THE term ‘gentleman driver’ is usually used for an amateur, but wealthy car fan who has the time and money to indulge a passion for motor racing. At the highest level of motorsport, however, there is one driver who is widely acknowledged as being among the greatest true gentlemen who ever turned a steering wheel —the Belgian star Jacky Ickx.
Although 78 years young and officially retired from professional racing (since 1985), his motoring life remains hectic. Earlier this month, he took to the 8½-mile Le Mans circuit in a variety of fire-breathing cars as a special guest at the centenary of the celebrated 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s oldest endurance race. First run in 1923 to prove the resilience of both car and driver, it became famous for the exploits of the celebrated ‘Bentley Boys’ —a group of affluent British motorists who drove the marque’s cars to victory,
