Motorsport icon Jacky Ickx is set to be celebrated this October as the Sportel Awards in Monaco prepare to honour one of racing’s most enduring figures.
The ceremony, taking place on 20 October at the Grimaldi Forum, will see the Belgian driver join a prestigious roll of past recipients, including Didier Deschamps, Alain Prost, Katarina Witt and Nicolas Karabatic. Each year, the event recognises athletes who have left an indelible mark on sport and brought unforgettable moments to the screen.
Nicknamed both “The Gentleman Driver” and “The Master of Rain” for his remarkable control on treacherous tracks, Ickx carved out a career spanning over three decades and more than 555 races across multiple disciplines. His achievements include two European Formula 2 titles, eight Formula 1 Grand Prix victories, and two runner-up finishes in the F1 World Drivers’ Championship, in 1969 and 1970.
Yet it was in endurance racing that his legend truly flourished. Winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans six times, Ickx earned the title “Mr Le Mans” and remains one of the most successful drivers in the race’s history, behind only Tom Kristensen. He also secured two world endurance championships with Porsche (1982 and 1983), claimed victory in the 1983 Paris-Dakar Rally, and notched 40 rally-raid stage wins alongside a Can-Am championship in 1979.
Organisers of the Sportel Awards described him as “a reference, respected and admired throughout the world,” citing his elegance, charisma and exceptional versatility as qualities that set him apart from his peers.
Known for his longstanding presence in Monaco’s Formula 1 paddock, often seen with his wife Khadja Nin and Charlotte Casiraghi, Ickx’s recognition this year marks another milestone in a career that has shaped motorsport history.
