IT was driven by a champion, and delivered by a champion.

A racing car driven by the Scottish world champion driver Jim Clark, who died in a race accident in 1968 in Germany, has been given to a new museum which will open to the public next week.

The three time Indianapolis 500 winner, Dario Franchitti, personally delivered the Lotus Cortina to the new Jim Clark Motorsport Museum in the Scottish Borders.

The new museum opens to the public on 11 July.

The 1964 British Saloon Car Championship winning car will be joined in the new museum by Clark’s Lotus 25/R6 – a car which took him to numerous Grand Prix victories as well as the Goodwood Motor Circuit lap record.

The Jim Clark Trust has played an important role, organisers said, in securing the vehicles for the new museum.

Franchitti, from Bathgate in West Lothian, gave the Lotus Cortina to the museum in Duns, Berwickshire this week.

He said: “I think the new museum is fabulous.

“From the moment you walk in the door, it’s brilliant.

“It’s a fitting tribute to Jim.

“The car I have brought down is Jim’s car, I’ve just been looking after it.

“I’m very proud it is featuring in the museum, where other people will get to see it and enjoy it.”

Following an appearance at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Lotus 25/R6 will arrive in the Scottish Borders ahead of the museum opening to the public.

It is being loaned by Tinguely Museum in Basle, Switzerland.

Jim Clark, who was born in Fife but who grew up in the Borders, and who won two World Championships in the 1960s, raced the Lotus 25/R6 in 10 Grand Prix races between 1963 and 1965.

His racing in the car included victories in the British, Dutch and Belgian Grand Prix in 1964 and in France the following year.

He also raced it to victory at Goodwood twice.

Andrew Tulloch, the from charity Live Borders said: “It is hard to put into words how appreciative we are of Dario and Tinguely Museum loaning these legendary vehicles to the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum, putting them right at the heart of this new attraction.

“There are very few of Jim’s former race cars on public display and there is little doubt that these will be among the stars of the show when the museum opens later this month.

“Having these vehicles here alone will undoubtedly attract visitors from across the world, complementing the trophies, film footage and memorabilia in what will be a must visit for motor racing fans and those looking for a great day out.”

The new museum is being created by Scottish Borders Council in partnership with charity Live Borders, The Jim Clark Trust and the Jim Clark Memorial Room Trust.

Funding for the project has come from the Council, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Museums Galleries Scotland and The Jim Clark Trust, the latter including a grant from the Fallago Environment Fund and individual donations from around the world.

Ben Smith, Secretary of The Jim Clark Trust, said: “On behalf of The Jim Clark Trust we are extremely grateful to the Tinguely Museum and Dario Franchitti, a Patron of the Trust, for allowing these iconic cars to be displayed in public.

“It is humbling to see these world famous, beautiful cars, in which Jim raced to success all those years ago, in his home town of Duns, Scotland. “They are sure to be the star attractions of the new museum, bringing to life the story of Jim Clark and inspiring future generations.”

Clark was born on the 4th March 1936 in Kilmany in Fife where his father, also James Clark, had a farm.

In 1942 the Clarks moved to the farm at Edington Mains just outside Chirnside in Berwickshire.

The museum says: “Although technically a Fifer Jim became very much a Borderer, spending his formative years in the area.”

Clark went on to have a stellar career in racing, until his fatal accident in Germany.

He was Formula One World Champion in 1963 and 1965 as well as a runner up in 1962, and in his 72 Grand Prix starts, had 25 wins and 33 pole positions.

Clark, who was buried in Chirnside in Berwickshire, also won the Indianapolis 500 in 1965.

The new museum hopes to celebrate Clark and the accomplishments of a man “who inspired a generation.”

The museum said: “The aim of the new museum is to inspire the next generation and generations to come, with a modern and vibrant celebration of Jim Clark’s incredible career and impact on motorsport around the world with trophies, pictures, film footage and some of the cars in which he raced.

“ Exhibiting the cars in which Jim Clark raced will be the highlight of the new museum with the existing trophy collection at its heart.”

The new museum has some famous patrons, including Franchitti, David Coulthard and Sir Jackie Stewart.

Since 1969 there has been a Jim Clark Memorial Room in Duns, and since then it has welcomed more than 300,000 visitors.

It is home to a collection of more than 100 trophies and memorabilia.