Editing Jacky Ickx (section)

==Early life and career==
Jacques Bernard Edmon Martin Henri Ickx was born on 1 January 1945 in [[Brussels]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.24h-en-piste.com/en/AfficherPilote.php?Pilote=1370 |title=Pilote des 24 heures du Mans : Jacques Bernard Edmon Martin Henry Ickx |website=www.24h-en-piste.com |language=fr|access-date=3 July 2023}}</ref> Ickx was introduced to motorsports when he was taken by his father, motoring journalist Jacques Ickx, to races which he covered. Despite this family background, Ickx had limited interest in the sport until his father bought him a 50 cc [[Zündapp]] motorcycle.

He began to compete in [[road racing]] and [[motorcycle trials]]. He won the 50 cc class at the 1962 [[Circuit Jules Tacheny Mettet|Mettet Grand Prix]] road race, then demonstrated impressive talent when he defeated future motocross world champion [[Roger De Coster]] in the 1963 Belgian 50 cc trials national championship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://racingmemo.free.fr/M%20COURSES%20INTER/MOTO%20METTET.htm |title=Mettet Grand Prix results |publisher=racingmemo.free.fr |access-date=10 March 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1973/07/02/615177/old-rugged-motocross |title=Old Rugged Motocross |author=Jones, Robert F. |publisher=si.com |access-date=11 March 2019 }}</ref> Soon afterwards, Ickx won 8 of 13 races at the first season and the European 50 cc trials title.

He took another two titles before he moved to racing a [[Lotus Cortina]] in [[touring car racing]], taking his national saloon car championship in 1965, as well as winning the [[Spa 24 Hours]] race in 1966 driving a [[BMW New Class|BMW 2000TI]]. He also competed in [[sports car racing|sports car races]] where he had already significant experience from taking part in the 1000&nbsp;km races at the [[Nürburgring]].