With most of the world’s motorsport on pause, we delve into a glance at some of the sport’s archives to find the best bits that have occurred from yesteryear in this week of racing.
May 4 (1969) – Bruce McLaren finishes runners up in the Spanish Grand Prix driving his McLaren-Ford (main image). However, the kiwi would ultimately finish two-laps down on eventual race winner Jackie Stewart. The race remains one of only two Grands Prix were the leader has finished two-laps ahead of his nearest rival.
Chris Amon looked all-but set to claim his maiden GP victory, establishing a 30-second lead over Stewart by half-race distance. Unfortunately, the engine on his Ferrari would seize on lap 56, ending his race in one which only seven cars were classified at the chequered flag.
May 5 (1979) – Dr. Hans Liebold pilots a Mercedes C111 to a one-lap closed course speed record of 403.8 km/hr at Nardo, Italy.
May 6 (2018) – Hayden Paddon seals a dominant ENEOS International Rally of Whangarei victory by more than seven minutes in his Hyundai i20 AP4+ with co-driver Malcolm Peden. Despite changeable conditions, Paddon was strong all weekend and was never headed from the opening stage. It would be the Geraldine driver’s fourth Whangarei victory and his first since 2010.
May 6 (2018) – Scott McLaughlin charges from 19th to first in the second race of the Perth SuperSprint. After a early pitstop gave the Penske driver track position, coupled by a fortunate safety car intervention, McLaughlin was then able to fend off a resilient David Reynolds in the closing laps to claim a memorable fifth victory of the season.
May 8 (1983) – Gilles Villeneuve dies in an accident during practice before the Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder. Villeneuve claimed six Grands Prix wins in his shortened career. He would be the last handpicked racing driver by Enzo Ferrari for his Italian team before his own passing in 1988.
May 10 (1996) – Dutch-American driver Arie Luyendyk turns a lap of 239.260 mph (385.0 kph) during practice for the Indianapolis 500. It stands as the fastest unofficial lap record as practice laps are not recorded.
