Motor racing legend Chris Amon died today in Rotura hospital in New Zealand.
Leaving his home country at the age of 19 to embark on a career in Europe, Amon established himself as one of the best drivers in world, and perhaps the best driver never to win a Grand Prix over the course of 14 seasons and 96 race starts.
Amon started his F1 career with Reg Parnell Racing in 1963 before securing a works drive with Ferrari in 1967. Later, the Kiwi drove for MARCH and Matra but never achieved the level of success he expected.
His F1 career progressively tailed off in the mid-seventies and included a spell behind the wheel of a car entered by his own team, Chris Amon Racing.
Reluctantly, he would quit racing at the end of the 1976 season. The German GP at the Nurburgring, where he drove for Ensign, was his last race at the pinnacle of motor sport.
This year also marked the 50th anniversary of Amon's famous win at Le Mans in 1966 with fellow countryman and legend Bruce McLaren, the pair driving for Ford.
Amon was awarded an MBE for his services to motorsport in 1993, and was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.
A family spokesperson said that despite Amon battling cancer in recent years he retained not only a close interest in Formula 1 – and his very wide range of favourite topics - but also his wonderful sense of humour complete with infectious chuckle.
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