Roger Williamson

ROGER WILLIAMSON d1973. British Formula 1 driver for March. After his Formula One debut at the 1973 British Grand Prix, his second appearance was at the 1973 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. On his eighth lap, a suspected tyre failure caused his car to flip upside down and catch fire. Williamson had not been seriously injured by the impact, but was trapped under the car which was quickly engulfed in flames. The track marshals were both poorly trained and badly equipped and did not assist him. Another driver, David Purley upon witnessing the crash of his personal friend, abandoned his own race and pulled over in a desperate and valiant attempt to rescue him. He ran across the track to Williamson's car and tried to turn it upright. When no-one came to help, he crossed the track and returned with a fire extinguisher. He emptied it on the car and signaled for others to help. Purley's efforts to turn the car upright and extinguish the flames were in vain as he received no help from nearby track marshals or emergency workers who merely stood idly by and looked on. In spite of attempts to encourage them and other passing drivers nobody came to his aid. By the time the first fire engine arrived and the fire was extinguished, Roger Williamson had already sadly died aged just 25 of asphyxiation. David Purley was later awarded the George Medal for his bravery. On the 30th anniversary of that fateful day, a bronze statue of Williamson was unveiled at Donington Park Leicestershire. Then-owner Tom Wheatcroft had provided the financial backing to Williamson for F1 and described the day he died as "the saddest day of his life".