Tom Pryce

For the American politician, see Tom Price.

Pryce, 1975 United States Grand Prix

Thomas Maldwyn "Tom" Pryce (11 June 1949 – 5 March 1977) was a British racing driver.

Biography

Memorial in his hometown of Ruthin

Pryce was born in Ruthin, Denbighshire, Wales. He married his wife, Fenella, in 1975. After his death, a memorial was set up in Pryce's hometown.

Pryce won the 1975 Race of Champions, a non-championship Formula One (F1) race. He is the only Welsh driver to win a Formula One race. Besides his F1 win, he was also known for his unusual death at the 1977 South African Grand Prix. He made 42 Formula One World Championship entries between 1974 and 1977. He was a member of the Token team and later the Shadow team.

Death

Pryce died on 5 March 1977 in Midrand, South Africa, at the age of 27. He was competing in the South African Grand Prix. His teammate, Italian Renzo Zorzi retired his car after an engine fire. Two marshals ran across the track to help Zorzi. One of the marshals, Frederik Jansen van Vuuren, however, was hit by Pryce's car. The fire extinguisher van Vuuren was holding hit Pryce's head. Both men died instantly. The event was filmed.

Tom Pryce Media

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  Pryce driving a 1976-specification Shadow DN5 at Brands Hatch

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  The pit straight after The Kink is where Pryce collided with Jansen van Vuuren, and Crowthorne Corner is where Pryce's and Jacques Laffite's cars collided, with Pryce already dead.

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  Pryce on his way to victory at the 1975 Race of Champions

Other websites

• Tom Pryce on GP Encyclopedia