Scots racing champions could be related

Published on Tuesday 10 November 2009 21:31

THEY were giants of motor sport who rose from humble lowland farming stock to thrill a generation with their exploits on the racing track.

• Jackie Stewart (left) and Jim Clark in 1964

Now genealogists have claimed that Scottish superstars Sir Jackie Stewart and Jim Clark might share more than just a love of speed – they could be distantly related.

Experts at the National Archives of Scotland have studied Sir Jackie's family tree for an exhibition on the background of prominent Scots.

And they have discovered that his forefathers included a family of farmers called Clark from Ayrshire. They believe the Ayrshire Clarks may be related to the Fife-based Clark farming clan, whose most famous son is racing legend Jim, killed in a 1968 track crash.

Keeper of the Records at the National Archive George MacKenzie said: "The Stewarts of Ayrshire and the Clarks of Renfrewshire and Ayrshire make up the main branches of Jackie Stewart's family tree.

"It does raise a quite intriguing question. Was Sir Jackie related to another son of a Lowland farming family, his friend, the late champion Jim Clark?

"It would appear likely with so many Clarks among Sir Jackie's forefathers."

Sir Jackie, triple Formula 1 champion and Scottish sporting legend, is the final celebrity to be featured in the six-part "Famous Scots" exhibition staged to mark Homecoming Scotland 2009.

Sir Jackie was born in the house next to his father's garage near Dumbarton, but he is descended from generations of farmers on both sides of his family.

On his father's side they can be traced to Ayrshire at about the time Robert Burns farmed at Mossgiel, in Mauchline parish. In 1797 tenant farmer Gilbert Clark, Sir Jackie's great great great grandfather, was taxed two shillings for his farm horse according to archive records.

It is this Gilbert, the National Archive experts believe, who could be linked to Jim.

Friends of Sir Jackie insisted last night that he would be delighted to be related to his late pal and track rival.

Bernard Buss, a former chairman of the Scottish Motor Racing Club, said: "Knowing Sir Jackie as I do, I can tell you he would be very proud to be related to Jim Clark."