John Surtees, the oldest surviving Formula 1 world champion, has been awarded a CBE in the UK New Year’s Honours list for his services to motorsport.
The 81-year-old remains the only man to win world titles on both two and four wheels having claimed seven motorcycle world championships alongside his F1 success in 1964.
The Commander of the British Empire award follows an OBE received in 2008.
Surtees enjoyed a glittering competitive career which began on two wheels where he recorded 38 motorcycle grand prix wins riding for Norton and MV Agusta.
The Brit won four 500cc and three 350cc world titles from 1956-1960 alongside six Isle of Man TT victories.
Surtees switched to four wheels in 1960 when he joined Colin Chapman’s Lotus team.
After a seamless transition from motorcycles, he took his first victory at the Nurburgring in 1963 in his first year at Ferrari before going on to win the world championship the following season, recording two wins and four podiums.
A move to Honda followed after finishing runner up in the championship in 1966 with his final win arriving at the 1967 Italian Grand Prix at Monza.
Surtees also enjoyed success in sportscars winning the Sebring 12 Hours and Nurburgring 1000km alongside a podium at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1964.
He went on to set up his own F1 operation Team Surtees in 1970 which ran for three seasons.
Surtees remained involved in motorsport through his son Henry Surtees before his tragic death in a Formula 2 accident at Brands Hatch in 2009.
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