Harald Ertl

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Harald Ertl (born 31st August 1948 in Zell am See, Austria, died 7th April 1982 near Gießen, West Germany) was an Austrian racing driver and motorsport journalist.

Formula One

1976

In 1976, Ertl teamed up with Chris Amon for the British Hesketh Racing team for the whole season.

Neither Ertl or Amon scored points all season, although Ertl took Hesketh's best result all year with a 10th place finish in the Netherlands.

1977

Despite being Hesketh's best driver the previous season, Ertl found himself frozen out - his only option being fledgling part-timers North Star Racing.

Ertl would struggle to make the grid at any of the races in 1977.

Death

On 7th April 1982, Ertl was travelling in a light aircraft piloted by his brother-in-law Dr. Jörg Becker-Hohensee from Mannheim to the family holiday home in Sylt in Northern Germany with his wife, son and niece. Less than a quarter of the way through the intended flight distance engine failure caused the plane to crash near Gießen. Ertl's wife Vera and son Sebastian escaped with injuries but Ertl, Becker-Hohensee and his niece perished. Ertl was 33 years old.