Jochen Rindt - Austrian sportscar driver: biography, personal life, accident

The sports sky has lit many stars around the world. Some have come a long way, others have not had time to break out, have completed their flight ... But their impetuosity and talent are still remembered with admiration and warmth. It was to this category of celebrities that Jochen Rindt, the legendary Formula One racing driver, How did it all begin and what turn was it fatal for him?

Difficult childhood

Today is unlikely to find a fan of "Formula 1", who would not have heard this name - Jochen Rindt. His biography begins on April 18, 1942 in the beautiful city of Mainz (Germany). Careful parents, a united, strong family and a promising future - what else could one desire? However, the tale ended, as soon as Jochenu was one year old. As a result of military bombings, his parents were killed, and the boy had to move to his grandparents on the maternal line in Graz (Austria).

As time passed, Jochenu's life here seemed boring and unpromising. In a private school, where he studied, there were constant problems. The guy lagged behind in studies, he was attracted by speed and thrill. Saved on pocket money, he at 17 bought his first motorcycle and drove it before the official receipt of rights. An accidental attack on the teacher led to the arrest and expulsion of Jochen from the college. He regarded it as a sign to move further in the other direction. Therefore, the young man with a calm heart threw everything and went to England.

Becoming a Racer

When Rindt turned 22, he bought "Brabham" for 4 thousand pounds and began to try his hand at "Formula 2" among professionals. What was the surprise of the experts when the young racing driver outscored champion Graham Hill! The next day, the whole of Britain started talking about a rising star.

However, hardly having subdued "Формулу-2", Йохен Риндт has reflected on higher purposes. His ambitions and talent, of course, required more speed and new heights, so he soon received a prize contract in Formula One.

New level

At the beginning of his career, the Austrian racing driver won the public's love thanks to his masterful aerobatics, sense of humor and personal charm. Only his racing cars lagged behind. However, work in the team of engineer Colin Chapman in many ways solved this problem. Although it is impossible not to note the paradoxical nature of this union. Jochen Rindt pursued only high speed. He was alien to constant checking of aerodynamics and subtlety of settings. Certainly, such disdain irritated Chapman, but the pilot had an obvious talent. It was simply unthinkable to let the star out of the team.

Designed specifically for Jochen, "Lotus 72" became the most powerful car for a young rider and entered the history of "Formula 1". It was on it that Rindt won four Grand Prix of Great Britain, France, Germany and Holland. The Italian Grand Prix proved fatal for the Austrian pilot.

Personal qualities

According to contemporaries, Jochen possessed literally all the set of qualities necessary for an absolute winner. He was fearless, he was able to deftly maneuver at corners, he had strategic thinking that helped him to make quick decisions, to cheat and thus overtake his rivals. Jochen Rindt quickly grasped everything. Racing for him was a true passion, a source of self-expression. He did not chase after the money, like many of his colleagues. Although the amounts from participation and victories were rather large. Perhaps all this helped him to reach the highest level. But such a fast-paced nature did not always have a good transport. Even the legendary "Lotus 72" could not fully satisfy his requests. His ambitions and pressure proved to be stronger than technology.

Achievements

Jochen Rindt for his short but bright career has reached heights, to which many other talented racing drivers have gone for quite some time, overcoming various difficulties. For six years of professional sports, he won six personal victories, 10 times occupied pole positions, earned 109 points and became a one-time world champion.

Personal life

On the success personal life did not lag behind the career of Jochen. Being already a star of "Formula-2", he married the Finnish model and the daughter of the famous racer Kurt Lincoln - Nina. Soon they had a beautiful daughter Natasha. The family openly demonstrated their love and harmony. Nina accompanied her husband literally at all races: test and official.

For some time the perspective model remained in the shadow of her husband's glory. While Jochen Rindt was shining on the winner's podium, his wife was engaged in building a house, raising a child and insisting on ending the career of a racing driver. She did not approve of this speed and desperation of her husband and asked to be more responsible towards the family. The Italian Grand Prix was to be the final competition in the career of Jochen.

After the tragedy, Nina's shoulders were laden with male and female responsibilities. She rarely gave interviews to the press, especially if the topic concerned the death of her husband. However, a subtle flair and a sense of style still brought her fame, turning it into a real style icon.

Accident

It's hard to imagine what heights Jochen Rindt could achieve with his talent. The accident ended his life. This accident is still for professional racers an example of that any risk and excessive thirst for victory have their price.

It happened on September 5, 1970 during training sessions before the Grand Prix in Italy, at the circuit of the city of Monza. Jochen slightly lagged behind his rivals on the "Ferrari" - Jacqui Iks and Clay Regazzoni, so I was looking for a way to recoup the previous stages of "Formula 1". Rindt took the risk and persuaded the engineers from his team to remove the wings from the "Lotus", in order to reduce the air resistance and win an additional few seconds of time. The calculation was accurate for Jochen, although engineers were cautious about this idea.

The race started, everything went fine. However, at the last turn of the parabolic form ("Parabolic") on the "Lotus" braking, Jochen was torn from the trajectory and incurred to the barrier fence. The collision was inevitable, the car flew apart. The Austrian driver was immediately evacuated from the car and taken to the hospital. But he was already dead. As it turned out, the safety belt at maneuvers and collision cut Rindt's throat.

Interesting Facts

• Team Colin Chapman included riders only from the UK. Jochen Rindt became the first Austrian in its composition.
• In 1970, the first race of "Formula 1" did not bring Jochen points. To increase his chances of leadership, he went on a trick. His main rival was Jack Brabham. The race was in Monte Carlo. Almost before the finish, Jochen caught up with him and made him make a mistake at the turn, which was what won the time. Jack crashed into the barrier and finished 20 seconds later.
• Jochen Rindt has never used a seat belt, believing that he is preventing pilots. However, on a fateful day, he first did otherwise, which was one of the reasons for his death.
• Jochen had two close friend-racer - Bruce McClaren and Pierce Caridge. Both with a difference of three weeks died in the test races a few months before the death of Rindt. Despite such loss and foreshadowing, the Austrian driver still decided to continue his participation in the "Formula-1". As Jochen himself said, he did not know how much he had left, he only tried his best.
• The Austrian idol was Wolfgang von Trips - an outstanding racer, a pilot of "Ferrari". Coincidence or not, but Jochen Rindt died at the same turn as Tripps nine years before.
• Jochen became the first racing driver who received the world champion award posthumously. The trophy was given to his widow - Nina Rindt.