New puzzle racing rares: A flash in the pan / Formula 1

Our racing rarities puzzle features a driver who was more successful in touring and sports car racing than single-seaters. Who is this? Where and when was this photo taken?

We present a little slice of motorsport history every week, mainly from the archives of our partners at British photo agency LAT. The process is very simple – tell us who you can recognise, where and when the photo was taken (eg: Jo Siffert, Monza, 1970) and with luck you could win a small prize. Please do not forget your name, address, year of birth and telephone number. Send your solution to: mathias.brunner@speedweek.com.
The deadline for entries is midnight on Sunday of the current week.

Last correct solution: Bob Evans drove a Lotus 77-Ford during practice for the USA West Grand Prix at Long Beach in 1976;

Our reference to the lucky pilot refers to the autobiography of Robert Neville Anthony Evans, which the 76-year-old Brit published in February 2024 – “Happy Days, My Life in Racing”.

Evans, who was born in Waddington (Lincolnshire), participated in twelve Grands Prix and never had a good car. In 1975 he was at BRM when the successful racing team went down, with 9th place in Belgium being considered.

At the beginning of 1976 he was an emergency at Lotus – Ronnie Peterson and Mario Andretti had left the team because of a weak car, and Jacky Ickx was also fed up with Lotus.

Evans finished tenth in South Africa, but after failing to qualify at Long Beach, Colin Chapman was out of control, who was happy to give the British riders a chance for now, and stopped immediately.

Evans appeared in the home race at Brands Hatch in a RAM Brabham, but retired due to gearbox damage.

Things went well in the 1978 British Formula 1 series (also known as the Aurora series), where Surtees and Hesketh Evans driver finished second behind Tony Trimmer, after a win at Zandvoort and second places at Thruxton, Brands Hatch, Thruxton again and third place at Donington.

Evans achieved his breakthrough in 1974 with a Lola T332 Chevrolet – European Formula 5000 Champion, ahead of Peter Gethin, Ian Ashley, Teddy Pilette, Lella Lombardi and David Hobbs.

Evans raced sports cars in England until 1986, when he hung up his helmet and started a mural business.

This brings us to a new puzzle: This driver had great success in touring and sports cars, but his involvement in Formula 1 was light on the pan.

Get involved too! Send your solution to: mathias.brunner@speedweek.com. The deadline for entries is midnight on Sunday of the current week.