Australian former Formula 1 World Champion Alan Jones has died at the age of 80 after a short illness.
In 1980, Jones became the second Australian to win the Formula 1 Drivers’ World Championship, a feat earlier achieved by Sir Jack Brabham.
In a statement, Motorsport Australia President Andrew Fraser described Jones as a titanic figure in the Australian motorsport landscape.
“Alan Jones was one of the most significant figures in Australian motorsport history, whose achievements on the world stage brought immense pride to our nation,” Mr Fraser said.
“With 12 Grand Prix victories and a career that spanned the highest levels of international and domestic competition, his was a record built on determination and a fierce and fearless competitive resolve.
“Alan was a singular character, formidable on and off the race-track.”
Jone was born in Melbourne on November 2, 1946, Jones and inherited his passion for racing from his father, Stan.
He made his Formula 1 debut with Hesketh in 1975. He joined Williams in 1978, where he enjoyed his greatest success.
He achieved four victories in 1979 and secured the championship in 1980 with five Grand Prix wins.
He competed at the Bathurst 1000 on multiple occasions, claimed the 1982 Australian Sports Sedan and GT Championship with a remarkable clean sweep of all nine rounds in a Porsche 935, and won the 1993 Bathurst 12 Hour in a Mazda RX-7.
Jones also finished runner-up in the 1995 Bathurst 1000 alongside Allan Grice.
He received an MBE in 1980 and was inducted in into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1985.
Alan is survived by his wife, Amanda, and his children, Christian, Amber, Zara, Jack, Camilla and Emma.
