Roland Ratzenberger: forgotten Austrian F1 driver
Another F1 driver that comes to mind that people forgot is Roland Ratzenberger though he died the day before Ayrton Senna though and unfortunately, people forgot about him and is story.
(young photo of Roland Ratzenberger as a child)
Roland Ratzenberger was born on July 4,1960 in Salzburg, Austria. At the age of 7, his grandma took him to a local hill climb race at Gaisberg. As a teen Roland discovered that racers and Formula Ford team owner Walter Lecher was based nearby and while studying at a technical school.
At the age of 18 after he join Lecher, who was at the time opening a racing school nearby from where he was living.
(Roland Ratzenberger and I believe his wife. They were married from 1991 and filled for divorce in 1992)
In winter of 1991, in Monaco after what Adam Cooper described as "a whirlwind courtship", Ratzenberger married the former partner of another driver becoming a stepfather to her son that was from a previous relationship. Their marriage didn't last long as they were divorced in early 1992 not even a year into their marriage.
Roland began racing in Germany Formula Ford in 1983. In '85 won both Austrian and Central European Formula Ford Championship also in '85 he entered the Formula Ford Festival at Brand Hatch in England he would return to it in '86 before entering British Formula 3.
Two years into British Formula 3 yielded two 12th places in the championship with West Surrey Racing and Madgwick Motorsports.
Ratzenberger also race in other car besides single seats. Such as in 1987 in the World Touring Championship, in 1988 and 89 British Formula 3000 series also in 1989 though 1993 racing in the 24 hours Le Mans. In 1990s he began racing primarily in Japan. He won one race in 1990 and 91 Japanese Sports Protype Championship.
Also he returned to touring car racing in the Japanese Touring Car Championship finishing 7th in 1990 and 91, with that pave his way back to Formula 3000 in Japanese Championship in '92 with Stellar team he reminded in the series in 1993 finishing 11th.
Ratzenberger greatly desired to race in F1, especially as his rivals from Formula 3000 had managed to reach the top level while, he didn't. He came very close to getting a seat with Jordan Team for their inaugural season in 1991. But Bertrand Gachot got the seat since Roland lost the financial support of a "major sponsor".
In 1994, Roland achieved his ambition of becoming of a few Austrian F1 driver. In the winter of 1993-94 he signed a five race deal with the new Simtek team.
The San Marino Grand Prix at Imola would have been his third race in Formula 1. On April 30, 1994 the second qualifying session proceeded as normal until the moment of his accident. Early in the session, Ratzenberger went off the track at the Acque Minerali Chicane. With is sponsors in attendance for the first time and halfway through his contract, he decided to carry on after checking the car to the best of his abilities.
Unknown to him the minor incident had damage his front wing after a spin at the Tosa hairpin the previous lap. As he tried to turn into the high down force Villeneuve Corner it broke and became lodged under the car, which crashed into the outside wall at 314.9 km/h (195.7 mph). Ratzenberger was transferred by ambulance to Imola Circuit's médical center, than air ambulance to Maggiore Hospital in Bologna where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Roland suffered three individually injuries fatal injuries: A basilar skull fracture which as the name official cause of death, blunt trauma from the front-left tyre penetrating the survival cell, and a ruptured aorta.
Bernie Ecclestone delivered the confirmation of Ratzenberger's death to the stunned Simtek Team. Grieving Brabham made the decision to compete the race the next day but retired after the 27 lap in honor of Ratzenberger.
At Ratzenberger's funeral only five drivers showed up to his service; Brabham, Herbert, Heniz-Harald Frentzen, Karl Wendlinger and Gerhard Berger also in attendance the FIA president Max Mosley showed up. Ratzenberger was buried in Maxglan in Salzburg.
Ratzenberger being the first
Ratzenberger was the first racer driver to lose his life at a Grand Prix weekend since 1982 season when Riccardo Paletti was killed at the Canadian GP.
Ratzenberger was the first driver to die as a result of a crash in a F1 car since Elio de Angelis during the testing for the 1986 season.
Ratzenberger was the first Austrian driver to die as a result of a crash during qualifying in Formula 1 since Jochen Rindt in the 1970 season.
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