Not many sports can claim to have a hero from 50 years ago perform rather like he did back in the day. But that's what F1 managed on Saturday when Sir Jackie Stewart got behind the wheel of a BRM 261 similar to the one that took him to his first Grand Prix win at Monza in 1965.
Typical Stewart, he wore the same open-face white helmet with trademark tartan headband and goggles. And typical for F1, the powers-that-be made very little of the occasion, focused as they were on politics and making money today.
Stewart and the British racing green car were stationed, not in the F1 paddock, not even in the support paddock, but in a lock-up somewhere near Parabolica. There was no notice of the occasion in the media centre, the only mention being an hour or so before by the Italian commentator, and Bob Constanduros, his English-speaking colleague.
The immaculate car in British racing green with the trademark orange band on the nose appeared as if from nowhere, the lovely sound of the V8 bouncing off a grandstand that was no more than quarter full. Stewart was not allowed a flying lap, the BRM pulling up sharply on the finishing line for a photo call with the actual trophy received on the day.
Stewart had worked hard for that silver cup. The lead had changed hands more than 40 times, this being the slipstreaming pre-chicane Monza as Stewart battled with fellow-Brits Graham Hill (BRM), Jim Clark (Lotus) and John Surtees (Ferrari). When Clark and Surtees eventually retired, the BRMs swapped places regularly, the assumption being that Stewart would dutifully allow team-leader Hill to win. That might well have been the case had Hill not made a mistake and run wide at Parabolica in the closing laps, Stewart maintaining his lead until the finish. It was the first of 27 victories for the man destined to become world champion three times.
"It was lovely to be able to do this 50 years later," said Sir Jackie. "Hall and Hall, the company responsible for preparing the car, did a beautiful job. I felt immediately at home in the cockpit. It was like settling into an old armchair. The gear lever was where I expected it - on the left, as it was with all BRMs. The clutch was maybe a wee bit too far away - but that's being fussy! Otherwise, it brought back wonderful memories.
"Okay, it would have been nice to run before the race on Sunday, but I was very grateful for the opportunity. And, when all is said and done, I'm grateful to still be here and able to do it 50 years later. I don't imagine many sports people have that privilege."