American driver Peter Revson was killed aged 35 during practice at the Kyalami circuit in South Africa, driving a Ford powered Shadow DN3. He was the second Revson to lose his life racing; his brother Douglas was killed in a crash in Denmark in 1967. Revson won two grands prix. "There was an obvious failure in the car," Graham Hill said. "It went straight into the barrier at about 120mph and burst into flames. At the time Peter was pretty much alone on the track. Emerson Fittipaldi and I were ahead of him." Hill added he pulled up where the car was and "by that time the race crew were there with extinguishers. We picked up the front end of the car to get Peter out." Revson died on the way to hospital.
1992
The last grand prix took place in Mexico City. It was the second round of that year's championship, and the race was won by Nigel Mansell, who also started from pole. The race also saw Michael Schumacher score his first podium after finishing third in his Benetton Ford. Alex Caffi and Enrico Bertaggia hoped to race for the hapless Andrea Moda team but were awaiting new cars so did not compete.
1998
World Rally champion Colin McRae announced he was considering a move to F1 and had tests arranged with Jackie Stewart's Ford-powered Grand Prix team. "To drive in Formula One is something I have been thinking about for quite some time. If I am competitive in this test then I have to consider what I might be getting into. And if I'm committed, then there's no reason why I couldn't make it." He had already tested for Jordan in 1996. Nothing came of it.
1912
British Racing driver Leslie Johnson was born in Walthamstow. He competed in an ERA at the first British Grand Prix in 1950 and went on to become managing director for ERA, until his death from a heart attack in 1959.
