Ford’s 1966 Le Mans-winning driver Chris Amon has died following a long battle with cancer. He was 73.
The New Zealander will be forever remembered as the man who alongside Bruce McLaren gave Ford its maiden Le Mans victory in Ford GT40 #2, 50 years ago.
He passed away in hospital in New Zealand last night. A family statement read: “Chris battled cancer in recent years but retained not only a close interest in Formula One - and his very wide range of favourite topics - but also his wonderful sense of humour, complete with infectious chuckle.”
Born in 1943, Chris was widely regarded as one of the best Formula One drivers never to win a Grand Prix. During the 1960s and 1970s he started 96 Formula One races, achieved five poles, led 183 laps in seven races, reached the podium 11 times and scored a total of 83 championship points.
The highlight of his career though came with the 1966 win at the Le Mans 24-hour race in a Ford GT40 Mark II with McLaren as his partner.
The New Zealander will be forever remembered as the man who alongside Bruce McLaren gave Ford its maiden Le Mans victory in Ford GT40 #2, 50 years ago.
He passed away in hospital in New Zealand last night. A family statement read: “Chris battled cancer in recent years but retained not only a close interest in Formula One - and his very wide range of favourite topics - but also his wonderful sense of humour, complete with infectious chuckle.”
Born in 1943, Chris was widely regarded as one of the best Formula One drivers never to win a Grand Prix. During the 1960s and 1970s he started 96 Formula One races, achieved five poles, led 183 laps in seven races, reached the podium 11 times and scored a total of 83 championship points.
The highlight of his career though came with the 1966 win at the Le Mans 24-hour race in a Ford GT40 Mark II with McLaren as his partner.
