry existed between them, which resulted in three wins each. Jody played the game with a more conservative points collecting strategy to counter his French Canadian's superior speed, and it paid off making him the 1979 World Champion.

Enzo Ferrari commented on Jody's strategy saying, "This Scheckter has shown himself to be a wise coordinator of his own capabilities and potential, a man who plans things with the final result in mind, or for safety. I'm not sure".

Having achieved the one goal he had always wanted, he fulfilled his contractual obligations and completed the 1980 season with Ferrari, to retire at the age of 30. He then increased his existing fortunes by becoming a sharp businessman, and founded a high tech security company. He sold his company and focused on the racing careers of his sons Tomas and Toby and then embarked on an organic farming enterprise in England.