1973 Canadian Grand Prix

The 1973 Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport Park, near Toronto, started on a soaking wet track. Above, Jody Scheckter’s McLaren M23, unusually carrying number 0, leads Niki Lauda’s BRM P160, Carlos Reutemann’s Brabham EIT42, Emerson Fittipaldi’s Lotus 72, eventual winner Peter Revson’s McLaren M23, Jackie Stewart’s Tyrrell, Denny Hulme’s McLaren M23 and the rest of the field shrouded in spray on the opening lap. Jackie Oliver drove the UOP Shadow (right) much faster than usual, being particularly quick in the wet, and finally finished third after leading the race at one point. Chris Amon had his first taste of Cosworth V8 power since his days in the March works team back in 1970, being allocated the third Elf Tyrrell which had originally been intended for Patrick Depailler before the Frenchman broke his leg in a motorcycle scrambling accident.

Firestone wet weather tyres and a smooth V12 BRM motor helped Niki Lauda to build up a lead of nearly half a minute by the time twenty laps of the Canadian Grand Prix had been completed (above), but as the track dried out the Austrian had to make a couple of pit stops for tyres. The two pictures on the left of this page show Tim Schenken, deputising for van Lennep in the second ‘soMarlboro, leading the sole Ferrari of Arturo Merzario (which has lost its nose section), while Ronnie Peterson’s Lotus leads Lauda and Scheckter just before the BRM went past into the lead (lower). On the right Emerson Fittipaldi stays ahead of Ganley’s Iso-Marlboro, Lauda, James Hunt’s March 731, Mike Hai’wood’s Surtees TS14 and Revson.