Jacky Ickx to receive Legend Award at Sportel Awards in Monaco

Didier Deschamps, Alain Prost, Katarina Witt, Nicolas Karabatic… In recent years, the list of sports personalities awarded a "Legend of the Year Award" at the Sportel Awards has been (very) impressive.

On October 20th at the Grimaldi Forum, a new name will grace the tablets of the event which celebrates sporting excellence every year and recognizes the most beautiful sporting emotions on screen: that of Jacky Ickx.

A key figure in F1 and a familiar face in the Monaco paddock – often seen alongside his wife, Khadja Nin, and Charlotte Casiraghi – the Belgian driver, nicknamed "the Gentleman Driver" or "the Master of Rain" for his ability to navigate slippery asphalt, will be honored for three rich decades successfully spent in motorsport.

With 32 active seasons between 1961 and 1992, more than 555 races contested in all disciplines, Jacky Ickx notably won two European Formula 2 championship titles and then 8 Grands Prix in F1, failing however to win the Holy Grail: an F1 world championship title. In 1969 and 1970, he finished 2nd in the drivers' standings behind Jackie Stewart and then Jochen Rindt.

"Jacky Ickx fascinates with his exceptional versatility, his elegance and his charisma. More than a driver, he has become a reference, respected and admired throughout the world," judge the organizers of the Sportel Awards.

One of these nicknames? "Mr. Le Mans"

Versatility, because it is especially in endurance that Jacky Ickx entered into legend by winning the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans six times, making him the second most successful driver after Tom Kristensen (9 times). It was then that he was also nicknamed "Mr. Le Mans".

Crowned "Driver of the Century" in this discipline, he has a record of 46 victories and two world endurance driver championship titles with Porsche (1982 and 1983). Winner of the 1983 Paris-Dakar and author of 40 stage victories in rally-raid, he also shone in Can-Am, winning the title in 1979. A legend.