The bloom of Depailler

The 1974 European Formula Two season was contested over 10 rounds and had Patrick Depailler as the season champion. The French ace, also a Tyrrell Formula One driver, stormed the championship with five victories in his works March, beating the likes of Hans-Joachim Stuck and Jacques Laffite.

Picture above: Patrick Depailler, March 742 BMW M12 Rosche, takes victories at Pau, Mugello, Karlskoga, Hockenheim and Vallelunga.

Tyrrell had given Depailler drives in France and at Watkins Glen in 1972. Using one of the older cars, Depailler had finished in seventh place in the latter race (picture below). Ken Tyrrell was now convinced of his potential.  So in December 1973, Patrick was chosen, with Scheckter, to drive for Tyrrell in 1974, to replace the deceased François Cevert and the retired Jackie Stewart.

Very fast, Patrick Depailler captured the pole position for the 1974 Swedish Grand Prix at Anderstorp, his 9th race as a Formula One driver. He finished second in the race behind teammate Jody Scheckter; this proved his only podium of the year.