Former F1 driver Patrick Tambay dies

The world of French motorsport is in mourning. Patrick Tambay, pilot of Formula 1 between 1977 and 1986 (114 Grands Prix), died at the age of 73 this Sunday, the family confirmed to AUTOhebdo.

Born in Paris in 1949, the Frenchman had competed in the premier category with six different teams, including Ferrari, with whom he won two victories in Germany in 1982 and at Imola in 1983. Called by Maranello (Italy) after the death of Gilles Villeneuve, Tambay was an essential player in the Manufacturers' championship titles obtained by the Scuderia in those years.

In total, Patrick Tambay will have amassed five pole positions, 11 podiums and two fastest laps in the race in addition to his two victories. Victorious in the Volant Elf in 1973, he won the honorary title of vice-champion of F2 two years later.

Weighed down by several retirements the following year, he did not do better than 3rd, and therefore decided to fly to America, where to everyone's surprise he won the Can-Am challenge at the wheel of a Lola T333-CS . A performance which opened the doors to F1 for him in 1977. 

Two victories at Ferrari 

It was with Engine Surtees that the Tricolore began his career in the premier category, before joining McLaren during the following two seasons, and to suffer from the gradual decline of the British team at that time.

In 1981, he spent a season with the French team Ligier, from which he was sacked and where he later felt that he had not been sufficiently supported.

If he left F1 at that time, he was recalled at short notice a few months later after the terrible and tragic accident of Gilles Villeneuve. Enzo Ferrari chose him to replace him and for the first time in his life, Tambay was at the wheel of one of the best cars on the grid.

He achieved his first career success at the 1982 German Grand Prix, the day after the serious accident of his teammate Didier Pironi. Extended by Ferrari in 1983 after his successful interim, Patrick Tambay signed a new victory the following year at Imola following the abandonment of leader Riccardo Patrese, in front of delighted fans.

Patrick Tambay driving the Ferrari 126C3 at the 1983 German Grand Prix / © DPPI

The end of the season is less to his advantage, but Mauro forghieri, technical director at the time who also recently passed away, will say of him that he is  “an intelligent man, with a healthy body and mind” and that it was “a real pleasure to work with such a meticulous guy. ".

It finally bounces back to Renault for two seasons and before finally ending his great career in F1 with Lola in 1986.

During his career, Patrick also participated in four editions of the 24 hours of Le Mans. First with Renault Sport in 1976 and 1977 (two retirements), then in 1981 with Rondeau, before touching the podium eight years later, with Silk Cut Jaguar.

Tambay continued his career in rally-raids (3rd in the Paris-Dakar in 1988 and 89). It was also in 1989 that he placed 8th in the World Sport-Prototype Championship on a Jaguar. We will then see it in IMSA, on the Bugatti EB110 of Gildo Pallanca-Pastor (1995-96) as well as in the Grand-Prix Masters (2005-06).

AUTO editorial staffhebdo, saddened by this news, sends its most sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Patrick Tambay.

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