From ski to single-seaters

After a junior ski career, Patrick Tambay debuts in motor racing in 1972 with a victory in the Volant Elf. He then starts his ascent in single-seaters and finishes runner-up in Formula Renault in 1973. Follows a season in F3 where he’s a front-runner, wins races and finshes runner-up in the championship.

Picture above: the promising Patrick Tambay at the wheel of his Formula Renault Alpine A366 Renault Gordini, on his way to victory at the Paul-Ricard in 1973.

These good results enable him to progress into the Formula 2, the last step before the F1. Again runner-up in 1975, he’s the favourite the next season, but he finishes third in 1976, and fails to find a seat in Formula One.

Tambay then crosses the Atlantic Ocean, races in the Can-Am series, dominates the 1977 season and wins the title which opens the door for him in Formula 1, at Theodore first and then with McLaren (picture below in 1979).