Tag: Monza

News

Peter Gethin R.I.P.

Peter Gethin died at the age of 71 in December 2011 after a long illness. Gethin participated in 31 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 21 June 1970. He won the 1971 Italian Grand Prix in the fastest average speed in Formula One history (until the record was broken by Michael Schumacher at the same race in 2003), but this was his only podium finish. There was only 0.01 seconds between him and second placed Ronnie Peterson, also a record). Indeed, he never led an entire lap of Formula One racing, as he passed from fourth to first in the last lap. He also participated in numerous non-Championship Formula One races.

Here is a great video of the 1971 Formula 1 Grand Prix Of Italy at Monza. This was one of the closest finishes in Formula 1 history. The winner was Peter Gethin in the Yardley Team BRM. 2nd to 5th were Ronnie Peterson, Francois Cevert, Mike Hailwood and Howden Ganley.

The Sounds from Hell

The legendary Ligier-Matra V12 engine’s sound

Excuse my indulgence if you will….this is the totally brutal sound of the V12 Gitanes Matra…(circa 79ish)…, the car was driven back in the day by French superstar Jaques Lafitte. I filmed this at Donington Park where the car was being taken through its paces during a general testing day…..mouthwateringly superb. Please do the thing justice, use headphones if possible and turn right up.





Matra-engine-Brandy-545

Opinion

The Changing Worlds Of Formula One

From Italy to India, David Goldblatt examines the ever changing face of Formula One.
At the Monza Circuit in Northern Italy, David discovers the triumphs, tragedies and the nostalgic old style glamour of a past motor racing era in a town that has been hosting the Italian Grand Prix since long before the arrival of Formula One. But now a global super brand, Formula One has changed.
David also visits the embryonic circuit on the outskirts of Delhi, which in October 2011 will become Formula One’s latest hi-tech venue.
In the ever evolving world of motor sport he questions whether Europe will be able to financially support the sport in the future and whether it matters that a country such as India, with a negligible history of motor sports, has been chosen to host Formula One?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00f17k4