South African · Pretoria, South Africa · Born 9 February 1937 · Died 2009-06-02Tony Maggs was a South African racing driver and Formula 1 pioneer, the first South African to compete in a Grand Prix, who took two podium finishes for the works Cooper team before a tragic accident ended his racing career.
Tony Maggs made history in 1961 as the first South African driver to compete in a Formula 1 World Championship Grand Prix, then finished second at the French Grand Prix in both 1962 and 1963 with the works Cooper team, before retiring from racing immediately following a 1965 accident in which a spectator was fatally struck by his car. He moved to England in 1959 on the advice of fellow South African racer John Love, and quickly impressed in Formula Junior machinery, sharing the 1961 European Formula Junior Championship with Jo Siffert while driving for Ken Tyrrell's team. Maggs made history that year by becoming the first South African driver ever to compete in a Formula 1 World Championship Grand Prix, debuting at the British Grand Prix. His performances earned him a seat with the works Cooper team for 1962 and 1963, where he finished second at the French Grand Prix in both years, and took third place at his home South African Grand Prix in 1962. Dropped by Cooper at the end of 1963 in favour of former World Champion Phil Hill, Maggs continued racing for Scuderia Centro Sud in 1964 and made his final Grand Prix appearance at the 1965 South African Grand Prix. Away from Formula 1, he also excelled in sports cars, winning the Kyalami 9 Hours alongside David Piper. Maggs's career came to a devastating end in June 1965, when, racing a Formula 2 Brabham at the Roy Hesketh Circuit in Pietermaritzburg, his car suffered a mechanical failure and was pitched into a restricted area, fatally striking an eight-year-old spectator. Deeply affected by the tragedy, Maggs retired from racing immediately.
Being the first South African driver to compete in a Formula 1 Grand Prix
How They Played
Consistent, determined racer known for extracting strong results from underpowered machinery
Lasting Impact
A pioneering figure who put South Africa on the international Formula 1 map, his career cut tragically short by a fatal accident he never fully recovered from emotionally
Career Honours
- First South African to compete in a Formula 1 Grand Prix
- 2x French Grand Prix podium finisher (1962, 1963)
- European Formula Junior co-champion (1961)
- Kyalami 9 Hours winner
| Constructor | Season(s) | Races |
|---|---|---|
| Privateer Lotus | 1961 | — |
| Cooper | 1962–1963 | — |
| Scuderia Centro Sud | 1964 | — |
| Reg Parnell Racing | 1965 | — |
| Career Total | — | 0 |
South African Athletes