30.11.2023Formula 1- and motorcycle-world champion: John Surtees writes history

John Surtees did just that. To date, the Brit is the only person to have become champion in both Formula 1 and the motorcycle World Championship. Surtees won the Formula 1 crown with Ferrari in 1964. His winning racing car at the time is now available as a model in two different versions.

In modern Formula 1, it is rare that drivers also work in completely different racing disciplines. Commitments such as Fernando Alonso's start in Indianapolis and at the Dakar Rally or Nico Hülkenberg's Le Mans victory with Porsche are welcome changes. In the 1960s and 1970s, however, it was common for Formula 1-drivers to also compete in Formula 2 or touring car races at the same time. And then there were drivers like John Surtees. The Brit was one of those who not only traveled on four wheels, but also on two wheels - and did so extremely successfully.

Born in 1934 as the son of a motorcycle dealer, Surtees had an impressive career on racing motorcycles in the 1950s. After his first world title in 1956, he won both the 350 and 500 cc classes three years in a row from 1958 to 1960. In addition, Surtees won the Senior TT on the Isle of Man in these three years.

With a total of seven motorcycle world championship titles under his belt, Surtees entered Formula 1 in 1960 and was able to impress here from the start. In his second race he was on the podium in second place. After he moved to Ferrari in 1963, his big breakthrough came the following year with the world championship title. Surtees became the first driver to achieve world championship honors in both Formula 1 and the Motorcycle World Championship. To date, no other driver has achieved this. There is currently no one in sight who could set something up like this. Although there are currently two world-class motorcycle athletes on four wheels, Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo, neither of them will likely become Formula 1-world champions.

John Surtees and Ferrari won the 1964 World Cup with the 158. Imposing wingwork is still missing from this car. The 158 was a typical cigar-shaped monoposto at the time. The displacement of just 1.5 liters was also common in Formula 1 at the time. In the case of the Ferrari, an eight-cylinder engine was used. A twelve-cylinder engine was later installed in the identical chassis, but John Surtees always favored the eight-cylinder model.

With the 158 he achieved two Grand Prix victories in his world championship year. This number doesn't seem impressive, especially after Max Verstappen's record-breaking season. But the Formula 1 season back then only consisted of ten races, so it wasn't even half as extensive as it is today. And technical failures also played a bigger role back then than in modern Formula 1.

Surtees won both the German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife and the Italian race in Monza. The ck-modelcars label WERK83 has released these two winning cars in scale 1:18 that led John Surtees to the world title. The miniature versions of the beautiful racing car in Ferrari red were made from resin and faithfully reproduced. The cockpit replica and the detailed engine compartment are particularly impressive.

The Surtees name remained in Formula 1 even after John's active career. In the 1970s he started his own team and remained closely connected to motorsport in a variety of roles. John Surtees died in 2017 at the age of 83.

J. Surtees Ferrari 158 #7 Winner Germany GP Formula 1 World champion 1964 1:18, RRP €149,95, item-no.: W18008001

J. Surtees Ferrari 158 #2 Winner Italian GP Formula 1 World champion 1964 1:18, RRP €149,95, item-no.: W18008002

productos

	J. Surtees Ferrari 158 #2 ganador italiano GP fórmula 1 Campeón mundial 1964 1:18 WERK83	134,95 €
	J. Surtees Ferrari 158 #7 ganador Alemán GP fórmula 1 Campeón mundial 1964 1:18 WERK83	134,95 €