Carlos Reutemann has died

The last battle of Charles Reutemann against failing health was interrupted on July 7. At 79, the former pilot of Formula 1 died after battling several episodes of intestinal bleeding suffered in early May, a death confirmed by his daughter Cora.

The native of Santa Fe, a city of 400 inhabitants located in the north-east of Argentina, grew up at a time when the imprint of Juan Manuel Fangio's four coronations was extremely strong in the imagination of the South American nation.

Inevitably, Carlos Reutemann followed in the footsteps of his illustrious model by starting competition through the number 1 discipline in this region: Tourism. Contested in the middle of the city in the province of Cordoba or on roads connecting several urban areas, the Tourism races allow “El Lole” to stand out.

At the age of 23, a first victory at Villa Carlos Paz was followed by a national coronation in 1966 and 1967. Once again, he followed the example of Juan Manuel Fangio by traveling to Europe with the Automovil Club Argentino (ACA) in order to find a place in Formula 2.

Barely established by Brabham in F1, he landed a nice contract as an official Ferrari driver in Sport-Proto in 1973. Associated with Tim Schencken, he was a revelation with the 312 PB. In the lead at the halfway point 24 Hours of Le Mans, his mount gave up after a broken connecting rod.

In F1, Carlos Reutemann is happier. On pole from his first official start in front. his team in Buenos Aires (a feat only imitated by Mario Andretti in 1968 and Jacques Villeneuve in 1996), he had to wait until 1974 to combine speed and regularity. That year, he opened his victory counter at Kyalami (South Africa) and closed the year in third place.

Recruited again by Enzo Ferrari, this time to compensate for Niki Lauda who was seriously burned on the Nordschleife in 1976, Carlos Reutemann was confirmed for the next two years. Beaten by his illustrious Austrian colleague in 1977, the Argentinian reacted in 1978 with four victories but could do nothing against Mario Andretti's revolutionary ground-effect Lotus 79.

Attracted by the trappings of Colin Chapman's team, he crossed the Channel in 1979. Unfortunately, disappointment awaited him at Hethel and the Lotus 80 was unrecognizable. Disillusioned, Carlos Reutemann heads to Williams, where two eventful years await him.

If we had to choose only one season in the middle of his 146 Grands Prix, the 1981 campaign represents the ideal choice. From the second round in pouring rain in Jacarepagua (Brazil), he did not give in to Frank Williams' instructions and stayed ahead of his teammate Alan Jones to win. The latter, angry, will not appear on the podium.

The atmosphere is deleterious but Carlos Reutemann stays the course. Five times on the podium in as many meetings, he seems to be in an ideal position to put an end to the title drought which is hitting his country. However, the young Nelson Piquet (Brabham) is gaining momentum and will steal the laurels during the final on the unworthy Las Vegas circuit.

Morally broken by Williams who hardly supported him after this failure, Carlos Reutemann gave up after two races in 1982.

Curious by nature, we will see it shine on its rally nationally twice. In 1980, the Fiat 131 Abarth took him to third place on the podium, behind Walter Röhrl (Fiat) and Hannu Mikkola (Mercedes). Five years later, he tried his hand at Group B with the complicity of Peugeot and Jean Todt.

On a 205 Turbo 16, he impressed the audience by keeping pace with the best. A special victory in SS 20 (Calamuchita, 25,53 km) secures a new podium, third just 31″ behind the winners, Salonon-Harjanne (Peugeot).

Returning to politics at the end of this decade, he again achieved success, this time electorally. Governor of Santa Fe twice (1991-95, 1999-2003), he became senator on September 7, 2003.

Member of the Peronist Justicialist Party, Carlos Reutemann then supported future President Mauricio Macri in 2015. Recovered after liver cancer in 2017, Carlos Reutemann voted against the bill on voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion) a year later late. His last media outing concerned the idea of ​​a wealth tax, an initiative of which he posed himself as an opponent.

Since May 5, Carlos Reutemann had been placed in intensive care, first in Santa Fe, then in Rosario, where several episodes of intestinal hemorrhage were diagnosed.

All AUTO editorial staffhebdo sends its sincere condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Carlos Reutemann.