New puzzle: Racing rarities – A Grand Prix, yes; a Formula 1 World Championship race, no

Mostly drawn from the archives of our photography partners XPB and Grand Prix Photo, every week from Tuesday we present a little piece of motorsport history. Tell us who you can recognise (Example: Jo Siffert, Monza, 1970) and join in the guessing game for the honour of it – there’s nothing to be won. Send your answer to: mathias.brunner@speedweek.com. The closing date for entries is midnight on Sunday of the current week.

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Our guide to the new puzzle: This scene took place at a race known as a Grand Prix, but which was not part of the Formula 1 World Championship.

Our clue last time was: Silver failed to shine here in Formula 1, and the driver spent his entire career in the shadows. Pictured is Wilson Fittipaldi’s silver Copersucar racing car at Watkins Glen in 1975. The elder brother of Formula 1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi finished tenth.

Wilson Fittipaldi mit seinem Copersucar in Watkins Glen 1975

Foto: Grand Prix Photo

Sad news from Brazil in February 2024: Wilson Fittipaldi has died, as announced by his family on 23 February. In early January, it emerged that former racing driver Wilson Fittipaldi had suffered a cardiac arrest on 25 December 2023, his 80th birthday, and had to be placed in an induced coma by doctors.

His wife, Rita Reis Fittipaldi, wrote on Instagram: “Dear friends and fans. During Christmas dinner, Wilsinho choked on a piece of meat and subsequently suffered a cardiac arrest.”

“He was resuscitated but is currently intubated and sedated. We are waiting for him to wake up again.” Unfortunately, fate had other plans.

For years, the family had been concerned about Wilson’s health. He had fallen at home in 2020; a brain haemorrhage was diagnosed in hospital and he underwent emergency surgery. Although he was visibly growing weaker, he insisted on attending the 2023 Brazilian Grand Prix, where he met his former Brabham team boss Bernie Ecclestone.

Wilson Fittipaldi Jr. (80), son of a radio reporter of the same name, always lived in the shadow of his younger brother Emerson Fittipaldi (two-time Formula 1 world champion, two-time Indy 500 winner, CART champion).

Wilson raced in Formula 1 from 1972 to 1975 and finished fifth at the Nürburgring in 1973 (his best Grand Prix result).

Wilson’s son, Christian Fittipaldi, competed in Formula 1 from 1992 to 1994, followed by a remarkable IndyCar career (two wins, fifth overall in 1996 and 2002).

The idea of a Formula 1 team built in Brazil and financed by the sugar conglomerate Copersucar was doomed to failure: Brazil was unsuitable as a base, and the cars were rarely competitive. Emerson Fittipaldi moved from McLaren to the home team and wasted five years of his career there.