I can't believe F1 still uses those ancient Armco rails for barriers on a modern F1 racetrack, especially when next week they are going to be on this same track, reaching speeds well over 200MPH on the outer layout. Time for SAFER barriers to become the new standard.
Somewhat related after Grosjean's accident: two other times a driver penetrated a guardrail and walked away (!) John Love @ Kyalami 1971 Clay Regazzoni @ Monaco 1968
I'm honestly still in shock on how such fiery crash happened today, a driver was able to go through a guardrail. This is an era where I have been hearing how the FIA goes nuts for safety in F1 and yet this still happened. I thought that potentially fatal crashes were finally a thing of the past, then this happened. Where the halo was the potentially one thing keeping the man from death. Then again, this year started out with me seeing a crash at the Daytona 500 where Ryan Newman was also sent to the hospital after. What I find incredible about those was that they walked away from wrecks in cars that were absolute deathtraps at the time. At least from the limited research I have gotten out of one documentary and a couple of youtube videos. Absolutely insane!
Jackie Stewart sitting in his Tyrell 003 (Clermont-Ferrand, 1972) Nigel Mansell and Gerhard Berger with the Ferrari 640 (1989) Nigel Mansell leads Ayrton Senna and the rest of the pack into Mirabeau (Monaco GP, 1992) Damon Hill (Williams FW18), 1996 Monaco GP Stretching the bounds of this thread somewhat, but it was too odd not to share: Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31), 2012 Monaco GP
Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft The heyday of which, in the 1970s, was run to Group 5 special prototype touring cars.
Monterey Grand Prix (Laguna Seca, 1991) Driver: Mario Andretti ITA/USA Car: Newman-Haas Lola T91/00 (2.65L turbocharged Chevrolet-Ilmor V8) Finished: 3rd
Aldo Andretti standing in for his twin brother Mario during the photoshoot of the front row starters before the 1969 Indianapolis 500. Rest in Peace, Aldo.
Pants must have been really tight to keep the massive testicles from scraping the ground. Insane is a correct term for racing those. Welcome back to Gran Turismo 2.
Some shots from the 1972 Nurburgring 24 Hours: Edit: Walter Rohrl testing the Mercedes 500SL on the Col du Turini 1980:
Great pics. The first pic of the Nordschleife shows Wehrseifen (Defence Valley) with Ex-Muhle (Water Mill) in the background. This is just 2 years after massive circuit renovations in the name of safety after losing the German F1 Grand Prix to Hockenheim. Comparisons with the modern-day circuit show just how much the surrounding vegetation has grown.
It always does really stand out how much more open the are around the Nordschleife looks in older shots. A lot less trees and shrubs obscuring sightlines. That said the forest feel adds a lot of character to the modern Ring.
1992 British Touring Car Championship - Oulton Park Leader: John Cleland SCO 1994 British Touring Car Championship - Snetterton Drivers: Paul Radisich NZL, Gabriele Tarquini ITA