Purley starts at Monaco

David Purley qualifies his March 731 in 24th position for the 1973 Monaco Grand Prix (picture-above), but his debut race ends on lap 31 when his Ford-Cosworth engine develops a fuel leak. The race is won from pole position by Jackie Stewart in his Tyrrell 006-Ford. In the process, Stewart equals the record of 25 Grand Prix victories set by his friend and fellow Scot, Jim Clark.

David Purley (1945-1985) was a British racing driver born in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, who participated in 11 Formula One Grand Prix, debuting at Monaco in 1973. Purley is best know for his actions at the 1973 Dutch Grand Prix, where he abandoned his own race and attempted (in vain) to save the life of fellow driver Roger Williamson, stricken under his burning car. Purley was awarded the George Medal for his courage in trying to save Williamson.

He sadly died in a plane crash in 1985, having retired from motorsport and taken up aerobatics. A fantastic and brave person, David Purley…