Roger Williamson Fire, Zandvoort, 29 July 1973
A Pictorial Record From Film And TV Footage
Roger Williamson, driving a March 731 in his second Formula One race at the Dutch GP at Zandvoort, suffered a tire, front suspension, or steering failure on the bump at Tunnel Oost. He crashed into a barrier, was thrown high into the air, landed back on the road upside down, and slid across the track, rupturing a fuel tank in the process.
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After Graham Hill (Shadow DN1) goes past, David Purley ditches his March 731 and runs across the track. | He skips over some accident debris and runs to Williamson | (Note the point of impact from Williamson’s car on the track)Another car is passing by |
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Purley urgently gestures to the marshals to come and help | He tries to right Williamson’s car. | But sadly, it’s beyond his strength alone. |
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A marshal arrives at the scene with a fire extinguisher. Purley snatches it from him | Purley struggles to get the extinguisher to work. | Finally he manages to get it working |
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Purley sprays it all around the car, while a marshal kicks sand on to the fire. | With little success, and the extinguisher runs out.Another car is passing by | Purley throws his hands up in despair and begs for help.And another car is passing by |
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None is forthcomingTwo more cars are passing by | A marshal gingerly leads Purley away from the scene, and is angrily shrugged off. | Utterly dejected, Purley walks to the other side of the track |
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Someone offers him commiseration, but he doesn’t want to hear it. | A frustrated Purley walks up and down wondering what to do next.Another car is passing by | Ronnie Peterson (Lotus 72) blasts past the accident scene without lifting or changing his line. |
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Jackie Stewart and Francois Cevert (both Tyrrell 006) are more circumspect. Purley waves to try and get them to stop. They don’t. | The track’s fire engine finally arrives, having done a very slow lap of the circuit.And another car is passing by | The firemen finally get to work. |
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Several seconds later, the fire is put out, while the distraught Purley (3rd from left) watches | Williamson’s car is put back on its wheels. Purley now knows for certain the driver is dead. | A blanket is thrown over the burnt out wreck with Williamson still inside, and the race carries on.Another two cars are passing by |
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Jackie Stewart pulls into the pits after taking the chequered flag. Manager Ken Tyrrell informs him of Williamson’s death. I wonder if he is surprised! No lap of honour. Quiet presentation. | The podium ceremony. Cevert (left) and Stewart (centre) are clearly muted, while 3rd-placed James Hunt (right) is clearly distressed, but anyway, they didn’t stop to help David Purley! |
The Aftermath
A fire began to take hold and Williamson was unable to extricate himself. Fellow driver and friend David Purley, although not a teammate of Williamson’s, abandoned his own race in a desperate and valiant attempt to rescue him. Williamson had not been seriously injured by the impact, and was heard shouting to Purley to get him out of the car as Purley tried in vain to turn the car upright.
The fire marshals stationed at the corner where the accident occurred were both poorly trained and badly equipped, and it was left to Purley to snatch the sole fire extinguisher and attempt to put out the fire. The marshals, who were not wearing flame-retardant overalls, stood by as Purley tackled the fire, awaiting the arrival of the fire truck, which had to navigate across the track while the race was still in progress. There appeared to have been ample time to right the car and pull Williamson out, but as desperately as he tried, Purley was unable to do it alone, and the marshals, in shirts and jackets, were unable to help due to the intense heat. With the fire extinguisher emptied and the car still burning upside down, the situation became hopeless, and the distraught Purley was led away by a marshal. Some spectators, appalled at Williamson’s plight, tried to breach the safety fences to help Purley, but were pushed back by track security staff with dogs. It was approximately eight minutes before the first fire truck arrived at the scene. By the time the car was eventually righted and the fire extinguished, Williamson had died of asphyxiation.
A blanket was thrown over the burnt-out wreck with Williamson still inside, and the race carried on.
Legacy
Photographs taken by Cor Mooij of David Purley’s reaction were awarded the World Press Photo for sports in 1974. Purley was awarded the George Medal for his actions in trying to save Williamson. In 2003, on the 30th anniversary of his fatal crash, a bronze statue of Roger Williamson was unveiled at the Donington Park circuit in Leicestershire, England. Then-owner Tom Wheatcroft had provided financial backing to Williamson, and described the day Williamson died as the saddest day of his life.