1964 World Champion

Our Ed McDonough had the opportunity to interview John Surtees on a number of occasions, investigating how Surtees had his first test in a Formula One car in a Vanwall, and later became the only person ever to race Vanwall’s short-lived rear-engine car in 1961. As part of his role as co-organizer of the celebration charity dinner to mark the 40th anniversary of Surtees’ World Championship in 1964, McDonough met with Surtees on a number of occasions, interviewing him in depth on his role at Honda, and was present when a statue was erected at Mallory Park to note John’s achievements there on both two wheels and four. The subject of Ferrari came up on numerous occasions, and was a topic of some interest because Surtees left the team suddenly in 1966. Here, McDonough presents a number of the analytical, as well as emotional, comments Surtees made about Enzo Ferrari and his years driving for him.

Your involvement with Enzo Ferrari and the Ferrari team was complex, but do you recall how it all came about?