Photo credits: Wikipedia. Jacky Ickx
Jacky Ickx, one of motorsport’s most accomplished and enduring figures, will be formally recognized at the 2025 Sportel Awards in Monaco this October. The ceremony, scheduled for October 20 at the Grimaldi Forum, will pay tribute to a career that has left an indelible imprint on the world of racing.
Ickx will join an exclusive list of Sportel honorees that includes Didier Deschamps, Alain Prost, Katarina Witt, and Nicolas Karabatic. Each year, the Sportel Awards recognize athletes whose contributions have transcended competition and created lasting moments in the public imagination.
Over a career spanning more than 30 years and 555 races across multiple disciplines, Ickx established himself as one of racing’s most versatile and successful competitors. He won two European Formula 2 titles, eight Formula 1 Grand Prix races, and finished as runner-up in the Formula 1 World Drivers’ Championship in 1969 and 1970.
His reputation was further cemented in endurance racing, where he achieved six victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, second only to Tom Kristensen. He also captured two world endurance championships with Porsche in 1982 and 1983, and won the Paris-Dakar Rally in 1983. His accolades include 40 rally-raid stage wins and a Can-Am championship title in 1979.
Ickx, often referred to by his monikers “The Gentleman Driver” and “The Master of Rain,” has long been admired for his skill in challenging conditions, as well as for his adaptability across racing formats. Organizers of the Sportel Awards described him as “a reference, respected and admired throughout the world,” citing his elegance, charisma, and versatility as defining attributes.
A familiar presence in Monaco’s Formula 1 paddock, Ickx’s forthcoming recognition underscores a legacy that has helped shape modern motorsport.