The F1 driver who didn’t want to be champion
Jacky Ickx came close to winning the 1970 Formula 1 world championship following the death of Jochen Rindt at Monza - but the Belgian remains eternally grateful he didn't, recalls NIGEL ROEBUCK
In 1958 Jacky Ickx was taken by his father Jacques, a prominent journalist, to the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, and was so bored that he asked to be taken home.
"Maybe I have always been a bit unusual," Jacky smiled. "The truth is that I never wanted to be a racing driver - never thought about it. Yes, I went to Spa, but I was absolutely not interested. I remember seeing Stirling [Moss] and others at home in Brussels for a cocktail party before the race - even that didn't impress me!"
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