There is little trace left of the old circuit at Hockenheim now as it has quickly been reclaimed by nature. While modern Formula 1 cars race on the new facility the track will always hold solemn memories for fans of a certain vintage. On the flat-out blast through the forest the great Jim Clark lost his life during an insignificant Formula 2 race in 1968. Twelve years later another much-loved member of the Grand Prix community also perished at the track.
Like Clark, there were no spectators present to witness Patrick Depailler’s fatal crash. The experienced Frenchman suffered suspension failure at the daunting Ostkurve while testing his Alfa Romeo Formula 1 car and the sport lost one of its most popular drivers.
Depailler was a thrill-seeker with an appetite which not even the heady world of Formula 1 could completely satisfy. The offer to drive for Alfa Romeo in 1980 had given him a welcome opportunity to return to the sport he loved after a disastrous 1979 season with Ligier. Early form had been promising and included a win for Depailler in Spain but then came a serious hang-gliding accident which ended his season. Following a long recovery period and out of favour with Ligier, redemption came in the form of Alfa. Teamed with the amiable Italian Bruno Giacomelli, Depailler quickly settled in.
By 1980 Depailler had already competed in Formula 1 for six seasons, all but one driving for the British Tyrrell team. His break came in 1974 when Tyrrell were unexpectedly faced with having to replace both of its drivers. Triple World Champion Jackie Stewart retired at the end of 1973, with his young French team-mate Francois Cevert expected to replace him as number one driver in the team. At a tragic season finale at Watkins Glen Cevert was killed in a horrific qualifying accident. The fast but sometimes erratic South African Jody Scheckter was brought in, along with Depailler.
Despite being one of the best drivers of the seventies Depailler only recorded two Grand Prix victories. His maiden win came at Monaco in 1978, driving for Tyrrell. He won again the following season, this time taking the Spanish Grand Prix for Ligier.
Depailler loved racing but detested the ground-effect cars of 1980. He is quoted in, "Formula 1, The Autobiography', edited by Gerald Donaldson and published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson in 2002. At his final Formula 1 weekend before his death he conveyed his fears:
"Cornering speeds have become ridiculous, and something has to be done... I think the way the cars are built now is just a joke."
The death of Depailler robbed the sport of one of its most charismatic and likeable characters. Disillusioned with the cars it is uncertain how long the Frenchman would have continued but any chance he had of surviving the Hockenheim crash was taken away by the lack of catch fencing. As it was a test session it wasn't deemed necessary to erect the fencing. Instead, it remained rolled up behind the barriers. With regards to safety, the sport still had a lot to learn.
Kevin Guthrie - Kevin is based in Fife, Scotland, where he works as a music teacher, professional drummer and freelance writer. At an early age he ...
