Godin de Beaufort participated in 31 World Championship Grands Prix, becoming the first Dutchman ever to score points in the Formula One World Championship, and numerous non-Championship Formula One races. He was one of the last amateur drivers in F1, and ran his own cars – painted the vibrant Dutch racing colour: orange – under the
Ecurie Maarsbergen banner, the team taking its name from de Beaufort's country estate. In early years he was considered something of a mobile chicane, and a danger to other drivers on the track. However, in later years he matured into a competent and popular competitor. Always a
Porsche devotee (he only drove two World Championship races in anything else), Godin de Beaufort was a familiar sight at both Championship and non-Championship races in his orange
Porsche 718, bought from the
Rob Walker Racing Team. Although the 718 was outclassed even in its first year with him, he persisted with it as it was the only design into which he could fit his burly frame. The size of the car, and a streak of self-deprecating humour in de Beaufort himself, earned it the nickname "
Fatty Porsche". With stereotypical aristocratic eccentricity he often drove without shoes, and at his final race in Germany was even seen taking practice laps wearing a
Beatles wig, rather than his helmet. ==Death==