CLAY REGAZZONI
1970 DUTCH GP Started 6th | Result 4th
The 30-year-old ticinese was regarded as a promising talent, albeit carrying a reputation for rough driving tactics. Regazzoni’s priority in 1970 was with Tecno in winning the European Formula 2 title, which he achieved, hopefully a good omen for Bearman… And he got his F1 opportunity with Ferrari at Zandvoort, the race after Ignazio Giunti’s debut (see right).
Regazzoni, already regarded as being quick at the Dutch track, did a fine job to qualify sixth, with team leader Jacky Ickx third. But he lost ground at the start when the clutch failed on the March of Chris Amon, immediately ahead of him on the grid, delaying the car behind. Regazzoni got his head down and, wrote Autosport’s Paddy Mcnally, “moved ahead of [Jean-pierre] Beltoise in a heart-stopping manoeuvre on the straight, and tried unsuccessfully to take [Piers] Courage and [John] Miles at the same time”. Before long he was sixth, then leapfrogged to fourth thanks to trouble for the BRMS of Jackie Oliver and Pedro Rodriguez. The race continued under a cloud after Courage fatally crashed his Williams-run De Tomaso.
The cussed side of Regazzoni was revealed when race winner Jochen Rindt lapped him, and “the Ferrari chopped right across his bows and nearly had him off the road”. Regazzoni got up to third briefly, when Ickx pitted due to a puncture, but the Belgian was soon back in front.
Giunti drove the following race in France, but Regazzoni contested the final seven GPS and claimed third in the championship – and his maiden win, at Monza. An impressive haul to add to his F2 crown. The debut itself perhaps wasn’t quite as impressive as Giunti’s, but overall he had earned his full-time F1 break. Regazzoni went on to win a total of four grands prix for Ferrari and another for Williams, before his career ended when he suffered life-changing injuries in a
Long Beach crash in 1980 with Ensign.