Jo Bonnier

By Robert Grey Reynolds, Jr

Joakim Jo Bonnier was a famous Grand Prix and sports car racer from Sweden. The heir to a publishing empire Jo also had his own art gallery and was an international playboy. Known for his goateed appearance Bonnier won a single Formula 1 race, the 1959 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. He met an untimely death in the 1972 Le Mans Endurance race, crashing during the night time portion of the event. Jo was more than a driver, however. He handled negotiations between the Formula 1 drivers and various sanctioning and governing bodies that presided over the elite form of racing. He was among the earliest racers to move to Switzerland, arriving there before it was chic.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert Grey Reynolds, Jr
• Release date: Feb 3, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310471216

Robert Grey Reynolds, Jr

I am a soon to be retired Duke Medical Center library researcher, who enjoys writing. I have been writing on Wikipedia for years and have begun to writeebooks. My pastimes include selling books on EBay, genealogical research, baseball (Pittsburgh Pirates), collecting antique furniture and coins, and spending time with Kingsley, my cocker spaniel.

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Joakim Bonnier

Published by Robert Grey Reynolds at Smashwords

Copyright 2016 by Robert Grey Reynolds Jr.

Joakim Jo Bonnier (January 31, 1930-1972) was the heir to Bonniers Aktiebolag publishing empire. He made his home in Switzerland long before it became fashionable to do so. His most noteworthy win in a long career was at Zandvoort, the Netherlands in 1959. In the '59 Dutch Grand Prix Jo captured BRM's maiden Formula 1 victory.

A greatly competitive driver during the early 1960s, Bonnier won the 1960 German Grand Prix Formula 2 race. Also in '60 he teamed with Hans Herrmann (born February 23,1928) and Norman Graham Hill (February 15, 1929-November 29, 1975) in a Porsche that won the famed Sicilian Targa Florio endurance race.

Next the Swiss driver was triumphant in the 12 Hours of Sebring, before winning the Targa Florio for a second time in 1963.

T

all, with regular features, Jo Bonnier did a lot of living for someone who died at age 42. Aside from his racing accomplishments Joakim ran his own art gallery. He was educated in Stockholm, Paris and Oxford. He gave up business life for racing however.

Jo began racing on a Harley Davidson motorcycle at age 17 before moving on to rallying and ice racing. He served as an officer in the Swedish Navy on destroyers before entering motor racing.

Some called Joakim Bonnier a wealthy amateur who had worked his way into works F1 teams. Aside from his own Maserati 250F Jo gave BRM its first world championship win at Zandvoort.

He also drove for Rob Walker in the 1964 Daily Mirror Trophy-Snetterton race in which the Swede placed 2nd in a Cooper behind winner Innes Ireland in a BRP-BRM. Ireland completed the 35 laps in 1 hour, 12 minutes, 53.4 seconds, with an average speed of 78.08 miles per hour. Bonnier's Cooper clocked a time of 1 hour, 13 minutes, 13.4 seconds.

Aside from Jo Bonnier other famous drivers who drove for Rob Walker (1917-2002) were Graham Hill, Swiss racer Joseph