Gunnar nilsson racing driver

His best achievement was winning the 1977 belgian grand prix. He recorded 31 starts in formula one grand prix races, driving for lotus in 1976 and 1977. Gunnar nilsson gunnar axel arvid nilsson 20 november 1948 20 october 1978 was a swedish racing driver. Kevin ayres walks us through the sadly curtailed career of gunnar nilsson, and the legacy he left behind. Gunnar nilsson leading alex ribeiro during the formula three race at the 1975 british grand prix. It was a significant loss to everyone within the formula one community, however, sweden and the f1 fraternity lost another talented driver. Gunnar nilsson memorial trophy posted in tnfs archive. This category has the following 2 subcategories, out of 2 total. Formed a successful drivers school in america and also designed and built a successful training racing car for use at the school. Gunnar nilsson racing career profile driver database.

For 1978, he signed for arrows, but was never well enough to drive the. There is a cruel irony in the life of gunnar nilsson. A driver who preferred literary clubs, rather than frivolous parties. Gunnar nilsson didnt match the image of gascon and playboy driver, anything other than track and models, of which the late 70s formula one, a sort of film set. For 1978, he signed for arrows, but was never well enough to drive the car. The fia would not sanction the event and because of this there could not be a proper race. Sweden was gripped by formula 1 fever during the mid 1970s heady on the success enjoyed by the original superswede ronnie peterson. I am looking for some pics of this event and for the result of that formula one race held at donington park. Gunnar nilsson remembered, by mario andretti motorsport retro. The name gunnar means fighter, soldier, and attacker, but mostly is referred to by the viking saying which means brave and bold warrior gunnr war and arr warrior.

I was told that and an english magazine made an article about this event but i never find it. He graduated to formula 1 with high hopes but despite 2 grand prix starts the most for any american and nine podium finishes, he never would win. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes. Among the many were george harrison, who recorded a single faster with all proceeds going to the gunnar nilsson cancer foundation. Died of cancer when at the peak of his very decent career.

Click on the number of races to see individual races for that year. Dec 04, 2019 on the box below you will find gunnar 197677 f1 motor racing driver. And sir jackie stewart helped with a cameo in the video. Gunnar was a free spirit, a really nice individual who was easy to be friends with. Gunnar nilsson born 20th november, 1948 in helsingborg, sweden, died 20th october, 1978 in hammersmith, london, england was a swedish racing driver known for his appearances in formula one and his untimely death from cancer in late 1978. Who better to get thoughts and memories from than one of racings legends, mario andretti, teammate to gunnar at lotus. When countryman gunnar nilsson graduated to racings elite in 1976 a golden age seemed assured. Click on the year to see the standings for that year. Driver gunnar nilsson career statistics racingreference. Our staff already solved all todays mirror quiz daily crossword clues and the answer for gunnar 1976. Nilsson s illness stopped the sport seeing just how good gunnar could. Spark models s74 143 1976 lotus 77 gunnar nilsson p3.

A cancer ward is still named in his memory as he founded the gunnar nilsson cancer foundation whilst gravely ill. Swedens motor racing scene in 1972 gained much publicity through the exploits of ronnie peterson and reine wisell and, suddenly, nilsson knew that he too wanted to be a racing driver. Gunnar nilsson including brabham test pic merged the. Normally one would describe a swede as blond hair, blue eyes and being as temperamental as say, a barn owl. Esports fantasy daily fantasy f1 play f1 2020 f1 mobile racing f1 manager. He won once, the 1977 belgian grand prix at zolder while driving for team lotus. Gunnar was the first international racing driver i ever met along with his teammate alex ribeiro in 75. Sweden was gripped by formula 1 fever during the mid 1970s heady on the success enjoyed by the. Gunnar nilsson was a professional from 1976 to 1977. On the box below you will find gunnar 197677 f1 motor racing driver.

He has since won the indianapolis 500 and been a successful. Before entering formula one, he won the 1975 british formula 3 championship nilsson entered 32 formula one grand prix races, qualifying for all of them. Detailed karting statistics not covered by driver database. Mario andretti, hans stuck, nelson piquet, alan jones and numerous other famous names compete in an event held in honour of f1 driver gunnar nilsson. Gunnar axel arvid nilsson 20 november 1948 20 october 1978 was a swedish racing driver.

Gunnar nilsson was a racing driver from sweden who won the british formula 3 championship before entering the formula 1 world championship. This was supposed to be a full nonchampionship race for the benefit of the gunnar nilsson cancer fund. King gunnar was a prominent king of medieval literature such as the middle high german epic poem, the nibelungenlied, where king gunnar. Spare a thought today for gunnar nilsson, who succumbed to cancer on this day 25 years ago. Profile for racing driver gunnar nilsson from sweden. Jan 25, 2016 gunnar nilsson born 20 nov 1948 helsingborg. Apr 14, 2011 as a tribute to nilsson in june 1979 there was the gunnar nilsson memorial trophy, a fundraiser for the foundation held at the donington circuit.

View f1 statistics and a f1 career summary of gunnar nilsson, including career stats, yearly summary, stats per grands prix and circuits, and more. Gustav malja racing career profile driver database. Gunnar nilsson grand prix date car race position pts. Gunnar axel arvid nilsson 19481978 find a grave memorial. A total of 5 f1 cars turned up, also seeing a return and final appearance of the brabham fancar and former f1 champion james hunt.

Nilsson was born in sweden though, to be precise in helsingborg in 1948. He raced at a time when formula 1 was still highly dangerous but his life was cut short not by a racing accident but by cancer. He is a twotime winner of the junior world rally championship. Gunnar nilsson november 20, 1948 october 20, 1978 was a swedish formula one driver who competed between 1976 and 1977 before being diagnosed with testicular cancer which soon became terminal. It was 37 years ago that gunnar nilsson scored his one and only grand prix win. But with gunnar nilsson this was slightly different. Hy, does anyone have heard about the gunnar nilsson memorial trophy 3 june 1979 held at donington. Before entering formula one, he won the 1975 british formula. You are here probably looking to find the answer of aviator. Gunnar is a boys name of scandinavian origin meaning bold warrior.

Click on the site to see gunnar nilssons career results at that track glossary. Gunnar nilsson wins grand prix of belgium formula one 1977. Before entering formula one, he won the 1975 british formula three championship. Most of the teams withdrew leaving only 5 f1 cars that actually turned up at the event. A confident and sometimes brash youngster, eddie cheever threatened to take european racing by storm.

Gunnar nilsson won just one grand prix before his tragic death, but, thanks to his courage and character, his memory still lives large among his friends today. Nilsson entered 32 formula one grand prix races, qualifying for all of them. Profile for racing driver eddie cheever from united states. Gunnar nilsson born 20th november, 1948 in helsingborg, sweden, died 20th october, 1978 in hammersmith, london, england was a swedish racing driver known for his appearances in formula one and his untimely death from cancer in late 1978 formula one 19761977. Nilsson s only f1 win came at a rain soaked zolder in 1977 having driven around the outside of niki laudas ferrari with 20 laps to go. He won the 1977 belgian grand prix at zolder while driving for team lotus. But less than three seasons later both were lost to the sport and their country.

Gunnar nilsson remembered, by mario andretti motorsport. See more ideas about lotus f1, formula 1 and racing. He won the 1977 belgian grand prix late beginning of the racing career. Swedish racing driver 1977 belgian grand prix winner. Racing driver 24 hours of le mans winner 1977, 1983, 1994. Oct 28, 2001 spare a thought today for gunnar nilsson, who succumbed to cancer on this day 25 years ago. A lovely, generous man, he kept upbeat despite his illness. The sad story of gunnar nilsson scuderia ferrari club riga. Before entering formula one, he won the 1975 british formula 3 championship. He made himself noticed ever since the minor formula race cars. The lotuscosworth 06 cars of gunnar nilsson and ferrari 11 of niki. Visa fler ideer om bilar, kandisar och saker att kopa.

Click on the site to see gunnar nilsson s career results at that track. Bertil has spent most of his life in the us, as he moved there to race in formula super vee. Gunnar nilsson born 20th november 1948 in helsingborg is a former professional racing driver who competed internationally for sweden. The business flourished and even when he became a fulltime racing driver gunnar continued as a partner in the company. There is so much more to say, and mario andrettis memories will come next. Oct 19, 2018 october 20th marks 40 years since the passing of a swedish f1 driver who could have surpassed the great ronnie peterson. Yet for me it would be a year tinged with great sadness as i, and a great many others, lost a dear friend in gunnar nilsson who, after an all too brief career in motor racing, succumbed to testicular cancer in londons charing cross hospital during the early hours of october 20. Born in helsingborg, on swedens west coast in 1948, nilsson began racing in national events in the late 1960s. Driver gunnar nilsson 1978 iroc results racingreference.

Before entering formula one, he won the 1975 british formula three championship nilsson entered 32 formula one grand prix races, qualifying for all of them. Gunnar nilsson driving the formula atlantic chevron at brands hatch in 1975, a year in which he seemed invincible. Media in category gunnar nilsson racing driver the following 4 files are in this category, out of 4 total. Nilsson spent his whole career at lotus after the cancer affected his. Gunnar is a male first name of nordic origin gunnarr in old norse. Feb 08, 2020 mario andretti, hans stuck, nelson piquet, alan jones and numerous other famous names compete in an event held in honour of f1 driver gunnar nilsson. Jun 04, 2012 it was 37 years ago that gunnar nilsson scored his one and only grand prix win. October 20th marks 40 years since the passing of a swedish f1 driver who could have surpassed the great ronnie peterson.