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A1-Ring
Speilburg Austria
Set amid the glory of the Styrian mountains in middle Austria, the
A1-Ring enjoys the most stunning backdrop in Formula 1. It's just a shame that the new circuit doesn't match the views.
Dis-proportionate success
Austria has produced two great World Champions in Jochen Rindt and Niki Lauda, plus one of the most enduring stars of the past decade in Gerhard Berger. Austria also has one of the fastest and most
spectacular circuits, and it played host to the Austrian Grand Prix from 1970 to 1987 before the race was dropped from the schedule.
An ugly beginning
The first Austrian Grand Prix was held at the Zeltweg airfield in 1964. Bandini's Ferrari survived mechanical carnage to win. It wasn't popular and never hosted another Grand Prix. In 1970, the race returned to a new venue: the Osterreichring. Rindt was the crowd's darling, but the race was won by Ickx's Ferrari.
Maiden winners
A tradition that the race would produce an unusual winner began in 1971 when Siffert won for BRM. But the strangest race was in 1975, when veteran Brambilla was in front when the wet race was curtailed, before crashing into the barriers on the slowing-down lap.
Penske's mixed fortunes
Sadly, American Mark Donohue succumbed to injuries sustained when he crashed his Penske March that morning, and a chicane was built to slow the cars. Penske gained revenge in 1976 when Watson scored his first (and Penske's only) win, while in 1977 Jones scored his maiden win - and Shadow's only success. Then, in 1982, the race saw one of the closest finishes ever when de Angelis just held off Rosberg. More
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