Johnny Herbert
A resilient British Formula One driver who defied a horrific crash to win Grands Prix and conquer the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Born 1964 (age 62)·British racing driver and broadcaster·Birthday: June 25·Baby Boomers
Biography
Johnny Herbert's career is a story of talent overshadowed by adversity, and of a cheerful demeanor that belied a fierce determination. His Formula One promise was nearly extinguished before it began, suffering devastating leg injuries in a Formula 3000 crash in 1988. Doctors said he'd never walk again, let alone race. Herbert proved them wrong, battling back to the F1 grid with a pronounced limp that became a testament to his grit. While never in the fastest cars, his moments of brilliance were unforgettable: three Grand Prix victories, each a masterclass in seizing opportunity. Perhaps his finest drive came at the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he co-piloted the screaming, rotary-engined Mazda 787B to a historic first and only victory for a Japanese manufacturer. In retirement, his insightful, witty commentary has made him a beloved voice in motorsport broadcasting.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Johnny was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Johnny Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Johnny's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 60
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 62 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won three Formula One Grands Prix at the 1995 British and Italian Grands Prix, and the 1999 European Grand Prix.
- Secured an overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991 driving for Mazda.
- Added a 12 Hours of Sebring victory to his endurance racing record in 2002 with Audi.
- Competed in 161 Formula One Grands Prix over twelve seasons for seven different teams.
Did You Know?
He is one of only a handful of drivers to have won races in Formula One, Le Mans, and the 24 Hours of Daytona.
Herbert's 1995 Portuguese Grand Prix podium finish for Benetton came despite driving with a broken ankle.
He provided the voice for the 'F1 Grand Prix' video game series in the 1990s.
Herbert won the 1987 British Formula 3 Championship.
“I had to learn to walk again, so getting back into a racing car was just another step.”
