Eppie Wietzes facts for kids
| Born | 28 May 1938 Assen, Netherlands |
|---|---|
| Died | 10 June 2020 (aged 82) Ontario, Canada |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  Canadian |
| Active years | 1967, 1974 |
| Teams | Lotus, non-works Brabham |
| Entries | 2 |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1967 Canadian Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1974 Canadian Grand Prix |
Egbert "Eppie" Wietzes (born May 28, 1938 – died June 10, 2020) was a professional racing driver from Canada. He was known for his career in different types of racing, including Formula One.
Contents
Formula One Racing Career
Eppie Wietzes was born in Assen, Netherlands. When he was 12 years old, his family moved to Canada. He later became a racing driver.
Early Formula One Races
Eppie took part in two Formula One World Championship races. His first race was on August 27, 1967. This was the very first Canadian Grand Prix held at Mosport.
During this race, his car had an electrical problem. He had to stop racing on lap 69. He was later disqualified because he received help from outside the race track.
His second Formula One race was the 1974 Canadian Grand Prix. For this race, he used a rented Brabham BT42 car. Sadly, his car again had a problem, this time with its gears, and he had to stop. Eppie Wietzes did not score any championship points in Formula One.
Other Racing Successes
Even though his Formula One career was short, Eppie Wietzes had a lot of success in other racing series. He did very well in the F5000 class. He also won the 1981 Trans-Am Series. This was a big achievement in his racing career.
In 1993, Eppie Wietzes was honored for his contributions to racing. He was added to the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame. This means he is recognized as one of the best in Canadian motorsport history.
The First Formula One Safety Car Driver
Eppie Wietzes holds a special place in Formula One history. He was the driver of the very first safety car used in a Formula One race.
What is a Safety Car?
A safety car is a special car that comes onto the track during a race. It leads the racing cars at a slower speed. This happens when there is an accident or debris on the track. The safety car helps keep everyone safe until the track is clear.
Driving the Porsche 914
This historic moment happened during the 1973 Canadian Grand Prix. There was a crash involving two drivers, François Cevert and Jody Scheckter. Eppie Wietzes drove a Porsche 914 course car onto the track. This marked the first time a safety car was officially used in a Formula One Grand Prix.
See also
In Spanish: Eppie Wietzes para niños
