Award presentation for heroes

Arturo Merzario (cowboy hat in the center of the photo), Harald Ertl (bearded and impressive moustache, to his right) and Brett Lunger are presented with an award before the 1976 Austrian Grand Prix, in recognition of their heroism in saving Niki Lauda, after his terrible crash at the Nürburgring.

Here in Austria, these three courageous drivers, who did not hesitate to pull Lauda out of the fire, are entered by modest teams in single-seaters at the back of the grid: Merzario drives a Wolf-Williams, Ertl is at the wheel of a Hesketh and Lunger is in a Surtees.

The race was won by John Watson in his Penske PC4. It was the first victory for the Northern Irish driver, who, following a promise made to Roger Penske, would lose his beard! It was also the first and only victory for a Penske car in Formula 1.

Harald Ertl finished in eighth position but outside the points, in his Hesketh 308E-Cosworth (photo below). He was the only one of the drivers mentioned above to finish the race.