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Wolfgang von Trips#Death

{{short description|German racing driver (1928–1961)}}

{{use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}

{{Infobox person

| honorific_prefix = Reichsgraf

| name = Wolfgang von Trips

| image = Wolfgang von Trips in 1957.JPG

| caption = Von Trips at the 1957 Argentine Grand Prix

| birth_name = Wolfgang Alexander Albert Eduard Maximilian Reichsgraf Berghe von Trips

| birth_date = {{birth date|1928|5|4|df=y}}

| birth_place = Cologne, Rhineland, Prussia, Germany

| death_date = {{death date and age|1961|9|10|1928|5|4|df=y}}

| death_place = Monza, Italy

| death_cause = Injuries sustained at the 1961 Italian Grand Prix

| module = {{Infobox F1 driver|embed=yes

| nationality = {{flagicon|FRG}} West German

| Years = {{F1|1956}}–{{F1|1961}}

| Team(s) = Ferrari, Porsche, Centro Sud

| Races = 29 (27 starts)

| Championships = 0

| Wins = 2

| Podiums = 6

| Points = 56

| Poles = 1

| Fastest laps = 0

| First race = 1956 German Grand Prix

| First win = 1961 Dutch Grand Prix

| Last win = 1961 British Grand Prix

| Last race = 1961 Italian Grand Prix

}}

| module2 = {{Infobox Le Mans driver|embed=yes

| Years = {{24hLM|1956}}, {{24hLM|1958}}–{{24hLM|1961}}

| Team(s) = Porsche, Ferrari

| Best Finish = 5th ({{24hLM|1956}})

| Class Wins = 1 ({{24hLM|1956}})

}}

}}

Wolfgang Alexander Albert Eduard Maximilian Reichsgraf Berghe von Trips ({{IPA|de|ˈvɔlfɡaŋ fɔn tʁɪps|-|De-Wolfgang von Trips.ogg}}; 4 May 1928 – 10 September 1961), also known as Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips,{{efn|In German, Graf is a titular "Count".}} was a German racing driver, who competed in Formula One from {{F1|1956}} to {{F1|1961}}. Nicknamed "Taffy",{{efn|Von Trips was given the nickname Taffy by Mike Hawthorn, for reasons that have been lost throughout history.{{cite web|url=https://www.grandprix.com/gpe/drv-vonwol.html|title=Wolfgang von Trips|website=Grandprix.com|access-date=17 October 2024}}}} von Trips was posthumously runner-up in the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in {{F1|1961}} with Ferrari, and won two Grands Prix across six seasons.

Born in Cologne and raised in Kerpen, von Trips was born into a noble Rhineland family as an aristocrat and count of the Free State of Prussia. After struggling with agriculture, von Trips moved into motor racing. He made his Formula One debut at the 1956 Italian Grand Prix with Ferrari, failing to qualify. Von Trips made further appearances for Ferrari in {{F1|1957}} at the Argentine, Monaco and Italian Grands Prix, scoring his maiden podium at the latter. He made regular appearances with the team in {{F1|1958}}, taking another podium at the {{F1GP|1958|French}}. Von Trips made two appearances for Porsche in {{F1|1959}} before returning to Ferrari at the season-ending {{F1GP|1959|United States}}, with whom he scored regular points finishes throughout his {{F1|1960}} campaign, finishing seventh in the championship.

Whilst leading the 1961 World Drivers' Championship, having taken his maiden victories at the Dutch and British Grands Prix, von Trips died as a result of an accident during the {{F1GP|1961|Italian}} at Monza. After a collision with Jim Clark, von Trips lost control of his Ferrari 156, fatally wounding himself and 15 spectators as his car went airborne. Ferrari withdrew from the remaining {{F1GP|1961|United States}}—having already won the World Constructors' Championship—with teammate Phil Hill taking the title by one point to von Trips.

Early life and family

The son of a noble Rhineland family,{{Cite news |date=1961-09-11 |title=Von Trips, 11 Monza Fans Killed; Hill Wins |work=Los Angeles Times |pages=C1 |issn=0458-3035}} von Trips was born in Cologne, in the Rhine Province, which at the time was part of the Free State of Prussia during the years of the Weimar Republic. He was an aristocrat and count.{{cite web |date=2014 |title=Wolfgang 'Tappy' von Trips (1928–1961) |url=https://www.uniquecarsandparts.com/race_drivers_wolfgang_von_trips.htm |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Unique Cars and Parts}} Regarding personal names, Graf is a German title, translated as Count, not a first or middle name; the feminine form is Gräfin. Von Trips grew up in a Romantic-moated castle in Horrem (now a district of Kerpen), Cologne. The inheritance of his parents, the castle, and the agricultural and fruit-growing possessions weighted heavily on the young von Trips, who one day had to take sole responsibility for all these lands. From 1951 onwards, he struggled to train to become a qualified farmer as his true passion was racing.{{Cite web |date=2007 |title=Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips – Zwischen Rittergut und Rennstrecke |trans-title=Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips – Between the Manor and the Race Track |url=https://german-documentaries.de/en_en/films/wolfgang-graf-berghe-von-trips-zwischen-ri.6165 |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=German Documentaries |language=de}}

Formula One and sports car driver career

File:Wolfgang von Trips.jpg, Germany]]

Von Trips had diabetes during his career and he always had high sugar snacks during the races to compensate for his low blood sugar levels.{{Cite web |last=Scroggs |first=Jennings R. |date=2011-05-04 |title=Morning Qualifying – Wednesday with Wolfgang Edition |url=https://hooniverse.com/morning-qualifying-wednesday-with-wolfgang-edition/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Hooniverse}}{{Cite web |last=Grolleman |first=Jaap |date=2015-04-09 |title=Driver Spotlight: Wolfgang von Trips |url=http://jaapgrolleman.com/driver-spotlight-wolfgang-von-trips/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Jaap Grolleman}} Von Trips participated in 29 Formula One World Championship Grand Prix races, debuting on 2 September 1956. He won two races, secured one pole position, achieved six podiums, and scored a total of 56 championship points.{{cite book|last=Small|first=Steve|title=Grand Prix Who's Who|chapter=Wolfgang von Trips|url=https://archive.org/details/grandprixwhoswho0000smal|year=2000|edition=Third|publisher=Travel Publishing|location=Reading, Berkshire|pages=592–593|access-date=2024-02-14|isbn=978-1-902007-46-5|url-access=registration|via=Internet Archive}}{{cite web|title=Wolfgang von Trips|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/drivers/wolfgang-von-trips/|magazine=Motor Sport|access-date=2024-02-14|date=2014|via=Motor Sport Database}}{{Cite web |title=Wolfgang von Trips Statistics and Results |url=https://motorsportstats.com/driver/Wolfgang%20von%20Trips |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Motorsport Stats|date=2021}} Friends and fellow draws gave him the "Taffy" nickname.{{cite web |last=Lynch |first=Steven |date=2010-06-04 |title=The unexplained mystery of 'Taffy' von Trips – Ask Steven |url=http://en.espn.co.uk/f1/motorsport/story/19236.html |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=ESPN UK}}

Von Trips sustained a concussion when he spun off track at the Nürburgring during trial runs for a sports car race held in May 1957. His Ferrari was destroyed. It was the only one of its marque to be entered in the Gran Turismo car class of larger than 1600 cc.{{cite news |date=1957-05-26 |title=German Driver Injured In Sports Car Trials |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1957/05/26/archives/german-driver-injured-in-sports-car-trials.html |access-date=2024-02-14 |work=The New York Times |pages=S3 |via=New York Times Article Archive |issn=0362-4331}} Von Trips was forced out of a Royal Automobile Club Grand Prix at Silverstone, in July 1958, when his Ferrari came into the pits on the 60th lap with no oil.{{cite news |date=1958-07-20 |title=Collins' Ferrari Wins Royal Automobile Club's Grand Prix at Silverstone; Moss Forced Out In English Race |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1958/07/20/archives/collins-ferrari-wins-royal-automobile-clubs-grand-prix-at.html |access-date=2024-02-14 |work=The New York Times |pages=S9 |via=New York Times Article Archive |issn=0362-4331}} The following August, he was fifth at Porto in the 1958 Portuguese Grand Prix, which was won by Stirling Moss in a Vanwall. Von Trips completed 49 laps and was one lap behind at the finish. Moss was more than five minutes ahead of Mike Hawthorn, who finished second in a Ferrari.{{cite news |date=1958-08-25 |title=Moss Wins Portugal's Grand Prix |work=The New York Times |pages=A15 |issn=0362-4331}}

File:Von Trips at 1961 Dutch Grand Prix.jpg]]

In July 1960, von Trips was victorious in a Formula Two event in a Ferrari, with a newly introduced engine in the rear. The race was in Stuttgart and was called the Solitude Formula Two Grand Prix. It was a 20-lap event with the winner averaging {{convert|102.21|mph|order=flip|abbr=on}} over {{convert|142|mi|order=flip|abbr=on}}.{{Cite news |date=1960-07-25 |title=Von Trips's Victory In Stuttgart |work=The Times |pages=5 |issn=0140-0460}} He won the Targa Florio, 10-lap {{convert|448|mi|order=flip}} race, in May 1961. Von Trips achieved an average speed of {{convert|64.26|mph|order=flip|abbr=on}} in his Ferrari with Olivier Gendebien of Belgium as his co-driver.{{Cite news |date=1961-05-01 |title=Von Trips Sets Up New Record |work=The Times |pages=4 |issn=0140-0460}} Von Trips and Phil Hill traded the lead at Spa, Belgium, during the 1961 Belgian Grand Prix. Hill led most of the way in front of a crowd of 100,000 people. Ferraris captured the first four places at the race conclusion with von Trips finishing second. The Formula One World Championship driver competition at this juncture in 1961 was led by Hill with 19 points followed by von Trips with 18.{{cite news |date=1961-06-19 |title=Hill Captures Belgium Prix; Ginther Third |work=Los Angeles Times |pages=C5 |issn=0458-3035}}

In 1961, von Trips established a go-kart race track in Kerpen, Germany. The track was later leased by Rolf Schumacher, whose sons, Michael and Ralf, made their first laps there. In the words of a 2007 German documentary film about von Trips, "If he had won then, he would have become as famous as Michael Schumacher later was – it would have been a kind of second miracle in Bern!"

Death

The 1961 Italian Grand Prix on 10 September saw von Trips tightly locked in the battle for the Formula One World Drivers' Championship that year with his American teammate Phil Hill. On the second lap of the race at Monza, his Ferrari collided with Jim Clark's Lotus on the long straight before Parabolica, approaching what is now Curva Alboreto; he had made contact with Clark while he was trying to overtake him, which caused him to lose control of his car and went straight into the crowd at high speed.{{Cite web |last=Arkkukangas |first=Juha |date=2016-09-23 |title=Accident of Wolfgang Von Trips at Monza, 1961 |url=https://www.carthrottle.com/post/w8zmv32 |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=CarThrottle}} His car became airborne and crashed into a side barrier, fatally throwing von Trips from the car, and killing fifteen spectators.{{Cite magazine |date=October 1961 |title=1961 Italian Grand Prix race report: von Trips suffers fatal accident whilst Hill wins title |url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/october-1961/44/xxxii-italian-grand-prix/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |magazine=Motor Sport |issue=44}}{{cite web |date=2005 |title=Albino Albertini |url=http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=612 |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Motorsport Memorial}}{{Cite web |last=Collantine |first=Keith |date=2011-09-09 |title=50 years ago today: F1's worst tragedy at Monza |url=https://www.racefans.net/2011/09/10/1961-italian-grand-prix/ |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=RaceFans}} Von Trips died before reaching hospital.{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Richard |date=2011-09-05 |title=When motor racing really was a matter of life and death |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2011/sep/05/motor-racing-deaths-monza |access-date=2024-02-14 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}} The toll of the accident remains the worst in the history of Formula One.{{Cite web |date=2022 |title=1961 Italian Grand Prix – The Crash Photos Database |url=https://www.the-fastlane.co.uk/cpdb/crashphotos_view.php?page=view&editid1=216 |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=The Fastlane |archive-date=16 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216181414/https://www.the-fastlane.co.uk/cpdb/crashphotos_view.php?page=view&editid1=216 |url-status=dead }} As a result of the accident, the FIA banned Formula One from competing on circuits with steeply-banked corners.{{Cite web |last=King |first=Ryan Erik |date=2023-09-26 |title=These Are The Worst Crashes In Motorsports History − 1961 Italian Grand Prix |url=https://jalopnik.com/these-are-the-worst-crashes-in-motorsports-history-1850872767 |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=Jalopnik}}

Clark and his car were subjected to an investigation;{{Cite web |last=Schneider |first=Jürgen |date=2021-09-10 |title=On the death of Count Trips: Clark mechanic recounts |url=https://www.speedweek.com/amp/formel1/news/181330/Zum-Tod-von-Graf-Trips-Clark-Mechaniker-erzaehlt.html?lang=en |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=Speedweek.com}} he was initially accused of manslaughter, before the charges were dropped.{{Cite web |date=2011-09-10 |title=L'ultima corsa di Wolfgang von Trips |url=https://www.ilpost.it/2011/09/10/incidente-von-trips-monza-1961/ |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=Il Post |language=it}} At the time, Clark described the accident by saying: "Von Trips and I were racing along the straightaway and were nearing one of the banked curves, the one on the southern end. We were about 100 metres from the beginning of the curve. Von Trips was running close to the inside of the track. I was closely following him, keeping near the outside. At one point von Trips shifted sideways so that my front wheels collided with his back wheels. It was the fatal moment. Von Trips's car spun twice and went into the guardrail along the inside of the track. Then it bounced back, struck my own car and bounced down into the crowd." Movie footage of the crash that surfaced after the race showed that Clark's memory of the incident was inaccurate; after colliding with Clark, von Trips's car rode directly up an embankment on the outside of the track and struck a fence behind which spectators were closely packed.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP69nWsGtpY |title=Wolfgang von Trip's Fatal Crash at Monza (graphic) |date=2009-06-30 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/cP69nWsGtpY |archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live |via=YouTube |people=@RacingCrashes}}{{cbignore}} At the time of his death, von Trips was leading the Formula One World Championship.{{cite web |date=2006 |title=Taffy The Story of Count Graf Berghe von Trips |url=http://www.research-racing.de/Trips-gb.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320095831/http://www.research-racing.de/Trips-gb.htm |archive-date=20 March 2012 |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=Research Racing}} He had previous incidents at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, where he crashed cars in the 1956 Italian Grand Prix and the 1958 Italian Grand Prix, and was injured in both events.

Racing record

=Complete Formula One World Championship results=

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"

! Year

! Entrant

! Chassis

! Engine

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! WDC

! Points

{{F1|1956}}

! Scuderia Ferrari

! Lancia-Ferrari D50

! Ferrari V8

| ARG

| MON

| 500

| BEL

| FRA

| GBR

| GER

|style="background:#ffffff;"| ITA
{{small|DNS}}

|

|

|

! NC

! 0

rowspan=2| {{F1|1957}}

!rowspan=2| Scuderia Ferrari

! Lancia-Ferrari D50A

!rowspan=2| Ferrari V8

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ARG
6 *

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

!rowspan=2| 14th

!rowspan=2| 4

Ferrari 801

|

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MON
Ret †

| 500

| FRA

| GBR

| GER

| PES

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| ITA
{{small|3}}

|

|

|

{{F1|1958}}

! Scuderia Ferrari

! Ferrari Dino 246

! Ferrari V6

| ARG

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MON
{{small|Ret}}

| NED

| 500

| BEL

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| FRA
{{small|3}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| GBR
{{small|Ret}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| GER
{{small|4}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| POR
{{small|5}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ITA
{{small|Ret}}

| MOR

! 12th

! 9

rowspan=2| {{F1|1959}}

! Dr Ing hcf Porsche KG

! Porsche 718 F2

! Porsche Flat-4

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MON
{{small|Ret}}

| 500

| NED

| FRA

| GBR

|style="background:#ffffff;"| GER
{{small|DNS}}

| POR

| ITA

|

|

|

!rowspan=2| NC

!rowspan=2| 0

Scuderia Ferrari

! Ferrari Dino 246

! Ferrari V6

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| USA
{{small|6}}

|

|

rowspan=3| {{F1|1960}}

!rowspan=2| Scuderia Ferrari

! Ferrari Dino 246

!rowspan=2| Ferrari V6

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ARG
{{small|5}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MON
{{small|8}}

| 500

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NED
{{small|5}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BEL
{{small|Ret}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| FRA
{{small|11}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| GBR
{{small|6}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| POR
{{small|4}}

|

|

|

!rowspan=3| 7th

!rowspan=3| 10

Ferrari 246P F2

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ITA
{{small|5}}

|

|

Scuderia Centro Sud

! Cooper T51

! Maserati
Straight-4

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| USA
{{small|9}}

|

{{F1|1961}}

! Scuderia Ferrari

! Ferrari 156

! Ferrari V6

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MON
{{small|4}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| NED
{{small|1}}

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| BEL
{{small|2}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| FRA
{{small|Ret}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| GBR
{{small|1}}

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| GER
{{small|2}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ITA
{{small|Ret}}

| USA

|

|

|

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2nd

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 33

colspan="17"|{{center|{{small|Sources:}}}}

:* Indicates shared drive with Cesare Perdisa and Peter Collins

:† Indicates shared drive with Mike Hawthorn{{cite web|title=All championship race entries, by Wolfgang von Trips|url=https://www.chicanef1.com/query.pl?action=Submit&exact=on&driver=Wolfgang%20von%20Trips&nc=nc|website=ChicaneF1|date=1997|access-date=2024-02-14}}

=Formula One Non-Championship results=

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position)

(Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"

! Year

! Entrant

! Chassis

! Engine

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! 19

! 20

! 21

1957

! Scuderia Ferrari

! Lancia D50

! Lancia V8

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| BUE
{{small|8}}

| SYR

| PAU

| GLV

| NAP

| RMS

| CAE

| INT

| MOD

| MOR

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

1961

! Scuderia Ferrari

! Ferrari 156

! Ferrari V6

| LOM

| GLV

| PAU

| BRX

| VIE

| AIN

| SYR

| NAP

| LON

| SIL

| SOL
DNA

| KAN

| DAN

| MOD

| FLG

| OUL

| LEW

| VAL

| RAN

| NAT

| RSA

colspan="25"|{{center|{{small|Sources:{{cite web|title=Wolfgang von Trips – Involvement Non World Championship|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/wolfgang-von-trips/engagementhc.aspx|website=Stats F1|date=2010|access-date=2024-02-14}}}}}}

=24 Hours of Le Mans results=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
Year

! Team

! Co-Driver(s)

! Car

! Class

! Laps

! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Overall Position}}

! {{Tooltip|Class
Pos.|Class Position}}

1956

|align="left"| {{flagicon|DEU}} Porscke KG

|align="left"| {{flagicon|DEU}} Richard von Frankenberg

|align="left"| Porsche 550A Coupe

| S 1.5

| 282

| 5th

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

1958

|align="left"| {{flagicon|ITA}} Scuderia Ferrari

|align="left"| {{flagicon|DEU}} Wolfgang Seidel

|align="left"| Ferrari 250 TR/58

| S 3.0

| 101

| DNF

| DNF

1959

|align="left"| {{flagicon|DEU}} Porscke KG

|align="left"| {{flagicon|SWE}} Jo Bonnier

|align="left"| Porsche 718 RSK

| S 2.0

| 182

| DNF

| DNF

1960

|align="left"| {{flagicon|ITA}} Scuderia Ferrari

|align="left"| {{flagicon|USA}} Phil Hill

|align="left"| Ferrari 250 TR59/60

| S 3.0

| 22

| DNF

| DNF

1961

|align="left"| {{flagicon|ITA}} SEFAC Ferrari

|align="left"| {{flagicon|USA}} Richie Ginther

|align="left"| Ferrari 246 SP

| S 2.5

| 231

| DNF

| DNF

Notes

{{notelist}}

See also

References

{{reflist|30em}}

Further reading

{{refbegin}}

  • {{cite book|last=Cannell|first=Michael|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bVw7AQAAQBAJ|title=The Limit: Life and Death on the 1961 Grand Prix Circuit|date=2011|publisher=Twelve (Grand Central Publishing)|location=New York|isbn=978-0-4465-5472-5|access-date=2024-02-14|via=Google Books}}

{{refend}}

External links

  • [http://www.onlinefilm.org/-/film/21970 Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips zwischen Rittergut und Rennstrecke] – 2007 German documentary film C. Cay Wesnigk

{{s-start}}

{{succession box|title=Formula One fatal accidents|before=Giulio Cabianca|after=Ricardo Rodríguez|years=10 September 1961}}

{{s-ach|aw}}

{{succession box|before=Georg Thoma|title=German Sportsman of the Year|years=1961|after=Gerhard Hetz}}

{{s-end}}

{{Formula One drivers from Germany}}

{{Scuderia Ferrari}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trips, Wolfgang Von}}

Category:1928 births

Category:1961 deaths

Category:24 Hours of Le Mans drivers

Category:Counts in Germany

Category:Ferrari Formula One drivers

Category:Filmed deaths in motorsport

Category:Formula One race winners

Category:German Formula One drivers

Category:German racing drivers

Category:Porsche Formula One drivers

Category:Racing drivers who died while racing

Category:Scuderia Centro Sud Formula One drivers

Category:Sport deaths in Italy

Category:Sportspeople from Cologne

Category:Racing drivers from Cologne (region)

Category:Sportspeople from the Rhine Province

Category:Waldorf school alumni

Category:World Sportscar Championship drivers