Jackie Pretorius is “recovering well” after being discharged from hospital. The South African F1 legend’s wife was brutally murdered when the couple were attacked at their home a few weeks ago.
Jackie Pretorius is “recovering well” after being discharged from hospital. The South African F1 legend’s wife was brutally murdered when the couple were attacked at their home a few weeks ago.
Pretorius and his wife Shirley were attacked in their Midrand home on October 11. Shirley was shot in the shoulder and head. Jackie was held at gunpoint and severely beaten. He was forced to open the safe for the intruders to take its contents and Shirley’s car before he could attend to her.
Both were put under intensive care and Shirley underwent a three-hour operation before passing away the following day.
Popular on the SA racing scene in the ‘60s, Jackie is most remembered for his F1 exploits. He competently handled the local Serrurier-built LDS-Climax in national events, but used a Lotus to finish ninth in the non-championship 1966 GP.
Between 1968 and 1970 he was successful in the Lola single-seaters and sports cars entered by Serrurier, while his best season was handling Team Gunston Brabham BT26A in 1971 and winning the championship races at Killarney and Natal’s Roy Hesketh circuit.
He was called in at the 1973 SA Grand Prix by Williams for the final time to replace Nanni Galli before returning to the local series with his ex-Motul Brabham.