The 1973 British Grand Prix is remembered for a first-lap multi-car pile-up that ended eleven cars' races and led to Silverstone's Woodcote chicane being added.
Key Facts
- Race date
- 14 July 1973
- Circuit
- Silverstone
- Cars retired in pile-up
- 11 cars
- Winner
- Peter Revson
- Winning margin
- 2.8 seconds
- Race length
- 67 laps
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
On the first lap, Jody Scheckter spun his McLaren across the track at Woodcote Corner, placing other drivers in an unavoidable collision course. The incident eliminated nine cars outright, injured Brabham driver Andrea de Adamich with a broken ankle that ended his Formula One career, and forced officials to stop and restart the race.
The restarted 1973 British Grand Prix ran over the original 67-lap distance with 18 of the 29 original starters. Peter Revson led a four-way battle for victory involving Ronnie Peterson, Denny Hulme, and James Hunt, ultimately taking his first Formula One Grand Prix win by 2.8 seconds over Peterson, while early favourite Jackie Stewart spun off and finished tenth.
The pile-up directly prompted circuit modifications: a chicane was added at Woodcote Corner before the 1975 British Grand Prix, making the 1973 race the last World Championship Formula One event held on Silverstone's original layout. The incident also ended Andrea de Adamich's Formula One career due to injury.