1973 Elite Racing League season
All information on this page is not part of canon.
1973 Elite Racing League season | |
Previous: 1972 | Next: 1974 |
Drivers Champion | Manufacturers Champion |
---|---|
Niki Lauda | Ferrari |
The 1973 Elite Racing League season was the 14th season of the FIA's Formula One motor racing support series (the series would remain a support series until 1997.) The Drivers Championship was won by future F1 legend Niki Lauda who drove for Ferrari for the third and final time, this would also be his last season in the ERL having won all 3 championships in all 3 seasons he participated in. Ferrari won the Constructors Championship after having the most wins of the season compared to Honda who finished 2nd with the same amount of points.
Niki Lauda also made history by becoming the first ever driver to win 3 seasons in a row.
Season Review
Due to a number of fatal accidents during the Formula 1 racing: The United States Grand Prix was moved from Watkins Glen in New York to Sonoma in California from 1974 making this the last ERL race at Watkins Glen.
Teams and Drivers
After a disappointing 1972 season, Jack Brabham's Brabham team cut ties with Ford and left the ERL after a disappointing season and without Ford backing, Brabham couldnt keep both F1 and ERL teams running so he abandoned his ERL project.
In the official ERL rules from 1970 in order for a race to officially be a championship race there needed to be at least 12 drivers on the grid, this rule was changed to 14 as part of the many 1980's regulation changes, it was then changed to a range from 20-22 from 2005 to present.
Mike Hailwood returned after previously racing with BRM until 1964 he joined Denny Hulme at McLaren as the team didnt have enough funds to sign Swedish Formula 1 driver Ronnie Peterson.
South African team Lucky Strike Racing (not to be confused with the Formula 1 sponsor that sponsored Honda in 2006.) debuted following Brabham's withdrawal saying that the ERL can help them develop their F1 car with part time commitments to F1 during this season as well as the full time ERL campaign.
This would be Niki Lauda's last season in the ERL as he would be promoted to Ferrari in Formula 1 for 1974.
Drivers Championship
Constructors Championship
Pos. | Constructor | Points |
---|---|---|
1 | Ferrari | 82 |
2 | Honda | 82 |
3 | McLaren-Ford | 54 |
4 | Lotus-Ford | 45 |
5 | Lucky Strike-Ford | 23 |
6 | BRM | 14 |