RACING fans have an unprecedented opportunity to see a legendary Jim Clark trophy which has spent most of the last half-century secluded from public view.

Commonly known as ‘the Golden Helmet’, the award is among the most famous commemorative items associated with the Borderer.

It was presented by sponsors Esso to mark his 1965 successes winning the Formula One World Championship and Indianapolis 500 miles – an achievement still never matched. 

On top of the helmet is engraved a world map inlaid with precious stones, depicting places where he had won a Formula One race; the Indy 500 in America; and his home at Edington Mains in Berwickshire. 

It is considered among the most beautiful and significant trophies ever presented to Scotland’s first Formula One world champion – regarded as one of the greatest racing drivers of all time – during a career lasting more than 11 years.

Jim Clark Motorsport Museum curator Andrew Tulloch said: “Countries portrayed illustrate many of the great racing circuits of world motorsport where Jim triumphed – including Silverstone, Monza, the Nurburgring, Spa-Francorchamps, Zandvoort, Watkins Glen in America, Magdalena Mixhuca in Mexico and Prince George in South Africa. 

“Many of these victories are themselves represented in the museum’s existing collection of individual race trophies, memorabilia and ephemera.”

Physically encapsulating the principal achievements of Jim Clark’s illustrious career – but having rarely been on public display and instead spent most of the last 50 years in bank vaults – the helmet has earned a prominent and mysterious reputation among Clark’s fanbase. 

Now it goes on show for the first time and is on loan to the museum for the next three years.

From Sunday (April 28) visitors can see the helmet at the museum in Duns.