New memorial for race ace Clark

Clark won two world championships in 1963 and 1965

A new memorial is to be placed at the track where Scots motor racing star Jim Clark died nearly 40 years ago.

The two-times Formula One champion was killed in a crash at the Hockenheim circuit in Germany in 1968 aged 32.

The £10,000 memorial will replace the existing stone cross which is in poor condition and overgrown.

Born in Fife, but raised in Duns in the Scottish Borders, Clark won 25 grand prix races and was world champion in 1963 and 1965.

The new memorial - designed by close friend Ian Scott-Watson - will be unveiled at the annual Jim Clark Revival Meeting at the end of next month.

Mr Scott-Watson said the current memorial was "almost lost in the overgrowth".

"You only need to look at the numbers that go to the Jim Clark Rooms in Duns to see his continued popularity," he said.

"I don't think there is a driver still loved as much from those days.

"I told him that one day he would be world champion and he would get really annoyed when I said that but it turned out true - not once but twice."

First success

Born in Kilmany, Fife, on 4 March 1936, Clark was educated at Loretto School, Edinburgh.

He left at 16 and went to work on the family sheep farm in the Borders.

He first enjoyed success with the Border Reivers racing team revived by Mr Scott-Watson.

Clark subsequently joined the Lotus grand prix team where he won two world championships.

He was also made an OBE for his services to motor racing in 1964.

He died in a crash during a Formula Two race at Hockenheim on 7 April 1968.