The passing of a legend on a dark morning at Hockenheim

It's been 56 years since the tragic death of Jim Clark on a damp and dark morning at Hockenheim on April 7, 1968.

In the picture here above, Clark is flanked on the grid by Lotus mechanic Dave Sims just minutes before the start of the first heat of the Deutschland Trophäe Formula 2 event.

Just five laps after the start, as the field traversed Hockenheim's forest, the Scot inexplicably veered off the track and crashed into the trees.

In one fatal moment the world of motorsport was rocked, astonished by the passing of a legend and of a man who many still consider as the greatest Grand Prix driver who ever lived.

From his humble beginnings, Clark raced with speed and style to the pinnacle of the sport, clinching 25 Grand Prix wins with Lotus - a record at the time - and two world titles along the way.

One will remember in particular the great Scot's banner year in 1965, an outstanding campaign marked by his second F1 world championship crown and his triumph in the Indy 500.

Fifty-four years on, Clark's legacy remains intact.