Howden Ganley tribute PART 3 - F1 and sportscars - two different worlds In 1973 Howden became a ‘works’ Iso Marlboro Williams F1 driver. Using the previous season’s 1972 Williams built Politoys FX3 (Howden refers to these cars as the Williams FW03) in the first three 1973 GP races brought only mid-field placings. For the Spanish GP in April the new Williams FW04, with now compliant deformable structure, was introduced but such was the unreliable nature of the car he failed to finish in Spain, Belgium and Monaco. His best finish in the final seven GP races was to secure a 6th placing at Canadian GP. When not otherwise involved with F1, Howden was also a driver for the 1973 Gulf Racing sponsored Mirage M6 Cosworth DFV V8 cars in the World Sports Car Championship. Teamed with Derek Bell, he scored a 4th place at Watkins Glen, USA, and a 5th place at Zeltweg. In the Spa 1000km in Belgium, Howden was entered to co-drive, as he normally did, with Derek Bell in the #5 Mirage M6. However, Mike Hailwood suffered from fuel burns while driving the second #6 Mirage M6 so Howden took over Mike’s driving duties in this car, and together with Vern Schuppan, they finished 2nd to the Bell/Hailwood #5 Gulf Mirage M6. Ironically, if Howden had driven as planned in his regular place as co-driver with Derek Bell, he would have finished in 1st and 2nd in this race! In 1974 Howden drove briefly for the March F1 team. He completed two GPs and one non-championship race in South America in the March 741 F1. After his brief periods with March F1 Howden moved to the fledging Japanese-owned Maki F1 team. While much was promised, the new Maki F1 was just not ready to be raced. Howden failed to qualify for the British GP at Brands Hatch in July, and then suffered severe ankle and leg injuries two weeks later when a rear suspension rose joint broke at Nurburgring on the first lap of qualifying for the German GP. A long period of convalescence followed, so there was no further racing for Howden in 1974.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 07:30:00 +0000
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