Porsche cars have won the 24 Hours of Le Mans the most times of any auto manufacturer, so it makes sense that a new special edition would honor a legendary Le Mans race car driver. Since the race began in 1923, Porsche has taken the top spot 19 times. Porsche has released a new special edition 911 to honor one of the top racers. Here’s a look at Jacky Ickx and the car that honors him.

2020 Porsche 911 Belgian Legend Edition

In 2020, Porsche is producing just 75 of the 911 Belgian Legend Edition cars, honoring Ickx’s 75th birthday. The cars are based on the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S and are available for sale only in Belgium.

The Belgian Legend Edition is the first special edition car for the 992-generation 911. It’s also the first one that offers a paint-to-sample shade, which is the color “X Blue.” The same color appears with white accents on the 20-inch front and 21-inch rear wheels. The two-tone paint is inspired by Ickx’s blue and white helmet.

The car’s exterior features a unique badge displaying both Ickx’s signature and the Belgian flag. Inside the car, the carbon door sill guards are lettered with “Belgian Legend Edition,” and Ickx’s signature is on the leather central armrest as well as the key fob.

It also has 18-way sport seats and features the 911 logo on the headrests. The backs of the seats have Pebble Gray piping and leather. While the price has not been released, it will be higher than the standard 911 Carrera 4S Coupe. In Belgium, the standard version is €131,381, and in the U.S. it’s $120,600.

The life and career of Jacky Ickx

Ickx was born on January 1, 1945, in Brussels, Belgium. Called Jacky, his full name is Jacques Bernard Ickx. His successful career as a race car driver included six 24 Hour Le Mans wins. After starting out racing motorcycles in 1960, Ickx soon switched over to saloon cars. He then became a Formula One racer, working up through F3 and F2 to F1 cars.

Ferrari signed him at age 22, and he won the 1968 French GP at Rouen and three sports car races before breaking his leg during practice in Canada. After wins at Le Mans in 1969 with a Ford GT 40 and in 1975 with a Mirage GR8 Cosworth, Ickx had the rest of his wins with Porsche 936s in 1976, 1977, 1981, and 1982.

He drove with several teams before signing with Porsche in 1976, the start of a very successful period of time for him. After his 1985 retirement, Ickx was the chief steward at Monaco and helped his daughter Vanina, also a sports car driver.

Other 911 Legends Editions

The Belgian Legend Edition joins the British Legends Edition, which appeared in 2017 and were sold only in the UK. These three Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS British Legends Editions honor three different British Le Mans winners.

The Carrera White car recognizes Nick Tandy, who won in 2015 with a Porsche 919 Hybrid. The Guards Red car recognizes Richard Attwood, who won in 1970 in a Porsche 917. And the Sapphire Blue car recognizes Derek Bell, who won in 1981, 1982, 1986, and 1987, although it’s his 1982 Porsche 962 that’s being honored. The car colors are based on the drivers’ original car colors, and the designs feature their signatures.

This new Porsche 911 Belgian Legend Edition is a tribute to the legendary career of race car driver Ickx. Hopefully the very rare limited-edition car stands as a fantastic 75th birthday present for him.