As a result of my 1967 win in the Kyalami Nine Hours, in South Africa with Jacky Ickx in the JW Automotive Mirage M1, John Wyer signed us to continue our partnership the following year. Wyer’s 1968 entries were Ford GT40s, splendidly liveried in what became the most iconic team colors ever, Gulf Oil cerulean blue with a broad orange stripe. Less providentially, John Cooper also hired me (for £500) to drive in selected Grands Prix.
The 1968 Spa 1,000 Kilometers pitched Wyer’s GT40 against Alan Mann’s fast—though unstable and temperamental —Ford P68 sports prototype, driven by Frank Gardner and Hubert Hahne. Frank had handily out qualified us by four full seconds on Saturday, but on race day Spa’s great leveller materialized—hard, implacable rain. This was perfect Jacky Ickx weather.
