The Fastlane Motorsports Forum

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Everso Biggyballies wrote: ↑4 years ago Niki Lauda Canada 1979 springs to mind. He retired from F1 after practice and was on a plane home by the time the race started with Zunino in the Brabham in his place. (Zunino had never driven an F1 car prior to the final qualy, and had to borrow Lauda's helmet IIRC )

PTRACER wrote: ↑4 years ago

Everso Biggyballies wrote: ↑4 years ago Niki Lauda Canada 1979 springs to mind. He retired from F1 after practice and was on a plane home by the time the race started with Zunino in the Brabham in his place. (Zunino had never driven an F1 car prior to the final qualy, and had to borrow Lauda's helmet IIRC )

I'm thinking along the lines of someone who DNQ'd but then got promoted to the grid due to two or three others having their quali times deleted for infringement.

And then the driver who was promoted to the back of the grid had already left the track and lost the opportunity to start his only GP. Someone like Otto Stuppacher, 1976 Austria.

Everso Biggyballies wrote: ↑4 years ago

PTRACER wrote: ↑4 years ago

Everso Biggyballies wrote: ↑4 years ago Niki Lauda Canada 1979 springs to mind. He retired from F1 after practice and was on a plane home by the time the race started with Zunino in the Brabham in his place. (Zunino had never driven an F1 car prior to the final qualy, and had to borrow Lauda's helmet IIRC )

I'm thinking along the lines of someone who DNQ'd but then got promoted to the grid due to two or three others having their quali times deleted for infringement.

And then the driver who was promoted to the back of the grid had already left the track and lost the opportunity to start his only GP. Someone like Otto Stuppacher, 1976 Austria.

Yeah I think your line of thinking is probably right as Zunino actually qualified Lauda's Brabham..
Re Stuppacher I think he (and another local) was actually refused a Super License due to a lack of experience, having bought / rented a Tyrrell for the race and had an entry accepted because he had won a local race the prize of which was an entry at the Austrian GP. The other guy had come second and the entry was to the fiirst two in the race... Neither of them took part in qualifying AFAIK . There was another local who suffered the same fate. They were not given a late reprieve. (Also as locals I doubt either of them would be on the plane home!) Maybe the prize was to get some local content at the GP and attract local fans as Lauda was lying in hospital recovering from his burns.

Stuppacher did get some sympathy sponsorship that paid for him to enter a few other GPs but he failed to qualify in the three others he did... at one in Canada (or US)1976 I think he qualified 26 seconds slower than pole!

Ironically Stuppacher's first ever International car race was in the European Sports Car Championship in 1970.... as co driver to Lauda!

At the 1976 Italian Grand Prix he failed to qualify by a considerable margin, but subsequently he was promoted up the order when three other cars had their times disallowed due to fuel irregularities. Unfortunately, Stuppacher had already left the circuit and returned home, and was unable to get back to the circuit in time to race. The three demoted runners were eventually re-admitted after the withdrawal of Stuppacher, Arturo Merzario, and Guy Edwards.

PTRACER wrote: ↑4 years ago

Everso Biggyballies wrote: ↑4 years ago Niki Lauda Canada 1979 springs to mind. He retired from F1 after practice and was on a plane home by the time the race started with Zunino in the Brabham in his place. (Zunino had never driven an F1 car prior to the final qualy, and had to borrow Lauda's helmet IIRC )

I'm thinking along the lines of someone who DNQ'd but then got promoted to the grid due to two or three others having their quali times deleted for infringement.

And then the driver who was promoted to the back of the grid had already left the track and lost the opportunity to start his only GP. Someone like Otto Stuppacher, 1976 Austria.

Everso Biggyballies wrote: ↑4 years ago @Jacob PT originally said Austria but in another post said Monza for the Italian GP which seems to fit the bill. Maybe you missed or misread @PTRACER's post where he said Monza?

Great question though.

Jacob wrote: ↑4 years ago

Everso Biggyballies wrote: ↑4 years ago @Jacob PT originally said Austria but in another post said Monza for the Italian GP which seems to fit the bill. Maybe you missed or misread @PTRACER's post where he said Monza?

Great question though.

Ah yes. correct. Did not see that. Stuppacher later tried it at Mosport and Watkins Glen, but was far off the pace.

They gave us privateers just one set of tyres that completely wrecked the handling of our cars and it was done on purpose to stop us embarrassing the 'stars' !!!!!

erwin greven wrote: ↑4 years ago Didn't he also work for Lancia in the early 80's? I mean Conrero?

erwin greven wrote: ↑4 years ago Keke Rosberg? He drove for Opel