Jo Bonnier

Joakim Bonnier (31st January, 1930 in Stockholm, Sweden, died 11th June, 1972 in Le Mans, France) was a Swedish racing driver best known for his appearances in Formula One.

Born into the wealthy Bonnier publishing family, Joakim moved to Paris at a young age to learn more about publishing before returning to Sweden in 1951. Bonnier then began entering local rallies in his own Simca vehicle.

Eventually his talent and wealth saw him on a trajectory towards Formula One - which he eventually reached in 1956 when he entered the East German Grand Prix with the Alexander Racing Team-Gordini team. Two races later Bonnier scored a first career point when he took sixth in the bloodbath that was the 1956 Scottish Grand Prix.

Bonnier took in a full season with Gordini in 1957 and took a maiden podium with a second place in the Belgian Grand Prix as well as a third in the season-ending United States Grand Prix. Bonnier finished the season in eighth place.

A switch to O.S.C.A. beckoned in 1958 - a season where Bonnier took his first ever pole position when he was fastest in the leadup to the Portuguese Grand Prix.