Jo Bonnier

Joakim Jo Bonnier was a famous Grand Prix and sports car racer from Sweden. The heir to a publishing empire Jo also had his own art gallery and was an international playboy. Known for his goateed appearance Bonnier won a single Formula 1 race, the 1959 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. He met an untimely death in the 1972 Le Mans Endurance race, crashing during the night time portion of the event. Jo was more than a driver, however. He handled negotiations between the Formula 1 drivers and various sanctioning and governing bodies that presided over the elite form of racing. He was among the earliest racers to move to Switzerland, arriving there before it was chic.