Born in 1930 in Stockholm, Sweden, Bonnier hailed from a wealthy family of academics; a privileged social background that eased his path into the racing world.

'Jo' Bonnier was one of the key performers in the Formula 1 circus across Europe. He began his driving career in the minor classes behind the wheel of touring cars in 1954. In 1957 he made his Formula 1 debut at the Argentinian Grand Prix driving a Maserati 250F. Driving for the Centro Sud Scuderia he finished seventh. His true debut, though, came a few months earlier at the Italian Grand Prix of 1956 where his car left the track soon after the start.

Bonnier claimed the Grand Prix of Finland in the Sport category with a Maserati 200SI. He remained loyal to Sport and GT cars, racing in the European Mountain Championship in 1958. On this occasion, however, he lost out to Wolfgang von Trips.

In 1959 he joined BRM as an official driver and competed in the Formula 1 World Championship. He obtained the English team's first victory at the Zandvoort GP. Between 1966-68, Bonnier drove his Cooper-Maserati in 16 Grand Prix. His highest finish was the fifth spot claimed at Nürburgring in 1967.

His performances had begun to attract the attention of the bigger squads who offered him the chance to race in the Sport category dedicated to constructors. He won at Targa Florio in 1960 and seized second in the Nürburgring 1000km. In the same year, win number two came along at the German GP. The races for which Bonnier is remembered were those run at Nürburgring in 1966, Paris in 1969 and in Barcelona in 1971.

Bonnier passed away in the early hours after an accident at Le Mans in 1972. Joakim Bonnier, in the ten years up until 1972, campaigned to improve safety at racetracks, for drivers and team members alike. Unfortunately, this work was not enough to save his life.