BBC SPORT | FORMULA ONE | Racing legend Stewart knighted

Jackie Stewart, one of the greatest motor-racing drivers of all time, has been rewarded for his services to the sport with a knighthood from the Queen.

Born in 1939 in Dunbartonshire, Stewart was a natural sportsman as a youngster and represented his country at shooting before settling for a career in motor sport.

His breakthrough came in 1963 when he was asked to test drive a Formula Three car by a customer at his father's Jaguar garage.

He was so impressive that Ken Tyrell invited him to join his Formula Three team.

His Formula One career was launched in 1965 when he joined Graham Hill at BRM.

That first season was a huge success - he won his first championship point in his first race, recorded his first Grand Prix victory at Monza and finished an incredible third in the World Drivers' Championship.

The following season was marred by injury after an horrific crash at Spa in Belgium which led to him campaigning for improved safety measures - a campaign he continued throughout his career.

He achieved his dream of winning the drivers' championship in 1969, with a total of six Grand Prix victories to his name that year.

Jackie Stewart looks in reflective mood

Stewart was still active in Formula One after his retirement

He repeated that success in 1971 and 1973 and announced his retirement towards the end of that third successful year.

By that time he had recorded 27 race victories - a record that stood for 14 years.

On his retirement, he pursued a number of business interests while also commentating on Formula One.

In 1996, he returned to the sport on a professional basis, launching Stewart Grand Prix with his son Paul after winning five-year backing from Ford.

The following year, the team made its debut and claimed its first podium finish when Rubens Barrichello finished second in Monaco.

In 1999, Johnny Herbert recorded the team's first win at the European Grand Prix in Germany.

Later that year, Stewart sold his team to Ford for �60m and 12 months on he stood down from the day-to-day running of the re-named team, Jaguar Racing.


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