Jim Clark German TV, April 6th 1968 

This footage is so moving. He was a complete, pure racer, gentleman driver. He never cut across his opponents, he was playing safe each and every time. He never complained about the car according to his technicians. His tires and brakes lasted longer compared to his team mates. He is the only driver till today who won F1 championship and 500 Indy in the same year. Rest in peace Jimmy.

Just realised this is the day before he left us, very upsetting even after all these years. Record Achieved Most races with pole, win, fastest lap, and leading every lap 8 Highest percentage of possible championship points in a season 100% in 1963 and 1965[N 1] Highest percentage of laps in the lead in a season 71.47% in 1963. GOAT by a mile.

The greatest of all time, without a doubt. He could win any car. Jim’s skill has not been equaled, and probably never will.

Never knew this amazing footage existed. Just astonishing that he was dead inside 24 hours. What a loss. The more I've read about Clark over the years, the more he's become probably my favourite F1 driver.

Its hard to explain to people nowadays, not in the know just how "HUGE" F1 was in the '60s and how big Jim "Jimmy" Clark was and in many ways still is to those in the know. However, think of this, this was filmed in 1968, about 22+ years ago before this video was made. Germany and England were just ending WW2 against each other as enemies. And for as much of a genuine "LEGEND" of a driver Clark was, he was also an ambassador in many ways, and in many races for a country that was still reeling from a massive war. And while people in Germany watched TV and listened to the radio, they saw/heard a total gentleman, and in many ways, he was the face they put to the British team/people, and its great and sad to think about that, because although he was an amazingly humble man. He may never have truly known just how many lives he touched by just being himself. Thus, nothing, but the highest respect for this guy, he was a total gentleman, and a legend in every way.

I cried on April 7th 1968. I cried for hours. It was the day before my 17th birthday. One of the most miserable times in my life. "Schoolboy Hero" doesn't begin to cover it. Great video, I am so grateful to you for posting it, many thanks. I have never seen this before and never knew it existed. But yes, all the sadness and the sense of loss comes back so strongly.

Jim Clark miles ahead of every one forever.

Very emotional. He is my all time F1 hero. Unbelieveble that I still get touched after so many years. I visited the new museum of Jim in Duns, Scotland in october last year, his grave etc. It was a birthdaypresent of my sons! If you are ever in the uppertunity to go there do not hesitate!

My god. He challenged death 40 to 55 times a year. Basically a bullfighter on four wheels. Every lap a pass of the horns. His humility and elegance are truly touching.

Overwhelming sad to think that the greatest would die the next day. How he presented himself during that recording personified what a great man he was outside of the car. Shy almost embarrassed, uncomfortable with questions of money as money meant nothing to him... he lived to race and the money was simply a byproduct to which he never spoke about. We talk about and compare the greats of sport however look at this mans achievements and ask yourself who can you compare him against. To drive in so many different forms of the sport and have the success he had will never happen again. Compare the mans personality and ethics and you will be searching a long time to find another. A great loss not only to the sporting world, but to many people who’s lives he has touched. I never saw him or knew him, but I feel a loss as great as those that I have loved and lost and it saddens me beyond words.

In my opinion, without a doubt, the greatest driver of all time. I was unaware of this interview, just a day before his death. Impressive.

His humility was probably key to his immense (and frankly supernatural) talent. He extracted such monumental speed with such little effort or mechanical expense.

Jim was simply the greatest natural talent to sit in a racing car period. RIP Jim

Perhaps it's interesting to an international audience to hear what Kurt Ahrens, the other driver in the interview who had won the Hockenheim GP the prior year, had to say about the events. They had both shared a car from the track to the TV studio (a 1.5h drive) and soon started talking very deep topics, such as family and career planning, Clark was asking about his kids and mentioned that he couldn't contemplate having kids while racing - he seemed surprised to get to know Jim Clark, the big international star, as a very personable and open person who would talk to him, a german amateur, directly on eye level and with such openness and honesty; I think they both were very authentic, humble and gentle characters and noticed that in each other, both far more in the "do" than the "show" or "talk about it" camp, and without the overboarding ego present in other race car drivers - you may notice that about Ahrens, the way he gets embarassed about being called one of the frontrunners for the race; I think it's save to say they have gotten along really well, during the interview he even jumps to Jim's defense for not knowing details about his (competing) car. Well anyways, as they had both just stepped out from training at the track directly to make the scheduled TV appearance (Ahrens had just driven the fastest training lap and was only told there in the studio), so they both hadn't thought to bring cash with them - so they soon found themselves in the unlikely situation of having to convince a gas station clerk that these two penniless, sweaty and probably oil-stained figures were the two-times Formula One champion and the local hero driver on the way to the big prime-time TV interview, and that they would get compensated for the gas later... his response reportedly went along the lines of "ok, sure... if that's Jim Clark, then I'm Cassius Clay!" :) During the race, it was not reported to the other drivers what had happened at all - so he first heard of it when entering the pits after the race; his father came over and was first to tell him - at that moment, he said, his heart stopped. Even today he seems haunted by the realization of having driven by Clark's crash site in the woods next to the track several times, not knowing what happened there. He would never say that himself, but I think that day he also lost someone who could have become a lifelong friend. It certainly influenced his own decision to quit racing altogether, right when he had finally earned a F1 cockpit spot at Brabham.

Ich würde hier gerne sagen: Das war mein Held. Anders als für jene, die Jim Clark erleben durften, war er nicht mein Held, sondern er ist mein Held. Motorsport und F1 sind heute auch noch faszinierend und jede Epoche des Sports hat seine Eigenheiten....ich bin 1988 geboren, also inmitten der Senna vs. Prost - Ära. Ich habe 2001 entschieden, dass Alonso mein Lieblingsfahrer wird, nur weil ich jemanden im Minardi die Daumen drücken wollte (und Alonso ist auch 2021 noch großarigt), ich habe ab 1997 jedes Rennen gesehen, das Talent von Hamilton oder nun Verstappen erkannt...aber das Video ist ein Stück Geschichte....Dankeschön. Jim Clark war nicht nur zurückhaltend...er war vielleicht der beste Rennfahrer aller Zeiten.

I have never seen this before. Thank you for posting it. I cried when he died, I was 10 years old and he was my idol. The greatest then and still the greatest now. Smooth and fast.

thank you for uploading this. very special for me as a german jim clark fan. Had tears in my eyes

Jim Clark, by far the greatest driver ever. No doubt. "The Best of the Best" (Fangio and Senna about Clark). It was so sad, that he must died here in Germany, on this silly Hockenheim circuit...he and his genius was made for the old, original Nürburgrung. Jim was the Michelangelo of the sport, to see him at the wheel was a dynamic art on the highest level. I was seven when he died, but I remember how shocked my father was, because he saw Jim the evenig before the race in this sport studio we see here, and only just 12 hours later the icon of the sport until today was dead.

Thanks for this, Jim was my childhood hero and still is my hero to this day. He was a true gentleman, a great racer and always missed.

I can still remember where I was sat at home when it came on the news that Jimmy had been killed.. I loved this man as a fan.. RIP

Love the fact that in these times drivers were also a bit of a mechanic and how Jim knows every detail of the car but not how much money he's making!

Spring 1968 was a real nightmare. Clark, Spence, Scarfiotti and Schlesser would die April 7th, May 7th, June 8th and July 7th. But just like Senna and Ratzenberger, only the greatest one is remembered.

The next day changed the Motorsport World for ever.

Thank you for sharing this precious film. I've not seen it before. It's so poignant mindful of the date. Jim is not ultimately comfortable but gives a good account to the interviewer. The magnitude of his loss is huge. Such a waste of life and talent.

Charming and talented. RIP Jim

I had only seen snippets of this interview before, so it is incredibly moving to get to see the full interview, given what happened the very next day. On that day, with news coming in of Clark's death, an American disc-jockey on a Los Angeles radio station said to his listeners : 'If you a mourning the death of the great driver Jim Clark, put on your headlights'. The whole freeway lit up at midday. Incredible. It gives me a lump in the throat whenever I think of it.

I've been in his museum in Duns and on his grave in 2003 !!!! big emotion too....!! I was born in 1975, I'm a Lotus fan ! I've spoke to gerard Crombac about Jim....great moment !!

Jim Clark is a Legend

Was für ein Gold Stück von TV Geschichte. Kurt Ahrens und Jim Clark. Den Kurt habe ich vor 3 Jahren beim GT MASTERS in Oschersleben getroffen , ein toller Typ.

This rather completes it for me; German GP, located his accident marker, and now this fine film of the beloved Jim Clark. I was so interested watching this segment that I actually forgot he would soon be gone. His representation of professional drivers to a world-wide audience increased the interest of motorsports. Only Graham Hill's witty and charming character rivals that. The likes of such gentlemen that perhaps we shall never see again during one era of the sport. RIP ✝️🏁

Wow. He was only just getting better.

Currently Researching a Different Driver but Never a Waste to Take a Break and Listen to Jim. Compelling Footage of a Driver in his Prime. You are Not Forgotten.

Jim Clark and Airton Senna are very similar, they were shy and speak little!! The 2 greatest pilots in history.

Wow what a find - FANTASTIC !!! Thank you ! What I mean of course is that it's fantastic to see and hear Jimmy, the questions are so stupid though !

Clark's last appearance on a german TV Show. Next day he was death. 😥

Jim simply the best.

Great interview, taking time. Interesting how almost stretched arms were preferred where nowadays the angle is much smaller

He is the very best! I'm from germany and my father always said: There is only one best formula One racer,... and thats jim clark!

Such a gentleman & amazing driver...R.I.P sir.✊🏻💪🏻

Being german ... I am riddled with pain .. to observe the bold and almost insulting behaviour of that 'host' . of course the much more terrible events were ensuing 💐☮️

A superstar in his sport yet totally normal, unpolished and a little bit shy.

ohhh. what upload......thank you

His accent is the most neutral I ever heard

Jim was killed 6 years before I was born but as time had gone by he has become I just idolise him the more I learn about him. As a driver sportsman and as a gentleman

Great driver Jim Clark

I love how the reason for laying back isn’t centre of gravity or anything but because it’s comfortable 😂

Kurt Ahrens Jr in this video never raced in Formula One the following years after Clark was killed, Kurt proceeds to only race in prestigious sports cars.

Ayrton Senna is the greatest driver ever, the most determined and most focused but the very best driver to ever drive any car including a formula 1 was Jim Clark by miles. Both fangio and senna thought Jim was no1 also and they knew more about these things than I do. If it had been possible to bring fangio, senna, Prost, Schumacher and Clark together for a race my money would all go on Clark.

You know, I've watched dozens of Jim Clark interviews but this is the first time I have seen this one. Jim seems to be ill at ease.. not his usual self. Perhaps it's the benefit of hindsight?

IMHO Jim Clark was the greatest F1 driver of all time. I believe that if, in his prime, Jim were to be able to have driven the modern F1 cars of the last 30 years he would still have placed at the front of the grid and stood on the top step of the podium! He was a God gifted natural in every car in which he competed including the Lotus Powered by Ford that he won The Indianapolis 500 in. If not for political decisions (Dunlop tires '64, scoring problems by USAC '63 and '66) The name and likeness of the great Jim Clark would be forever memorialized on the famous Borg-Warner Trophy four years in a row. A feat that would stand the test of time FOREVER!!!

Sad to watch. Agreat man and the most talented driver. Rog. Pacific sunset records.

Peaceful soul

The last words by the german TV presenter to clark was in german "Hals und Beinbruch." Means in english break a leg. Creepy. .

In the Netflix documentary on Fangio, Fangio said he had his 2 big accidents when he was tired. I wonder if Jim’s sharpness to sense something not right, was that little bit dulled by this night time TV appearance so close to the race. Very sad to watch, only read about him, never saw him race. Easily could have been the 62 and 64 champion too. Leading clinching final race when car broke down those 2 years.

He somehow doesn't look right at all on the film and pictures from the terrible following day, but here, despite the feeble and daft presenter he looks about 25 and sounds so happy - I just want to put my hand through the screen and lift him away to safety back here in the UK.

24 hours later he was dead

La última aparición en TV de un ICONO de la F1. Lo adoro !!!

55 years ago

Ironically the last thing the Host says to Jim is "Break your Neck and Leg," ... like the Theatrical Slang, "Good Luck.":-(

It wasn't an F1 world championship race but Clark had gasoline in his blood, he wanted to drive every race.R.I.P Jim Clark 🕯

the greatest

so this interview has to had been days before his death only.

Was für ein Spezielle Tag, heute den 22.08.21 als ich deinem Video im RU-vid fand. Denn ich finde eine grosse Ähnlichkeit unter den beiden F1 Piloten, Jim Clark und Ayrton Senna. Und es ist bei allen Detaillen, sogar bei ihren Tod. Brasilien, Jaraguá do Sul, SC. LG!!

RIP Jim & Werner

💚💚

"Für morgen: Hals und Beinbruch" Hmm.. auch wenns ein Sprichwort ist, im Nachhinein betrachtet sehr schwierige Aussage.

I would have paid he’s fees myself for him not to have raced. 😢

How fragile life is.

Essa Intrevista foi um dia antes de ele morrer ... GP da Alemanha F2

The GOAT 🐐

Essa foi a última aparição antes de sua morte.

Could easily and should have won about 5 or 6 titles in F1 were it not fit his car failing at the last minute. He’d have won the 68 title were he not killed that year.

The last great racer before downforce came and the end of real driving

One of best drivers ever he was.mabey second to senna in my opinion

English spoken by the Germans and every other nation but not a word of their language from any of us.

Can anyone explains why he had a very slight - if any - British accent?

Ein deutscher Moderator der besser Englisch sprechen kann als heutige Moderatoren?!

The top 3 drivers ever are Fangio, Clark and Senna in that order. 4th I would put Ascari and 5th Moss. I dont understand why today they are all discussing if its Schumacher or Hamilton. Maybe Hamilton gets to be 6th in my list.

Only 32, he could have been racing well deep into the 70's... very hard to say, Chapman's Lotus cars killed way to many greatests, he would have been probably in the car in which Rindt died too.