title: 1959 in motorsport
text: # 1959 in motorsport
  
  The following is an overview of the events of 1959 in motorsport including the major racing events, motorsport venues that were opened and closed during a year, championships and non-championship events that were established and disestablished in a year, and births and deaths of racing drivers and other motorsport people.
  
  ## Annual events
  
  The calendar includes only annual major non-championship events or annual events that had own significance separate from the championship. For the dates of the championship events see related season articles.
  
  | Date | Event |
  | - | - |
  | 22 February | 1st Daytona 500 |
  | 10 May | 17th Monaco Grand Prix |
  | 24 May | 43rd Targa Florio |
  | 30 May | 43rd Indianapolis 500 |
  | 1–6 June | 41st Isle of Man TT |
  | 20–21 June | 27th 24 Hours of Le Mans |
  | 15 November | 6th Macau Grand Prix |
  
  ## Births
  
  | Date | Month | Name | Nationality | Occupation | Note |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 2 | April | Juha Kankkunen | Finnish | Rally driver | World Rally champion (1986-1987, 1991, 1993). |
  | 1 | June | Martin Brundle | British | Racing driver | 24 Hours of Le Mans winner (1990). World Endurance champion (1988). |
  | 7 | July | Alessandro Nannini | Italian | Racing driver | 1989 Japanese Grand Prix winner. |
  | 11 | October | Wayne Gardner | Australian | Motorcycle racer | 500cc Grand Prix motorcycle racing World champion (1987). |
  | 18 | October | Kirby Chambliss | American | Air racer | Red Bull Air World Race champion (2004, 2006). |
  
  ## Deaths
  
  | Date | Month | Name | Age | Nationality | Occupation | Note |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 22 | January | Mike Hawthorn | 29 | British | Racing driver | Formula One World Champion (1958). Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1955) |
  | 8 | June | Leslie Johnson | 47 | British | Racing driver | One of the first British Formula One drivers. |
  | 1 | August | Ivor Bueb | 36 | British | Racing driver | 24 Hours of Le Mans winner (1955, 1957). |
  