Year Archives:

In 1972 Helmut Marko was driving for BRM and the young Niki Lauda (23) made his Grand Prix debut for March (picture above). When Lauda passed away on 20 May 2019, Helmut Marko remembered: “Throughout my whole racing career Niki was my constant companion. Both on the driving side and in management.” Marko continues: “When […]

After the briefing, drivers walk down the starting grid to climb into their cars (picture above), ahead of the start of the 1972 Italian Grand Prix at Monza. One can recognise from left to right: Jean-Pierre Beltoise and Reine Wisell (green helmet), both BRM drivers, then Ronnie Peterson, a factory March driver, Howden Ganley (with […]

The 24 Hours of Le Mans took place on 10 and 11 June 1972. This year’s marked the start of a new era with revised Sport-Prototype regulations putting a 3-litre limit on engine size. Having already won the Manufacturers’ Championship, Ferrari chose not to contest the race, so Matra were strong favourites for the outright win. […]

After a successful karting career in which he won numerous Australian titles, Vern Schuppan (born 19 March 1943) made the decision to pursue a career in motor racing. He and his wife Jennifer travelled to Great Britain (with a self-imposed 2-year limit of making it big) to allow him to participate in the British Formula Atlantic […]

In parallel to his Formula One career with Team Tyrrell, François Cevert participated in endurance racing for Matra. By far, the fastest of the Matra drivers, he, for instance, held for a long time the lap record on the Le Mans circuit. Picture above: François Cevert on board of his Matra 670B that he shared […]

Charming encounter for the driver of this orange Fiat (picture above) on his way to the 1972 Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix held on the famous ‘Autodromo di Monza’. Before the race, the Monza circuit was modified with the addition of two chicanes, one before the Curva Grande and one at the site of the […]

The BRM P180, designed by Tony Southgate, and powered by a BRM 3.0-litre V12 engine, was not competitive enough at the 1972 Canadian Formula One Grand Prix at Mosport. Jean-Pierre Beltoise (picture above), qualified 20th and was forced to retire with an oil leak on lap 21. The race was won by Jackie Stewart (Tyrrell-Ford) […]

Superb picture here-above of a front row of future champions: Niki Lauda in his March 722-5 on the front row of the 1972 European Formula 2 Championship round at Thruxton, with François Cevert and Ronnie Peterson next to him. Scot Gerry Birrell is just behind on the second row. Ronnie Peterson and Niki Lauda were […]