Wolfgang von Trips facts for kids
Von Trips (centre) at the 1957 Argentine Grand Prix
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| Born | 4 May 1928 Cologne, Rhineland, Prussia, Germany |
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| Died | 10 September 1961 (aged 33) Monza, Italy |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  West German |
| Active years | 1956 – 1961 |
| Teams | Ferrari, Porsche, Scuderia Centro Sud |
| Entries | 29 (27 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 2 |
| Podiums | 6 |
| Career points | 56 |
| Pole positions | 1 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1956 British Grand Prix |
| First win | 1961 Dutch Grand Prix |
| Last win | 1961 British Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1961 Italian Grand Prix |
Wolfgang Alexander Albert Eduard Maximilian Reichsgraf Berghe von Trips (4 May 1928 – 10 September 1961) was a German racing driver. Friends and fellow racers called him "Taffy". He came from a noble family in the Rhineland region of Germany.
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Early Life and Family Background
Wolfgang von Trips was born in Cologne, Germany. His family was part of the nobility, meaning they had a special, high social rank. The word Graf in his name is a German title, like "Count" in English. It's not a first or middle name.
He grew up in a beautiful old castle with a moat in Horrem, near Cologne. This castle and the lands around it were his family's inheritance. Wolfgang was expected to take care of these lands one day. But his real dream was to become a racing driver. Even though he trained to be a farmer from 1951, his heart was set on racing.
Formula One and Sports Car Racing Career
Wolfgang von Trips was a talented driver in Formula One, which is the highest class of international auto racing. He raced in 29 Grand Prix events, starting his first race on September 2, 1956. He won two races, got one pole position (starting first on the grid), and finished on the podium (top three) six times. He earned a total of 56 championship points.
Interestingly, von Trips had diabetes. This meant he always carried high-sugar snacks during races. These snacks helped him keep his blood sugar levels stable.
In May 1957, he had an accident at the Nürburgring track. His Ferrari car was badly damaged, but he only suffered a concussion. Later, in July 1958, he had to stop racing at Silverstone because his Ferrari ran out of oil. In August that year, he finished fifth at the 1958 Portuguese Grand Prix.
In July 1960, von Trips won a Formula Two race in Stuttgart, Germany. He drove a Ferrari with a new engine placed at the back of the car. In May 1961, he also won the Targa Florio, a long 448-mile race, with his co-driver Olivier Gendebien.
During the 1961 Belgian Grand Prix, von Trips and his teammate Phil Hill were battling for the lead. Ferraris took the top four spots in that race, with von Trips finishing second. At this point in 1961, von Trips was very close to leading the Formula One World Championship.
In 1961, Wolfgang von Trips started a go-kart track in Kerpen, Germany. Years later, a family named Schumacher leased the track. Their sons, Michael and Ralf, learned to race there and later became famous Formula One drivers themselves. Many people believe that if von Trips had won the championship in 1961, he would have been as famous as Michael Schumacher.
Tragic Accident and Legacy
The 1961 Italian Grand Prix on September 10 was a very sad day. Wolfgang von Trips was fighting for the Formula One World Championship against his teammate. On the second lap of the race at Monza, his Ferrari car crashed. It collided with Jim Clark's Lotus car. Von Trips lost control, and his car went off the track and into the crowd of spectators.
The car became airborne and hit a barrier. Wolfgang von Trips was thrown from the car and died before he could reach the hospital. Sadly, fifteen spectators also died in the accident. This remains the worst accident in Formula One history in terms of lives lost. Because of this tragedy, the FIA (the governing body for motorsports) decided to ban Formula One races from tracks with steeply-banked corners like the one at Monza.
Jim Clark, the other driver involved, was investigated, but no charges were filed against him. At the time of his death, Wolfgang von Trips was leading the Formula One World Championship. He had been involved in other crashes at the Monza track in previous years, but none were as devastating as this one.
See also
- La Passione (1996 film)
