For the rubric of History of Formula 1, we remember patrick depailler, a driver who made many people passionate about racing, despite having only won two GPs. The numbers, however, do not do him justice: we will now investigate his soul by rediscovering his career.
The beginnings of the career of a driver with multifaceted talent
Not just four wheels: Patrick Depailler (born 1944) first ran in motorcycle, then, the July 9, 1964, participated in the demonstration Ford-Young. He drove the Lotus Super Seven of the AC of Auvergne and won there, "at home", second place on the Charade circuit. He ran again on motorcycles until 1966, year in which took the pilot course school cars Winfeld of Magny-Cours. He then ranked according to in the final of Shell steering wheel, behind François Cévert. Between 1968 and 1970 fu test mechanic for the 'alpine renault.
In 1970, after Roby Weber left Alpine for Matra, Jean Redele, the owner and founder of the well-known French F1 team, called Patrick a run for him in F3. In the following three years Depailler also raced in the category Sports. In 1970 a few things changed: Alpine's presence in F3 temporarily ceased, and Patrick was hired to race on Pygmée… in F2! But it was a disaster: 5 retirements on 6 races. Always in 1970 disputed the Auto Tour, at the age of 25, behind the wheel of a Matra MS650, with Jean-Pierre Beltoise.
The crucial years of Patrick Depailler
In 1971, Patrick Depailler won finally French F3 on Alpine and in 1972 he returned to F2 with theElf di John Combs: won one race and finished two in second place. In the 1972 ran his first Formula 1 GP a Clermont Ferrand, new “home race”, like third Tyrrell driver and the following year he was hired again. From plastered. Yes, because she had had one scary motorcycle accident. The 1973 it was also the year of the tragic death by François Cévert.
Following his debut in Formula 1, to earn better money, the French driver continued to race in F2 on March-BMW, then Elf-March-BMW, until 1974. Year of his first pole position – as well as the first in F1 history for a French driver – in a GP, that of Sweden. Until the 1975 his presence in Formula 1 was not particularly noteworthy, until brightest 1976 season, without victories, but memorable for a few reasons. First it arrived on the podium seven times, with numerous second places. Racing on the “six wheels” in Spain, to the creation of which he had actively contributed, and he came close to winning in Monzto. At the end of the season, Patrick Depailler was room in standings, his best final result, with 39 world championship points out of 141 career totals. The 1977 proceeded well, but without victories, and in 1978, at his side, the new second guide of Tyrrell became Didier pironi. The 1978 it was the year of Depailler's first victory, GP di Monaco, thanks to a beautiful overtaking that took place around halfway through the race.
Patrick Depailler and the memory of his tragic end
patrick depailler changed teams in 1979, joining the Ligier, alongside Jacques Laffite. The JS11 seemed to be the best car at the beginning of the season, thanks to which Depailler achieved his second world championship victory, in Spain. “What if this was the turning point?” Many wondered. The duel rd with Jody Scheckter, about Ferrari. The French, however, he shattered his legs in a hang-gliding accident on the Puy-de-Dôme a few weeks later, decreeing for himself the early end to the 1979 season. The title then went to Jody Scheckter.
He then tried to give a new momentum to its career with theAlfa Romeo, but the famous team in 1980 it lacked reliability (7 retirements out of 8 races). Furthermore, the pilot's physique, weakened by the accident, was not exactly at his peak performance. But the worst was yet to come: during a session private tests, a week before the German GP, in Hockenheim, patrick depailler hit the safety barrier at around 280 km/h. The cause, very likely, a mechanical failure. He finished so life of the talented, reckless patrick depailler, just , leaving his wife Michèle and his son Loïc, also a pilot and then a freelance journalist.
Sources: lamontagne.fr; autohebdo.fr; The history of Formula 1 – vol. 3 pilots.
