Tragic Goodwood test

In the photo above, we can see Bruce McLaren pushing his McLaren M8D Can-Am towards the Goodwood track where he planned to test it, on June 2, 1970. A very sad day.

Bruce McLaren (1937–1970) was a New Zealand racing driver, automobile designer, engineer, and motor racing entrepreneur. He raced in Formula One from 1958 to 1970, winning four Grand Prix in 13 seasons.

Outside of F1, Bruce McLaren won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966 in a Ford GT40 MKII. He was also a two-time Can-Am champion in 1967 and 1969, driving his own M6A and M8B, and also won the Tasman Series in 1964.

Bruce McLaren died at the age of 32 when his McLaren M8D Can-Am went off the track on the Lavant Straight, just before Woodcote Corner on June 2, 1970. He was testing his M8D when the rear bodywork of his car detached at high speed. The loss of downforce destabilized the car, which spun, went off the track, and crashed into a marshal’s bunker… 

A tragic day indeed at Goodwood, an immense loss for the whole motorsport community, but Bruce McLaren’s legacy is present to this day.