South Africa has many talented individuals that have achieved major successes in their careers. Some are still building a legacy while others are winding down and today, on his birthday, we’d like to discuss – for 10 marks – Rory Byrne.

To people in the racing world Rory Byrne is an absolute legend. However, to a novice he is relatively unknown as his contributions are not as broadcasted as those of Michael Schumacher. A quick wiki reveals that Rory Byrne (born 10 January 1944) is a South African semi-retired engineer and car designer, most famous for being the chief designer at the Benetton and Scuderia Ferrari teams of Formula One. Byrne-designed cars have won ninety-nine Grands Prix, seven constructors’ titles and seven drivers’ titles. This makes Byrne the third most successful Formula One designer, behind rival Adrian Newey and Colin Chapman.

Byrne-designed Ferraris secured 71 race victories, six consecutive constructors’ titles and five consecutive drivers’ titles for Michael Schumacher with a sustained level of dominance never seen in the sport. He also designed the Benetton that won Schumacher his first and second world title doing the double with the constructors’ title in 1995.

Byrne became interested in motor racing at Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, South Africa, firstly as a competitor and later the technical aspects of the sport. He studied and qualified as an industrial chemist. He ran a successful business in car parts and had a keen interest in model glider aerodynamics which combined to steer him towards motor sport. He relocated to the UK to join Royale and eventually became part of the successful Toleman Formula Two team. The signing of the young Brazilian Ayrton Senna for the 1984 season nearly brought the team a victory at Monaco. By 1986, the team had been taken over by Benetton and they got their maiden success at the 1986 Mexican Grand Prix. Under the stewardship of new team boss Flavio Briatore Benetton regularly featured at the top of the podium with young driver Michael Schumacher.

Schumacher departed to Ferrari with a brief to hand-pick a team that would bring Maranello sustained championship success. Byrne was recruited and the 1998 car was his first Ferrari design. The following year the team took the constructors’ crown and in 2000 Schumacher became the first Ferrari driver to win the championship in more than two decades. Successive championships followed in 2001, 02, 03 and 04, encompassing the particularly impressive 2004 season, which resulted in 15 victories from 18 races, including a record 13 for Schumacher.

Now Semi-retired Byrne designed cars where part of all 7 of Michael Schumacher’s world titles. Such a high bar may never be reached but with more South Africans joining the formula 1 fray we are likely to see more notable contributions. It was always thought that the 7 world championships mark would never be seen again until Lewis Hamilton matched the might of the Schumacher/Byrne combination. Lewis joins Ferrari for the 2025 season in search of his 8th drivers’ championship to become the GOAT of F1. With the likes of Keanan van Dyk, Anthony Abbot and Shau Mafuna in the thick of things we can’t wait for the next legend to make their mark.

Learn all about motorsport by joining the action at a young age. The Worr Academy teaches young drivers all about racing and take part in Rok and Rotax ace series as part of the Worr Race Team. Find out more by filling in your details below.