Regazzoni’s last lap…

Clay Regazzoni pushes his elegant Ensign N180 to its limits, but can’t do better than 23rd during qualifying for the 1980 US Grand Prix West, held at Long Beach, California (picture-above). Nelson Piquet (Brabham) captures pole in front of the Renault of René Arnoux.

Lap 50 saw a horrific accident which would ultimately end the career of the amicable Swiss driver, the brakes on his Ensign N180 car failed on the long straight, unable to reduce speed, he hit the stationary Brabham of Ricardo Zunino which had been left at the run off since lap 1, and then head on into the concrete wall (picture below). The accident left Regazzoni paralysed from the waist down. He later sued the race organisers, but lost the case.

Nelson Piquet (Brabham) crossed the finishing line as the winner, 49 seconds before Riccardo Patrese (Arrows) and 1 minute 18 seconds ahead of Emerson Fittipaldi (Fittipaldi).

Clay Regazzoni was runner-up in the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship in 1974 with Ferrari and won five Grand Prix across 11 seasons. On 15 December 2006, Regazzoni was killed when the Chrysler Voyager he was driving hit the rear of a lorry near Parma…