Patrick Depailler

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Patrick Depailler
Depailler at Dijon in 1975
Born(1944-08-09)9 August 1944
Clermont-Ferrand, France
Died1 August 1980(1980-08-01) (aged 35)
Hockenheim, West Germany
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityFrance French
Active years1972, 1974–1980
TeamsTyrrell, Ligier, Alfa Romeo
Entries95
Championships0
Wins2
Podiums19
Career points139 (141)[1]
Pole positions1
Fastest laps4
First entry1972 French Grand Prix
First win1978 Monaco Grand Prix
Last win1979 Spanish Grand Prix
Last entry1980 British Grand Prix

Patrick André Eugène Joseph Depailler (French: [patʁik ɑ̃dʁe øʒɛn ʒozɛf dəpaje]; 9 August 1944 – 1 August 1980) was a racing driver from France. He participated in 95 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 2 July 1972. He also participated in several non-championship Formula One races.

Depailler was born in Clermont-Ferrand, Puy-de-Dôme. As a child, he was inspired by Jean Behra. In Formula One, he joined a Tyrrell team that was beginning a long, slow decline, eventually moving to the erratic Ligier team before finally ending up with the revived Alfa Romeo squad in 1980. Depailler was helping to advance this team up the grid when he was killed in a crash at Hockenheim on 1 August 1980, during a private testing session. He was 35 years old at the time.

He won two races, secured one pole position, achieved 19 podiums, and scored a total of 141 championship points.

Sports cars and Formula Two[edit]

Depailler finished 0.9 seconds behind Peter Gethin in the 1972 Formula Two Pau Grand Prix. He battled Gethin closely in a March 722 over the 70-lap course which curved through the French city. Both drivers lapped the field twice.[2] Depailler came in 3rd in an April 1973 Formula Two race at the Nürburgring. He was driving a Ford Alpine.[3] In May 1974 Depailler qualified his March in 1st position in qualifying for the Formula Two Pau Grand Prix. [4] In June he crashed his March 742 through a guard rail during time trials for a Formula Two race in Salzburgring. Depailler was uninjured but qualifying was stopped so that workmen could replace a section of railing which was torn off in the accident.[5]

Depailler driving a Formula Two car at the Nürburgring in 1970.

In April 1976 the Renault sports car team suspended Depailler for three races after he was involved in a crash which knocked out both his car and the Renault of teammate Jean-Pierre Jabouille. The incident occurred on the second turn, slightly more than a mile after the beginning of a 180-mile (290 km) race at the Nürburgring. Depailler lost control and crashed, after which Jabouille also crashed while attempting to avoid his teammate. The drivers had been instructed not to contest the lead with each other.[6] Depailler placed 2nd in the 1976 Swedish Formula One Grand Prix. He was 19 seconds behind winner Jody Scheckter. [7] Depailler drove in the International Race of Champions event at Riverside International Raceway in September 1978.[8] He was behind the wheel of the Paul Newman entered Spyder-Chevy in the October 1978 California Grand Prix.[9]

Formula One[edit]

Tyrrell (1972–1978)[edit]

Tyrrell had given Depailler drives at France and Watkins Glen in 1972. Using one of the older cars, Depailler had finished in seventh place in the latter race. So in December 1973 Depailler was chosen with Scheckter to drive for Tyrrell, to replace the deceased François Cevert and retired Jackie Stewart.[10] Depailler captured the pole for the 1974 Swedish Grand Prix, his 9th race as a Formula One driver. He negotiated the 2.49-mile (4.01 km) Anderstorp course in a time of 1 minute, 24.758 seconds, for an average speed of 105.8 miles per hour.[11] Depailler would finish 2nd in the race behind teammate Jody Scheckter; this proved his only podium of the year.

In January 1975 Depailler was given 25–1 odds of becoming the 1975 Formula One World Champion.[12] He finished 5th in the 1975 Argentine Grand Prix in Buenos Aires.[13] He took 3rd at Kyalami in the 1975 South African Grand Prix. Depailler stayed behind 2nd-place finisher, Carlos Reutemann, throughout the 78 laps of the event.[14] On the first day of qualifying for the 1975 United States Grand Prix, Depailler crashed his Tyrrell into a catch fence at Watkins Glen. He was not injured.[15]

Depailler came in 2nd in the 1976 Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos.[16] He ended up 2nd to Clay Regazzoni on the 2nd day of qualifying, with a speed of 87.31 mph (140.51 km/h).[17] Depailler gained a 3rd-place finish but drew the ire of rival James Hunt, who went out on the 4th lap. Hunt claimed that Depailler forced him off the track and shook his fist at him after his exit from the race. Depailler, who wrestled with brake trouble, claimed that he did not see the English driver in his mirrors.[18] Depailler placed his six-wheeled Tyrrell in 3rd position for the start of the 1976 Monaco Grand Prix. [19] The Tyrrells of Scheckter and Depailler were the only cars able to stay on the same lap with Lauda's Ferrari, who won from pole position.[20] Depailler was 2nd to Hunt in the 1976 French Grand Prix at Le Castellet. [21] Hunt held off a determined Depailler at Mosport Park in the 1976 Canadian Grand Prix. Both drivers were ill at the conclusion of the event, with Depailler having inhaled fumes over the last third of the race. He lost consciousness after pulling his car off at the first corner following the finish. He regained consciousness momentarily.[22] Depailler finished 2nd ahead of Hunt (who nevertheless secured the 1976 Drivers' Championship by finishing third) at the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix, despite encountering tyre problems as the Fuji Speedway track dried from heavy rains.[23]

Depailler in 1977.

He skidded off the Interlagos track at Sao Paulo during the 1977 Brazilian Grand Prix. He was hospitalized with a leg injury.[24] Depailler qualified in the 6th row, 12th position, for the 1977 United States Grand Prix West. [25] In December 1977 Depailler was promoted to the number one driver for Tyrrell, when Ronnie Peterson left to drive for Lotus. At the same time Tyrrell revealed that it was quitting its experiment with six-wheeled Formula One cars.[26]

Depailler was 3rd in the 1978 Argentine Grand Prix in an Elf-Tyrrell. [27] Peterson passed Depailler on the last turn of the last lap at Kyalami, to claim the 1978 South African Grand Prix. Depailler's car was running short of fuel, allowing Peterson to erase a 9-second gap to win.[28] Depailler climbed from 12th starting place to end in 3rd position in the 1978 United States Grand Prix West.[29] Depailler gained his first Formula One triumph by winning the 1978 Monaco Grand Prix. Piloting a Tyrrell-Ford 008, Depailler secured the 36th annual event. It was his first victory in 69 championship races, although he had been 2nd eight times.[30]

Ligier (1979)[edit]

Depailler switched to the Ligier team for 1979. The team began to field cars with V-8 Ford Cosworth engines,[31] rather than the French-built Matra V-12 engines of 1978.[32] Depailler led the first 10 laps before his engine experienced problems in the 1979 Argentine Grand Prix. He was forced to make a pit stop but managed a 4th-place finish.[33] Depailler came in 2nd to his victorious teammate, Jacques Laffite, in the 1979 Brazilian Grand Prix. Laffite was more than 5 seconds ahead at the end of the race.[34] Depailler made contact with the fence at "Barbecue Bend" in the 1979 South African Grand Prix.[35]

Ligier team manager, Gerard Ducarouge, said that the Ligier JS-11 had been in the planning stages for some time. The JS-9 had been tested as a "wing car" following the 1978 United States Grand Prix West, but the wind tunnel tests proved unsatisfactory. The JS-11 was built and tested in December 1978, with positive results. The V-8 engine was lighter and the Cosworth exhaust system was modified so that it sounded much the same as the old Matra engine's distinctive whine. The new body features of the JS-11 were revealed at the 1979 United States Grand Prix West.[32]

Depailler posted a flag-to-flag win at Jarama in the 1979 Spanish Grand Prix. The win enabled him to tie Gilles Villeneuve in the standings for the Formula One world championship at the end of April, with 20 points each.[36] Depailler posted a third position in qualifying for the 1979 Monaco Grand Prix on a staggered grid.[37] Depailler was replaced in June 1979 by Ligier, after breaking both legs in a hang gliding incident on 3 June[38] near his hometown of Clermont-Ferrand.[39] His heel was also critically injured. The race team was receiving financial support from the French government, which specified that his replacement also be French; his replacement was the French-speaking Belgian veteran Jacky Ickx.[40]

He had been healing well when he fell out of his hospital bed in early August, rebreaking one of the fractures.[41] On 29 August, Depailler said that he was "resigned not to race again until next year", although he expected to leave his Paris hospital by the end of the week. He had undergone a number of operations on his legs, but had hopes to attend both autumn North American rounds, at Montreal and the Watkins Glen, as a spectator.[38]

Alfa Romeo (1980)[edit]

In 1980, Depailler joined the newly formed Alfa Romeo team, that was on a comeback trail: Depailler had worked his way back from his hang-gliding accident the previous year, and had equipped his car with special brakes designed to toughen his leg muscles, he was still driving in pain by the time of his fatal accident[39] and the car was fast (he qualified 3rd for the 1980 United States Grand Prix West) but not reliable enough to finish.

Death[edit]

Depailler suffered a fatal accident in testing at Hockenheim ten days prior to the 1980 German Grand Prix when a suspension failure pitched his Alfa Romeo into the Armco barrier at the high-speed Ostkurve, inflicting fatal head injuries when the vehicle overturned and vaulted the barrier. The car skidded along the top of the guard rail for several hundred feet prior to flipping onto its top.

Legacy[edit]

A radio-controlled car racing circuit is named in honour of Depailler at his home town. The Mini Circuit Patrick Depailler is one of the oldest tracks in France and was used to host an International Federation of Model Auto Racing (IFMAR) meeting in 1999.[42]

As a result of his fatal accident, a new chicane was built into the Ostkurve at the Hockenheim circuit in order to slow the cars down - previously it had been a flat out curving right hander. The new Ostkurve Schikane was first used during the 1982 German Grand Prix.

Depailler was portrayed by Xavier Laurent in the 2013 film Rush, directed by Ron Howard.

Racing record[edit]

Career summary[edit]

Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
1967 24 Hours of Le Mans Automobiles Alpine 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1968 World Sportscar Championship Automobiles Alpine 1 0 0 0 1 4 NC
Ecurie Savin-Calberson 1 0 0 0 0
1969 World Sportscar Championship Automobiles Alpine 1 0 0 0 0 2 NC
Ecurie Savin-Calberson 1 0 0 0 0
1970 European Formula Two Constructions Mécaniques Pygmée 1 0 0 0 0 N/A NC
24 Hours of Le Mans Equipe Matra-Simca 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1971 French Formula Three Automobiles Alpine ? ? ? ? ? ? 1st
European Formula Two Equipe Tecno Elf 6 0 0 0 0 N/A NC
24 Hours of Le Mans Equipe Matra-Simca 1 0 0 0 0 N/A NC
1972 European Formula Two Elf John Coombs 11 0 1 2 3 27 3rd
Formula One Elf Team Tyrrell 2 0 0 0 0 0 NC
1973 European Formula Two Elf John Coombs 10 0 4 3 5 38 3rd
24 Hours of Le Mans Equipe Matra-Simca Shell 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1974 Formula One Elf Team Tyrrell 15 0 1 1 1 14 9th
European Formula Two March Racing Team 8 4 3 2 7 54 1st
World Sportscar Championship Automobiles Alpine 1 0 0 0 0 1 NC
1975 Formula One Elf Team Tyrrell 14 0 0 1 1 12 9th
World Sportscar Championship Équipe Renault Elf 2 0 1 0 0 0 NC
European Formula Two Project 3 Racing 1 0 0 0 1 0 NC‡
1976 Formula One Elf Team Tyrrell 16 0 0 1 7 39 4th
World Sportscar Championship Équipe Renault Elf 4 0 3 0 1 30 NC
1977 Formula One First National CIty Elf Team Tyrrell 17 0 0 0 3 20 9th
24 Hours of Le Mans Équipe Renault Elf 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1978 Formula One First National CIty Elf Team Tyrrell 16 1 0 0 5 34 5th
24 Hours of Le Mans Équipe Renault Elf Sport 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1979 Formula One Équipe Ligier Gitanes 7 1 0 1 2 20 6th
1980 Formula One Marlboro Team Alfa Romeo 8 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Sources:[43][44]

‡ Graded drivers not eligible for European Formula Two Championship points

24 Hours of Le Mans results[edit]

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1967 France Société des Automobiles Alpine France Gérard Larrousse Alpine A210-Renault P
1.15 		204 DNF DNF
1968 France Ecurie Savin-Calberson Belgium Mauro Bianchi Alpine A220-Renault P
3.0 		257 DNF DNF
1969 France Société des Automobiles Alpine France Jean-Pierre Jabouille Alpine A220-Renault P
3.0 		209 DNF DNF
1970 France Équipe Matra-Simca France Jean-Pierre Jabouille
Australia Tim Schenken 		Matra-Simca MS650 P
3.0 		70 DNF DNF
1971 France Automobiles Ligier France Guy Ligier Ligier JS3-Ford Cosworth P
3.0 		270 NC NC
1973 France Équipe Matra-Simca Shell France Bob Wollek Matra-Simca MS670B S
3.0 		84 DNF DNF
1977 France Équipe Renault Elf France Jacques Laffite Renault Alpine A442 S
+2.0 		289 DNF DNF
1978 France Équipe Renault Elf Sport France Jean-Pierre Jabouille Renault Alpine A443 S
+2.0 		279 DNF DNF
Sources:[45][46]

Complete European Formula Two Championship results[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Pos. Pts
1970 Constructions Mécaniques Pygmée Pygmée MDB15 Ford THR HOC BAR
DNQ 		ROU
DNQ 		PER
Ret 		TUL IMO HOC NC 0
1971 Equipe Tecno Elf Tecno TF71 Ford HOC
Ret 		THR
Ret 		NÜR
21 		JAR PAL
Ret 		ROU
DNQ 		MAN TUL
9 		ALB
Ret 		VAL VAL NC 0
1972 Elf John Coombs Alpine A367 Ford MAL THR HOC
Ret 		HOC
Ret 		3rd 27
March 722 PAU
2 		PAL
7 		ROU
DNQ 		ÖST
5 		IMO
Ret 		MAN
Ret 		PER
2 		SAL
7 		ALB
2 		HOC
Ret
1973 Elf John Coombs Alpine A367 Ford MAL HOC
2 		THR
Ret 		NÜR
3 		PAU
Ret 		KIN
2 		NIV HOC ROU
6 		MNZ
2 		MAN
4 		KAR PER
Ret 		SAL
2 		NOR ALB VAL 3rd 38
1974 March Racing Team March 742 BMW BAR
2 		HOC
4 		PAU
1 		SAL
DNQ 		HOC MUG
1 		KAR
2 		PER
Ret 		HOC
1 		VAL
1 		1st 54
1975 Project 3 Racing March 752 BMW EST THR HOC NÜR PAU
3 		HOC SAL ROU MUG PER SIL ZOL NOG VAL NC 0‡
Source:[44]

‡ Graded drivers not eligible for European Formula Two Championship points

Complete Formula One World Championship results[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 WDC Pts[1]
1972 Elf Team Tyrrell Tyrrell 004 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG RSA ESP MON BEL FRA
NC 		GBR GER AUT ITA CAN USA
7 		NC 0
1974 Elf Team Tyrrell Tyrrell 005 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG
6 		BRA
8 		RSA
4 		9th 14
Tyrrell 006 ESP
8 		MON
9 		FRA
8
Tyrrell 007 BEL
Ret 		SWE
2 		NED
6 		GBR
Ret 		GER
Ret 		AUT
Ret 		ITA
11 		CAN
5 		USA
6
1975 Elf Team Tyrrell Tyrrell 007 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG
5 		BRA
Ret 		RSA
3 		ESP
Ret 		MON
5 		BEL
4 		SWE
12 		NED
9 		FRA
6 		GBR
9 		GER
9 		AUT
11 		ITA
7 		USA
Ret 		9th 12
1976 Elf Team Tyrrell Tyrrell 007 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 BRA
2 		RSA
9 		USW
3 		4th 39
Tyrrell P34 ESP
Ret 		BEL
Ret 		MON
3 		SWE
2 		FRA
2 		GBR
Ret 		GER
Ret 		AUT
Ret 		NED
7 		ITA
6 		CAN
2 		USA
Ret 		JPN
2
1977 First National CIty Elf Team Tyrrell Tyrrell P34B Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG
Ret 		BRA
Ret 		RSA
3 		USW
4 		ESP
Ret 		MON
Ret 		BEL
8 		SWE
4 		FRA
Ret 		GBR
Ret 		GER
Ret 		AUT
13 		NED
Ret 		ITA
Ret 		USA
14 		CAN
2 		JPN
3 		9th 20
1978 First National CIty Elf Team Tyrrell Tyrrell 008 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG
3 		BRA
Ret 		RSA
2 		USW
3 		MON
1 		BEL
Ret 		ESP
Ret 		SWE
Ret 		FRA
Ret 		GBR
4 		GER
Ret 		AUT
2 		NED
Ret 		ITA
11 		USA
Ret 		CAN
5 		5th 34
1979 Équipe Ligier Gitanes Ligier JS11 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG
4 		BRA
2 		RSA
Ret 		USW
5 		ESP
1 		BEL
Ret 		MON
5 		FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA CAN USA 6th 20 (22)
1980 Marlboro Team Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 179 Alfa Romeo 1260 3.0 V12 ARG
Ret 		BRA
Ret 		RSA
NC 		USW
Ret 		BEL
Ret 		MON
Ret 		FRA
Ret 		GBR
Ret 		GER AUT NED ITA CAN USA NC 0
Sources:[43][47]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Up until 1990, not all points scored by a driver contributed to their final World Championship tally (see list of points scoring systems for more information). Numbers without parentheses are championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.
  2. ^ Article-No Title, New York Times, 8 May 1972, Page 53.
  3. ^ Wisell Wins Formula Two Race, New York Times, 30 April 1973, Page 42.
  4. ^ Wohlhuter's Team Victor at Quantico, New York Times, 4 May 1974, Page 32.
  5. ^ Depailler Car Crashes, New York Times, 1 June 1974, Page 23.
  6. ^ People in Sports, New York Times, 8 April 1976, Page 52.
  7. ^ Scheckter Wins in Six-Wheeler, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 1976, Page F8.
  8. ^ IROC, Los Angeles Times, 21 September 1978, F10.
  9. ^ "British Stamp Car's Alain de Cadenet to debut at Riverside", Los Angeles Times, 10 October 1978, Page D11.
  10. ^ Ickx Joins Peterson at Lotus, New York Times, 2 December 1973, Page 296.
  11. ^ Depailler Gains Pole in Sweden, New York Times, 9 June 1974, Page 214.
  12. ^ Handicapping '75 Driver Title Race, New York Times, 5 January 1975, Page S15.
  13. ^ E. Fittipaldi Victor in Grand Prix, New York Times, 13 January 1975, Page 53.
  14. ^ Scheckter Takes Grand Prix, New York Times, 2 March 1975, Page 187.
  15. ^ Lauda, in 'Training Car', Paces Qualifying at Glen, New York Times, 4 October 1975, Page 22.
  16. ^ Lauda Wins Brazil Grand Prix, New York Times, 26 January 1976, Page 34.
  17. ^ Regazzoni Takes Coast Race Pole, New York Times, 28 March 1976, Page 175.
  18. ^ Regazzoni Drives a Ferrari To Grand Prix West Victory, New York Times, 29 March 1976, Page 52.
  19. ^ Lauda to Start on Pole Today, New York Times, 30 May 1976, Page 129.
  20. ^ Lauda Triumphs Again in Monaco Grand Prix, New York Times, 31 May 1976, Page 24.
  21. ^ Hunt Winner as Ferraris Fall Out, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 1976, Page D8.
  22. ^ Canadian Race Taken By Hunt, Los Angeles Times, 4 October 1976, Page D7.
  23. ^ Hunt, Andretti Both Win in Fog, Los Angeles Times, 25 October 1976, Page D7.
  24. ^ Reutemann Ferrari Wins Brazil Race, Los Angeles Times, 24 January 1977, Page E7.
  25. ^ Hunt Still Savoring World Title: Lauda Wins the Pole, Los Angeles Times, 3 April 1977, Page D1.
  26. ^ Lauda's Switch Sparks Shuffle, Los Angeles Times, 9 December 1977, Page OC15.
  27. ^ Andretti Wins Shortened Argentine Grand Prix, Los Angeles Times, 16 January 1978, Page D14.
  28. ^ Peterson Wins South Africa Race on Last Turn of Last Lap, Los Angeles Times, 5 March 1978, Page C6.
  29. ^ It's A Big Day for Reutemann and Long Beach, Los Angeles Times, 3 April 1978, Page D1.
  30. ^ Depailler Scores First Grand Prix Win, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 1978, Page E5.
  31. ^ Andretti Sets Some High Goals, Los Angeles Times, 18 January 1979, Page D11.
  32. ^ a b Ligier setting GP world on its ear, Los Angeles Times, 2 April 1979, Page H14.
  33. ^ "Capsule look at Formula One series action so far this year", Los Angeles Times, 2 April 1979, Page H27.
  34. ^ Laffite Two for Two With Victory in Brazil, Los Angeles Times, 5 February 1979, Page D5.
  35. ^ A Tire Gamble Gives Canada's Villeneuve Win, Los Angeles Times, 4 March 1979, Page E8.
  36. ^ Depailler Wins Spanish Grand Prix, Washington Post, 30 April 1979, Page D6.
  37. ^ Scheckter Wins Monaco Pole, Washington Post, 27 May 1979, Page D8.
  38. ^ a b Depailler Resigned To Sideline Status, Washington Post, 30 August 1979, Page C13.
  39. ^ a b Depailler Dies in Accident, Washington Post, 2 August 1980, Page C4.
  40. ^ Motor Sports, Washington Post, 24 June 1979, Page A1.
  41. ^ Johansson, George, ed. (17 August 1979). "Rally & Racing: Depåsnack" [Pit talk]. Teknikens Värld (in Swedish). 31 (17). Stockholm, Sweden: Specialtidningsförlaget AB: 9.
  42. ^ "Virtualrc.com". Virtualrc.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
  43. ^ a b "Patrick Depailler Results". Motorsport Stats. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  44. ^ a b "Patrick Depailler". Motor Sport. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  45. ^ "Patrick Depailler, France". racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  46. ^ "Patrick Depailler". Automobile Club de l'Ouest. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  47. ^ Small, Steve (2000). "Patrick Depailler". Grand Prix Who's Who (Third ed.). Reading, Berkshire: Travel Publishing. pp. 172–174. ISBN 978-1-902007-46-5. Retrieved 30 July 2021 – via Internet Archive.
Sporting positions
Preceded by French Formula Three
Champion
1971 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Monaco Formula Three
Race Winner
1972 		Succeeded by
Preceded by European Formula Two
Champion
1974 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Formula One fatal accidents
1 August 1980 		Succeeded by
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