Sweden was gripped by formula 1 fever during the mid 1970s heady on the success enjoyed by the. He raced at a time when formula 1 was still highly dangerous but his life was cut short not by a racing accident but by cancer. A confident and sometimes brash youngster, eddie cheever threatened to take european racing by storm. Before entering formula one, he won the 1975 british formula three championship. Before entering formula one, he won the 1975 british formula. Spare a thought today for gunnar nilsson, who succumbed to cancer on this day 25 years ago. Swedish racing driver 1977 belgian grand prix winner. Gunnar nilsson born 20th november 1948 in helsingborg is a former professional racing driver who competed internationally for sweden. Yet for me it would be a year tinged with great sadness as i, and a great many others, lost a dear friend in gunnar nilsson who, after an all too brief career in motor racing, succumbed to testicular cancer in londons charing cross hospital during the early hours of october 20. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes.
I am looking for some pics of this event and for the result of that formula one race held at donington park. Nilsson entered 32 formula one grand prix races, qualifying for all of them. A lovely, generous man, he kept upbeat despite his illness. Detailed karting statistics not covered by driver database. He was born on november 20, 1948 in helsingborg as a son of. Mario andretti, hans stuck, nelson piquet, alan jones and numerous other famous names compete in an event held in honour of f1 driver gunnar nilsson.
Nilsson s illness stopped the sport seeing just how good gunnar could. You are here probably looking to find the answer of aviator. A total of 5 f1 cars turned up, also seeing a return and final appearance of the brabham fancar and former f1 champion james hunt. King gunnar was a prominent king of medieval literature such as the middle high german epic poem, the nibelungenlied, where king gunnar. Gunnar is a male first name of nordic origin gunnarr in old norse. Gunnar was a free spirit, a really nice individual who was easy to be friends with. Gunnar nilsson 20 november 1948 20 october 1978 was a swedish racing driver, born in helsingborg. Profile for racing driver eddie cheever from united states. On the box below you will find gunnar 197677 f1 motor racing driver. He is a twotime winner of the junior world rally championship. Gunnar nilsson won just one grand prix before his tragic death, but, thanks to his courage and character, his memory still lives large among his friends today. Gunnar nilsson remembered, by mario andretti motorsport.
Nilssons only f1 win came at a rain soaked zolder in 1977 having driven around the outside of niki laudas ferrari with 20 laps to go. The fia would not sanction the event and because of this there could not be a proper race. Profile for racing driver gunnar nilsson from sweden. Gunnar nilsson including brabham test pic merged the. Gunnar nilsson driving the formula atlantic chevron at brands hatch in 1975, a year in which he seemed invincible. Gunnar axel arvid nilsson 19481978 find a grave memorial. Normally one would describe a swede as blond hair, blue eyes and being as temperamental as say, a barn owl. Gunnar nilsson grand prix date car race position pts. It was 37 years ago that gunnar nilsson scored his one and only grand prix win. Before entering formula one, he won the 1975 british formula three championship nilsson entered 32 formula one grand prix races, qualifying for all of them. October 20th marks 40 years since the passing of a swedish f1 driver who could have surpassed the great ronnie peterson. Born in helsingborg, on swedens west coast in 1948, nilsson began racing in national events in the late 1960s.
Jun 04, 2012 it was 37 years ago that gunnar nilsson scored his one and only grand prix win. Who better to get thoughts and memories from than one of racings legends, mario andretti, teammate to gunnar at lotus. But less than three seasons later both were lost to the sport and their country. And sir jackie stewart helped with a cameo in the video. Driver gunnar nilsson 1978 iroc results racingreference. Most of the teams withdrew leaving only 5 f1 cars that actually turned up at the event.
There is so much more to say, and mario andrettis memories will come next. He won once, the 1977 belgian grand prix at zolder while driving for team lotus. Gunnar nilsson born 20th november, 1948 in helsingborg, sweden, died 20th october, 1978 in hammersmith, london, england was a swedish racing driver known for his appearances in formula one and his untimely death from cancer in late 1978. Gunnar nilsson gunnar axel arvid nilsson 20 november 1948 20 october 1978 was a swedish racing driver. Nilsson s only f1 win came at a rain soaked zolder in 1977 having driven around the outside of niki laudas ferrari with 20 laps to go. Gunnar nilsson november 20, 1948 october 20, 1978 was a swedish formula one driver who competed between 1976 and 1977 before being diagnosed with testicular cancer which soon became terminal. Media in category gunnar nilsson racing driver the following 4 files are in this category, out of 4 total. A driver who preferred literary clubs, rather than frivolous parties. Died of cancer when at the peak of his very decent career.
Gunnar is a boys name of scandinavian origin meaning bold warrior. Bertil has spent most of his life in the us, as he moved there to race in formula super vee. Gunnar nilsson wins grand prix of belgium formula one 1977. Click on the site to see gunnar nilsson s career results at that track. The name gunnar means fighter, soldier, and attacker, but mostly is referred to by the viking saying which means brave and bold warrior gunnr war and arr warrior. Spark models s74 143 1976 lotus 77 gunnar nilsson p3. He won the 1977 belgian grand prix late beginning of the racing career.
Racing driver 24 hours of le mans winner 1977, 1983, 1994. Jan 25, 2016 gunnar nilsson born 20 nov 1948 helsingborg. Hy, does anyone have heard about the gunnar nilsson memorial trophy 3 june 1979 held at donington. View f1 statistics and a f1 career summary of gunnar nilsson, including career stats, yearly summary, stats per grands prix and circuits, and more. Gunnar axel arvid nilsson 20 november 1948 20 october 1978 was a swedish racing driver.
He made himself noticed ever since the minor formula race cars. It was a significant loss to everyone within the formula one community, however, sweden and the f1 fraternity lost another talented driver. Gustav malja racing career profile driver database. Click on the site to see gunnar nilssons career results at that track glossary. Gunnar nilsson racing career profile driver database.
Nilsson made his f1 debut in 1976, driving with the ensign team. But with gunnar nilsson this was slightly different. Apr 14, 2011 as a tribute to nilsson in june 1979 there was the gunnar nilsson memorial trophy, a fundraiser for the foundation held at the donington circuit. Join facebook to connect with gunnar nilsson and others you may know. Before entering formula one, he won the 1975 british formula 3 championship. Gunnar nilsson born 20th november, 1948 in helsingborg, sweden, died 20th october, 1978 in hammersmith, london, england was a swedish racing driver known for his appearances in formula one and his untimely death from cancer in late 1978 formula one 19761977. Gunnar nilsson didnt match the image of gascon and playboy driver, anything other than track and models, of which the late 70s formula one, a sort of film set. He has since won the indianapolis 500 and been a successful. This was supposed to be a full nonchampionship race for the benefit of the gunnar nilsson cancer fund. For 1978, he signed for arrows, but was never well enough to drive the. The sad story of gunnar nilsson scuderia ferrari club riga.
Esports fantasy daily fantasy f1 play f1 2020 f1 mobile racing f1 manager. Oct 28, 2001 spare a thought today for gunnar nilsson, who succumbed to cancer on this day 25 years ago. When countryman gunnar nilsson graduated to racings elite in 1976 a golden age seemed assured. A cancer ward is still named in his memory as he founded the gunnar nilsson cancer foundation whilst gravely ill. For 1978, he signed for arrows, but was never well enough to drive the car. The business flourished and even when he became a fulltime racing driver gunnar continued as a partner in the company.
Our staff already solved all todays mirror quiz daily crossword clues and the answer for gunnar 1976. He won the 1977 belgian grand prix at zolder while driving for team lotus. Swedens motor racing scene in 1972 gained much publicity through the exploits of ronnie peterson and reine wisell and, suddenly, nilsson knew that he too wanted to be a racing driver. I was told that and an english magazine made an article about this event but i never find it. Gunnar nilsson leading alex ribeiro during the formula three race at the 1975 british grand prix. Nilsson spent his whole career at lotus after the cancer affected his. Kevin ayres walks us through the sadly curtailed career of gunnar nilsson, and the legacy he left behind. His best achievement was winning the 1977 belgian grand prix. He graduated to formula 1 with high hopes but despite 2 grand prix starts the most for any american and nine podium finishes, he never would win. Gunnar nilsson was a racing driver from sweden who won the british formula 3 championship before entering the formula 1 world championship. This category has the following 2 subcategories, out of 2 total. See more ideas about lotus f1, formula 1 and racing.
Before entering formula one, he won the 1975 british formula 3 championship nilsson entered 32 formula one grand prix races, qualifying for all of them. Feb 08, 2020 mario andretti, hans stuck, nelson piquet, alan jones and numerous other famous names compete in an event held in honour of f1 driver gunnar nilsson. Gunnar nilsson memorial trophy posted in tnfs archive. Click on the number of races to see individual races for that year.
Sweden was gripped by formula 1 fever during the mid 1970s heady on the success enjoyed by the original superswede ronnie peterson. Oct 19, 2018 october 20th marks 40 years since the passing of a swedish f1 driver who could have surpassed the great ronnie peterson. There is a cruel irony in the life of gunnar nilsson. Among the many were george harrison, who recorded a single faster with all proceeds going to the gunnar nilsson cancer foundation. Dec 04, 2019 on the box below you will find gunnar 197677 f1 motor racing driver. Visa fler ideer om bilar, kandisar och saker att kopa. Nilsson was born in sweden though, to be precise in helsingborg in 1948. The lotuscosworth 06 cars of gunnar nilsson and ferrari 11 of niki. Gunnar nilsson was a professional from 1976 to 1977.
He recorded 31 starts in formula one grand prix races, driving for lotus in 1976 and 1977. Followed by the legacy gunnar left to cancer treatment. Formed a successful drivers school in america and also designed and built a successful training racing car for use at the school. A born driver, to confirm his rushing through steps. Gunnar was the first international racing driver i ever met along with his teammate alex ribeiro in 75. Click on the year to see the standings for that year. Gunnar nilsson remembered, by mario andretti motorsport retro. Driver gunnar nilsson career statistics racingreference.
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