A very special racing driver and person
10/25/2021
A man has been buried under these trees for 50 years, and around 500 people still make a pilgrimage to his final resting place today. On October 29, 1971, as many as 50,000 people bid farewell to one of their own in Fribourg. When, after such a long time, all those who are still alive and still healthy stand together at his grave, it shows a great deal of loyalty, fairness and friendship.
His name was Jo Siffert and he fell victim to a terrible fire accident at Brands Hatch exactly 50 years ago yesterday on October 24, 1971.
But to still have this incredible attention on his side after half a century does not come from sporting success alone. It takes more, much more. Only very few people, even globally, are destined to have such an aura and it is no coincidence. Siffert came from a very poor background and laboriously worked his way to the top. Unfortunately, he was torn from life at his peak, but what he achieved in his years with nothing is unparalleled. He was a passionate racing driver and he knew exactly what sacrifices he had to make to achieve this, which is why he was deeply indebted to all his sponsors, big or small, and never left them out in the cold throughout his career.
For example, he did not switch to Ferrari, even though he would have had F1 and sports cars under one roof, because he felt obliged to Porsche, as the Stuttgart-based company supported him even before he had reached the top. One of the very small supporters was my father, who financed his return journey after he failed to qualify in Monaco (in the past, all those who qualified received an entry fee). This help was never forgotten.
Former Porsche racing mechanic Klaus Bischof puts it in a nutshell: "There was only one driver that we mechanics carried on our shoulders to the award ceremony - that was Seppi Siffert at the 1000km race at the Nürburgring in 1969.
That's the big difference between someone who is only successful in sport and someone who is successful in sport with their heart in the right place.
