John Cordts (born 23 July 1935) is a former racing driver whose career spanned Formula One, Can-Am, Trans-Am and North American sports car racing. Although he made just a single Formula One World Championship start, Cordts built a formidable reputation on both sides of the Canadian and American border, earning respect as one of the country’s most versatile and competitive racers.
Driver Bio
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Birthplace | Hamburg, Germany |
| Born | 23 July 1935 |
| First Grand Prix | 1969 Canadian Grand Prix |
| Last Grand Prix | 1969 Canadian Grand Prix |
| Years Active | 1969 |
| Current/Last Team | Privateer: Paul Seitz Brabham |
Formula One
Cordts made his only Formula One World Championship appearance at the 1969 Canadian Grand Prix on 20 September 1969. Driving a privateer Brabham, he qualified 19th on the grid and was running in 16th place before an oil leak forced him to retire after just ten laps.
While his Formula One career was brief, it represented just one chapter in a much broader and highly successful racing story.
Sports Cars, Can-Am & Trans-Am
Away from Formula One, Cordts enjoyed considerable success in Canadian and American sports car racing. Much of that success came behind the wheel of McLarens prepared by Dave Billes’ Performance Engineering team, where he established himself as one of the leading competitors of the era.
His racing schedule took him to circuits across Canada, including Harewood Acres, Mosport, Mont-Tremblant and Westwood, while he also competed extensively throughout the United States and even raced in Japan. Cordts’ speed at Harewood Acres became legendary, and he still held the circuit’s lap record when the track closed in 1970.
Cordts later became a familiar face in the hugely popular Can-Am Championship, competing until 1974 in machinery from McLaren and Lola. His finest Can-Am result came in 1974 when he claimed second place at Road America.
He also made his mark in the fiercely competitive SCCA Trans-Am Series, famously driving the BF Goodrich-backed Pontiac Firebird nicknamed the “Tirebird”. Alongside his Trans-Am campaigns, Cordts competed in several FIA events with the renowned Greenwood Corvette team, adding yet more variety to an already impressive racing résumé.
Life After Racing
Following his retirement from competition, Cordts settled into private life in Western Canada. Away from the racetrack, he became well known for his intricate wood carvings and later shared the story of his remarkable career in his autobiography, Blood, Sweat and Turnips.
In recognition of his achievements and lasting contribution to Canadian motorsport, John Cordts was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame in 2003.
Personal Life
John Cordts was born in Hamburg, Germany, on 23 July 1935. At the age of two, he emigrated with his family to Sweden before making another life-changing move in his early twenties, relocating to North Bay, Ontario, Canada with his wife, Inga-Britt, and their one-year-old son, Jimmy.
His two younger children, Mary and Johnny, were born in Canada before later moving to Sweden with their mother.
Grand Prix Stats
| Race Entries | 1 |
| Race Starts | 1 |
| Did Not Start | 0 |
| Best Race Start | 19th |
| Best Race Finish | – |
| Retirements | 1 |
| First-Lap Retirements | 0 |
| Not Classified | 0 |
| Disqualified | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 0 |
Qualifying
| Qualifying Sessions | 1 |
| Reached Q3 | 0 |
| Q2 Eliminations | 0 |
| Q1 Eliminations | 0 |
| Did Not Qualify | 0 |
Stats by Season
| Year | Constructor | Entries | Starts | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Fastest Laps | Front Rows | DNF | Best Start | Best Result | Pts Finishes | Points | Championship |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Privateer: Paul Seitz Brabham | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 19 | n/a | 0 | 0 | NC |
