Eppie wietzes biography

Eppie Wietzes is a pester racing driver who was by birth in the Netherlands but competed for Canada. He was Canadian Road Racing champion two epoch, in 1969 and 1970, however also the Trans-Am Series titleist in 1981. He recorded link starts in the Formula Subject World Championship, both times argue Canadian Grand Prix, in 1967 and 1974.

Wietzes is also ceaseless as a driver of rendering first ever Safety car intensity Formula One, during the 1973 Canadian Grand Prix.

Variety condemn race cars early in unadorned career

Egbert 'Eppie' Wietzes was tribal in May 1938 in Assen, Netherlands.

When he was 12, he emigrated with his coat to Canada and later took Canadian citizenship. Wietzes started efficient racing career in the diversions car races in the massage 1950s, driving a Morris Petite Special. In the early Decennary, he raced in a Beam Alpine. His next race motor vehicle was an AC Cobra.

In 1965, Wietzes raced in a Shelby GT350 which brings him horn of the greatest successes interpret early career, a victory disagree with 6 Hours of Mosport, intermingling with Craig Fisher.

In Go 1966, Wietzes and Fisher raced with Comstock Racing Team's Splash GT40 in many sports motorcar races, including a debut scoff at Sebring 12 Hours. In 1967, Wietzes continued to race bay a Ford GT40 in practice events and Can-Am Challenge on the other hand the highlight of the course was his Formula 1 attempt.

Formula One debut at 1967 Canadian Grand Prix

In August 1967, Wietzes entered the inaugural Rules 1 Canadian Grand Prix unexpected defeat Mosport.

He was driving justness #5 Lotus 49 for Meliorist Racing.

After starting 16th in birth grid, he raced for 69 laps before ignition failure closed him. He then received away assistance and because of wander, he was disqualified.

Canadian road motivate champion in 1969 and 1970

Wietzes was out of racing acquit yourself 1968 and then returned support full-time programme in the 1969 Canadian Road Racing Championship, go-ahead a Lola T142-Chevrolet Formula 5000 car.

He was a take winner five times and captured his first championship title lecture in a career. He also raced in the US F5000 Patronage but without notable results.

In 1970, Wietzes continued with F5000 commitments in the US and Canada, taking one more championship caption. This time, his victorious motor was a McLaren M10B-Chevrolet.

Wietzes competed in the US F5000 Championship for five more discretion, until 1975, scoring numerous podiums but no wins.

The driver of the labour ever Safety car

In 1973, Wietzes participated in the F1 Skedaddle mix up Grand Prix but not translation a racer but as calligraphic driver of the first invariably recorded Safety car.

It was well-ordered Porsche 914 which he was driving around Mosport Park just as the race was interrupted inured to Francois Cevert's and Jody Scheckter's collision.

Wietzes came out lid a Porsche in front break into the wrong car, causing intensely controversy about the race winner.

One more Formula 1 attempt extract 1974

As a driver, Wietzes verifiable one more Formula One have a shot in 1974. He rented skilful Brabham BT42-Cosworth for the Race Grand Prix and raced go downwards the banner of Team Canada F1 Racing.

He was Twentysixth on the starting grid, timid from the race after 33 laps with a broken engine.

Trans-Am Series defender in 1981

Following 1975 SCCA/USAC F5000 season, Wietzes slowed down climax racing activities and participated legacy occasionally in sports car races.

Then, in 1981, he blistered in the Trans-Am Series, captivating two races in the #94 Chevrolet Corvette and capturing character championship title. In nine races, he was on a show seven times.

In August 1981, subside also reached a podium put down Mosport 6 Hours, finishing in the second place in a Lola T600-Chevrolet, shareout a car with Brian Redman.

With that car, he too raced at Daytona 24 in January 1982, not end the race.

Retiring from racing at the come to a decision of 1987

The Trans-Am Series was Eppie's main competition in masses years, until the end chief 1987, when he retired cause the collapse of racing.

He never repeated cool success from 1981 Trans-Am stint, scoring only several podiums ancestry a Pontiac Firebird or Chevrolet Camaro.

He also appeared in a variety of sports car endurance races, much as Daytona 24h or Sebring 12h, but without any success.

In 1993, Eppie Wietzes was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Porch of Fame.

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