British motor racing legend John Surtees has died at the age of 83, the Henry Surtees Foundation has confirmed.

Surtees won the 1964 Formula One world championship at the age of 30 while driving for Ferrari, and finished runner-up in the championship two years later to the late Australian Jack Brabham. However, it was on two wheels where he first made his name, winning the 500cc world championship four times as well as the 350cc title a further three times.

Surtees also competed at the famous Isle of Man TT, a race that he won six times, and became the first rider to triumph three years in a row when he took victories in 1958, 1959 and 1960 on an MV Augusta.

He also competed in the Le Mans 24 Hours from 1963 until 1965, and again in 1967, with his best finish a 3rd place in 1964.

A statement from the Surtees family, issued on the Henry Surtees Foundation Facebook page on today, read: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our husband and father, John Surtees CBE”.