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False start

14. Dec 2019 
by Ziv Knoll
3657 views

Mike Thackwell, from Auckland in New-Zealand, was described in the late 70s as a ‘teenage sensation’ when competing and impressing in Formula 3 and then in Formula 2.

In 1984, he brilliantly won the European Formula 2 championship driving a Ralt-Honda (picture below), after finishing runner-up the year before. In 1980, having tested for both Ensign and Tyrrell, Thackwell made his official debut in Formula 1, when Tyrrell made a third car available for him at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Thackwell was often listed as the youngest driver to start a Formula 1 race at the age of 19, but this claim was disputed because the race was red flagged because of a massive crash on the first lap including team mates Jean-Pierre Jarier and Derek Daly.

As both Jarier’s and Daly’s cars were too badly damaged to repair in time for a second start, Thackwell was instructed by Ken Tyrrell to give up his car for Jarier. Under F1 regulations at that time, when the race was stopped after less than two full laps, the original start is declared null and void and the race starts from scratch.

Therefor, it was considered that he had technically not taken part in the Grand Prix, and it seemed unfair but Thackwell’s record was not officially recorded.

Mike Thackwell had another opportunity at the next race with Tyrrell, the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. After he suffered a fractured brake disc during qualifying, he was unable to qualify.

The New-Zealander later participated in five Grand Prix, failing to any score point. His timing was never right, and he turned to endurance racing. He is widely felt to have been one of the great ‘lost talents’ of Formula 1.

Source: DR

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