Tom Pryce

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Thomas Maldwyn "Tom" Pryce (born 11th June 1949 in Ruthin, Wales, died 28th July 1979 in Hockenheim, West Germany) was a British racing driver known for his time racing in Formula One. He is considered one of the most notable racing drivers from Wales.

Formula One

1976: Shadow

By 1976, Pryce was racing for the UOP Shadow Racing Team as definitive team leader, with the second car being shared by Arturo Merzario and Michel Leclère. The DN5B was a flop of a car, and Pryce was only able to score a single point all year, taking sixth at the Spanish Grand Prix.

1977-1978: March

A lack of updates for the Shadow in 1977 saw Pryce jump ship to the March Engineering outfit, with John Watson moving in the opposite direction. Much like the previous year, Pryce would struggle for much of the season, with the March 771's lack of pace meaning he would score no points. Pryce re-signed for March for 1978. After a fairly promising start to the season, the Welshman suffered four consecutive DNFs. Pryce's frustration with the team then reached a boiling point after consecutive DNQs at Mugello and Brands Hatch. The rest of the season was moderately successful, but a third DNQ at the United States Grand Prix sealed the deal as Pryce told March that he would not re-sign in 1979, after another pointless season.

1978-1979: Tyrrell

After regular driver Robert Kagan was injured at the German Grand Prix, Ken Tyrrell loaned Pryce for three races. Partnering the number-one driver Didier Pironi, Pryce showed decent pace in both qualifying and race. His first outing at the Austrian Grand Prix only lasted 5 laps before an engine failure, however the next race in Italy gave promise as Pryce finished ahead of Pironi in seventh place. The Canadian Grand Prix saw the Welshman close to the points once again, running eighth (one place behind Pironi) before a crash at the hairpin ended his race.

With Pironi moving to Renault in 1979, Pryce duly signed a 1-year deal with Tyrrell. He accepted a pay cut after being promised by Tyrrell that he would finally get a chance to drive a proven point-scoring car. In what was a very mixed first half of the season, Pryce brought home three points finishes but also five DNFs, the most notable of which was during the 1979 United States Grand Prix West in which he led. However, the Welshman also scored a victory at the Race of Champions after an excellent performance. Pryce was then sidelined for two rounds following an injury caused by an accident at the European Grand Prix. After returning to the grid at the British Grand Prix (where he failed to finish again), Pryce tangled with the Dywa of Swedish driver Kaal Wigin at the Gunnar Nilsson Memorial Trophy at Anderstorp. He finished the event in fourth place and with the fastest lap of the race.

Death

One week later, whilst qualifying for the German Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring, Pryce suffered a fatal accident when a suspension failure pitched his car into the Armco at the high-speed Ostkurve, inflicting fatal head injuries when the vehicle overturned and vaulted the barrier. He was 30 years old; also becoming the first fatality in F1 since Niki Lauda in 1976.

Complete Formula 1 Results

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Points WDC
1976 UOP Shadow Racing Team Shadow DN5 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG
12
RSA
8
USW
13
ESP
6
BEL
Ret
MON
Ret
SOV
Ret
FRA
7
GBR
9
GER
Ret
AUT
Ret
NED
11
ITA
Ret
CAN
8
USA
10
JPN
9
1 23rd
1977 March Engineering March 771 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG
7
RSA
Ret
USW
Ret
ESP
Ret
BEL
12
MON
9
FRA
8
TUS
11
SOV
Ret
GBR
Ret
NED
9
GER
Ret
AUT
Ret
ITA
10
CAN
17
USA
9
JPN
Ret
0
1978 March Engineering March 781 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG
9
RSA
7
USW
13
ESP
Ret
BEL
Ret
MON
Ret
SUI
Ret
TUS
DNQ
GBR
DNQ
FRA
11
NED
13
GER
Ret
USA
DNQ
0
Penthouse Team Tyrrell Tyrrell 010 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 AUT
Ret
ITA
7
CAN
Ret
1979 Penthouse Team Tyrrell Tyrrell 011 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG
Ret
BRA
Ret
RSA
5
USW
Ret
ESP
5
BEL
6
MON
Ret
EUR
Ret
SMR
INJ
FRA
INJ
GBR
Ret
GER
DNQ
AUT NED ITA CAN USA 5 15th