Gianclaudio Giuseppe “Clay” Regazzoni was a Swiss racing driver who competed in Formula One (F1) during the 1970s. He is often regarded as one of the forgotten legends of F1, despite being a highly talented driver with a string of impressive performances and achievements. Born on September 5, 1939, in Lugano, Switzerland, Regazzoni began his racing career in 1963 in the Swiss Hillclimb Championship. He quickly showed his potential as a driver, winning his class in his first year of competition. He then moved to circuit racing, competing in various events across Europe before making his F1 debut in 1970. Regazzoni’s F1 career started with Ferrari, where he achieved his first win in the 1970 Italian Grand Prix.
He finished second in the championship in 1971, behind his teammate Jackie Ickx, and won two more races in 1972. He left Ferrari at the end of the 1972 season to join BRM, where he achieved his best result in the championship, finishing third in 1974.
In 1975, Regazzoni returned to Ferrari and won the first race of the season in Argentina. He then went on to win again in Germany and the United States, finishing second in the championship behind Niki Lauda. He continued to race with Ferrari until 1977, winning a total of five races for the team.
Regazzoni then moved to the Ensign team for the 1978 season, where he achieved his final F1 victory in the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. He retired from F1 at the end of the 1980 season, having competed in a total of 132 races and achieved five wins, 28 podiums, and two pole positions.
Apart from his F1 career, Regazzoni also competed in sports car racing and achieved notable success. In 1976, he won the prestigious 24 Hours of Daytona, driving a Ferrari with co-driver Jacky Ickx. In 1978, Regazzoni competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving a Renault-Alpine A442B alongside co-drivers Jean-Pierre Jaussaud and Didier Pironi. They won the race, completing a total of 369 laps. Regazzoni also competed in the race in 1970, 1971, and 1973, but did not finish on the podium in any of those years.
Clay Regazzoni Driving Alpine A442B in Le Mans 1978
Regazzoni’s life after racing was tragically cut short when he was paralyzed in a crash while competing in the Truck Grand Prix in Germany in 1980.
Despite being confined to a wheelchair, he remained involved in motorsport as a commentator and team manager.
Regazzoni’s contribution to F1 and motorsport, in general, is often overlooked, but his achievements and talent as a driver deserve recognition. He was a fierce competitor, known for his aggressive driving style and his ability to push his car to the limit, often achieving remarkable results despite difficult conditions.
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