Jackie Pretorius, 74, one of the most colourful characters in the history of South African motor racing, has died in Johannesburg.
He didn't recover from severe injuries he sustained in a savage assault by intruders at his home in three weeks ago.
He came to prominence in 1964 when he drove Doug Serrurier's LDS Alfa Mk.1 in the National Formula 1 championship, finishing fifth and sixth in the Republic Day Trophy at Kyalami and the Border 100 in East London.
He also competed in the national F1/F5000 championship in an F5000 Lola Ford, recording one of many memorable wins in a rain-soaked False Bay 100 at Killarney in Cape Town in August 1968, beating the F1 Repco Brabhams of Dave Charlton and Rhodesian Sam Tingle.
He graduated to a Brabham Climax BT11, which he drove in the 1968 SA GP under the Team Pretoria banner and had his best F1 year in 1971 at the wheel of a Brabham BT26A in the SA GP and at the wheel of which he won rounds of the National F1/F5000 championship at Killarney and at Pietermaritzburg's Roy Hesketh circuit.
In 1973 he was invited by Frank Williams to stand in for the injured Nani Galli in a Williams in the SA GP. He was forced to retire with overheating problems.
Pretorius also drove two and five-litre sports cars with his great friend Doug Serrurier and together they won the 1967 Pietermaritzburg Three Hour race in a Lola. He also had success with overseas drivers Barry Smith and Guy Edwards in the Three Hour at Roy Hesketh.
Pretorius worked for 34 years for Wynn Oil. - Star Motoring