The year of Profumo, great train robbers, ‘loveable mop tops’ – and the grassy knoll. In its midst, a quiet Scottish hill farmer delivered on all the promise that had been so smack-in-the-face obvious to lovers of motor racing in the three seasons past. In 1963, Jim Clark embarked on a run of success that would confirm him as the greatest racing driver in the world, perhaps the greatest we’d yet seen – or would ever see. These were indeed halcyon days.

No wonder. In this unforgettable year, Clark and Team Lotus first headed west to take on the Indianapolis 500; back in Europe and armed with Colin Chapman’s groundbreaking monocoque Type 25, they won the first of five British grands prix; then between regular (and endless) continental sorties – perhaps in Chapman’s Piper Commanche or Jack Brabham’s Cessna – they claimed that historic first world title. The scope of Clark’s season would be unrecognisable, impractical and plain impossible for contemporary F1 drivers. So for the record, here it is: the breakdown of the days, weeks and months that made Jimmy the most cherished talent of his era.

FEBRUARY