Jochen Rindt

Karl Jochen Rindt (April 18, 1942 - September 5, 1970) was a racing driver. He posthumously won the Formula One World Drivers Championship in 1970, after being killed in practice for the Italian Grand Prix.

Biography

Jochen Rindt was born in Mainz, Germany, but after his parents were killed in a bombing raid in the Second World War, he moved to live with his grandparents in Graz, Austria, where he grew up and started motor racing.

Related Topics:
Mainz - Germany - Second World War - Graz - Austria

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Despite being very successful in Formula 2 (by winning for instance the 1964 London Trophy), Rindt kept on choosing the wrong F1 cars. Rindt made his Formula One debut for Rob Walker Racing Team in the 1964 Austrian Grand Prix. It was to be his only Grand Prix of the year. From 1965 to 1967, Rindt raced for Cooper Car Company, scoring 32 points in 29 races. In 1968, Rindt raced for Brabham, but Rindt's season wasn't what he had hoped for, due to technical problems.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Finally, in 1969, Rindt moved to Lotus and it was with Lotus that Rindt's career took off. Rindt clinched the first Grand Prix victory of his career in the Grand Prix of the USA in Watkins Glen. Rindt finished that year with 22 points, giving him fourth place in the World Drivers Championship. Rindt's 1970 season started with a dramatic last corner win at Monaco. Thereafter armed with the sensational Lotus 72, Rindt won four more Grands Prix (The Netherlands, France, Great Britain and Germany) that year.

Related Topics:
1969 - Lotus - Watkins Glen

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

During practice for the 1970 Italian Grand Prix in Monza, near Milan, Jochen Rindt lost control of his car upon braking for the Parabolica and darted left, straight into the barriers. He was immediately rushed to hospital, but died on his way to hospital. Because Rindt had won five of that year's ten Grands Prix, his lead in the World Drivers Championship had become unassailable, and Rindt became motor racing's first posthumous World Champion.

Related Topics:
Monza - Milan

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~