Jo Bonnier

Interesting facts

Jo Bonnier raced in Formula One from 1956 to 1971, scoring 39 points across 104 starts. His win at the 1959 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort made him the first Swedish Grand Prix winner - his usually unreliable BRM held together that day, while rivals Dan Gurney and Hans Herrmann both retired with brake failures. He was a driving force behind the founding of the GPDA, the drivers' safety association, and served as its chairman until his death, campaigning for safer circuits. On 11 June 1972, at the Le Mans 24 Hours, his Lola T280-Cosworth collided with a Ferrari Daytona between Mulsanne Corner and the Indianapolis corner - his car was catapulted over the Armco barriers into the trees, killing him instantly. Jo Bonnier made his Formula 1 debut in 1956 and raced until 1971, 16 seasons in total as a Swedish driver. He scored a total of 39 championship points over his career.