Dutch GP 1973
Dutch GP, 1973
After missing out on a race in 1972 because of safety problems, Zandvoort was back in the World Championship for 1973, the organizers having spent a considerable amount of money to resurface the track and provide run-off areas and crash barriers. A new chicane had been built at the back of the track to slow the cars. After the huge crash at Silverstone most of the teams were busy repairing their cars, notably Surtees which had had all three cars damaged. Ferrari did not appear because of the poor performance of the 312B/3 and Team MRD also failed to appear, de Adamich being out of action. Williams had a new pay-driver in the second car with local Gijs Van Lennep partnering Howden Ganley. Qualifying resulted in a blow to Emerson Fittipaldi's World Championship hopes as the Lotus driver crashed heavily on Saturday and suffered serious bruises to his ankles. Ronnie Peterson gave Lotus some consolation with his sixth pole position in nine races but he had the two Tyrrells of Jackie Stewart (Fittipaldi's title rival) and Francois Cevert alongside him on the front row. The second row was shared by Denny Hulme's McLaren and Carlos Reutemann's Brabham while Peter Revson (McLaren), James Hunt (Hesketh March) and Carlos Pace (Surtees) were on the third row. The top 10 was completed by Jean-Pierre Beltoise (BRM) and Jack Oliver (Shadow) while Fittipaldi was a depressed 16th. At the start of the race Peterson took off into lead with Stewart being chased by a fast-starting Pace and Cevert. On the second lap Fittipaldi retired, unable to continue. On the sixth lap Pace was overtaken by Cevert while Hunt, Hulme, Reutemann and Revson followed. On lap 8 Williamson's March - which was running 13th - crashed heavily and was flipped and came to rest beside the track and caught fire. David Purley stopped immediately and tried to rescue Williamson but with no help from the ill-equipped marshals. The race was not stopped and no fire vehicles were sent to the scene. Despite Purley's efforts (for which he was later awarded a George Medal) Williamson died in the flames. Peterson continued to lead until the 63rd lap when gearbox trouble dropped him behind Stewart and Cevert. The Lotus soon retired and so Hunt came through to finish third behind the two Tyrrells. Revson was fourth with Beltoise fifth and Van Lennep sixth.
POS | NO | DRIVER | ENTRANT | LAPS | TIME/RETIREMENT | QUAL POS |
1 | 5 | Jackie Stewart | Tyrrell-Cosworth 006 | 72 | 1h39m12.450s | 2 |
2 | 6 | Francois Cevert | Tyrrell-Cosworth 006 | 72 | 1h39m28.280s | 3 |
3 | 27 | James Hunt | March-Cosworth 731 | 72 | 1h40m15.460s | 7 |
4 | 8 | Peter Revson | McLaren-Cosworth M23 | 72 | 1h40m21.580s | 6 |
5 | 20 | Jean-Pierre Beltoise | BRM P160E | 72 | 1h40m25.820s | 9 |
6 | 26 | Gijs van Lennep | Iso Marlboro-Cosworth IR | 70 | 20 | |
7 | 24 | Carlos Pace | Surtees-Cosworth TS14A | 69 | 8 | |
8 | 19 | Clay Regazzoni | BRM P160E | 68 | 12 | |
9 | 25 | Howden Ganley | Iso Marlboro-Cosworth IR | 68 | 15 | |
10 | 16 | George Follmer | Shadow-Cosworth DN1 | 67 | 22 | |
11r | 2 | Ronnie Peterson | Lotus-Cosworth 72E | 66 | Gearbox | 1 |
nc | 12 | Graham Hill | Shadow-Cosworth DN1 | 56 | 17 | |
r | 23 | Mike Hailwood | Surtees-Cosworth TS14A | 52 | Electrics | 24 |
r | 21 | Niki Lauda | BRM P160E | 51 | Fuel Pump | 11 |
r | 7 | Denny Hulme | McLaren-Cosworth M23 | 31 | Engine | 4 |
r | 11 | Wilson Fittipaldi | Brabham-Cosworth BT42 | 27 | Accident | 13 |
r | 22 | Chris Amon | Tecno PA123 | 22 | Fuel Pressure | 19 |
r | 10 | Carlos Reutemann | Brabham-Cosworth BT42 | 9 | Tire | 5 |
r | 18 | David Purley | March-Cosworth 731 | 8 | Stopped To Help Williamson | 21 |
r | 14 | Roger Williamson | March-Cosworth 731 | 7 | Fatal Accident | 18 |
r | 15 | Mike Beuttler | March-Cosworth 731 | 2 | Electrics | 23 |
r | 1 | Emerson Fittipaldi | Lotus-Cosworth 72E | 2 | Driver Discomfort | 16 |
r | 17 | Jackie Oliver | Shadow-Cosworth DN1 | 1 | Throttle Jammed/ Accident | 10 |
ns | 28 | Rikky von Opel | Ensign-Cosworth N173 | Suspension | 14 |