Died

Wolfgang von Trips

German

  • Cologne, Rhineland, Prussia, Germany Place of Birth
  • 4 May 1928 Date of Birth
  • 1956 British Grand Prix F1 Debut
  • Ferrari Current/Last Team

Nicknamed “Taffy” by Mike Hawthorn, Wolfgang von Trips initially had a reputation for erratic driving. However, in 1961, he reached peak career, winning the Dutch and British Grands Prix and entering the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on the brink of clinching the World Championship. Tragically, he collided with Jim Clark’s Lotus on the second lap, resulting in his death and the deaths of 14 spectators.

NationalityGerman
BornWolfgang Alexander Albert Eduard Maximilian Reichsgraf Berghe von Trips
4 May 1928
Cologne, Rhineland, Prussia, Germany
Died10 September 1961 (aged 33)
Monza, Italy

Wolfgang Alexander Albert Eduard Maximilian Reichsgraf Berghe von Trips was born in Kerpen-Horrem near Cologne, Germany. Known as “Wölfchen” (little wolf) by his parents, the young German Count hailed from a 700-year-old dynasty of knights and grew up in a castle on his family estates near Cologne. Despite a childhood marked by illnesses that made him unfit for military service, von Trips recovered fully and developed a passion for speed, debuting in racing in 1950 on a 500cc BMW motorcycle, though he broke his arm in one race.

Due to his mother’s concerns, von Trips raced under the pseudonym Axel Linther. Despite numerous crashes early in his career, he demonstrated fearless skill, particularly in the mid-fifties with Porsche and Mercedes sports cars.

In 1954, von Trips won the 1300cc class (33rd overall) in the Mille Miglia driving a Porsche 356 Super with Walter Hampel and secured second in the 1600cc class at the ADAC-Eifel-Rennen at Nürburgring. He also finished 5th in the Berlin Sports Car Grand Prix at Avus. The following year, he continued his success in the Mille Miglia, taking second in the GT class before winning the 1300cc class at the ADAC-Eifel-Rennen with a Porsche 356.

In 1956, von Trips won a class at Sebring with Hans Herrmann in a Porsche 550 and took first in the 1500cc class (4th overall) in the 1000Km race at Nürburgring with Umberto Maglioli. He made his Grand Prix debut in the Italian Grand Prix with Ferrari, though a crash in practice revealed a steering issue. He also finished 5th overall at Le Mans, winning the 1500cc class.

In 1957, von Trips drove in three Grands Prix for Ferrari, finishing sixth in Argentina and third in Italy. He had numerous successes in sports cars during this period as well. In 1958, he finished third in the French GP after starting 21st and won the European hill-climb championship in a works Porsche RSK. However, a collision at the Italian GP resulted in a broken leg.

In 1959, von Trips switched to Porsche in the F2 class, experiencing a dramatic crash at Monaco. He was withdrawn from the German GP after Behra’s accident and returned to Ferrari for the American GP, finishing sixth. In sports cars, he secured third at Sebring, won the Berlin Grand Prix, and finished second in the Tourist Trophy at Goodwood.

Returning to Ferrari in 1960, von Trips was a consistent top-ten finisher, with a best result of fourth in Portugal. He also won non-championship races at Syracuse and Solitude for Ferrari and finished second in the F2 German GP for Porsche.

In 1961, von Trips reached top form, winning the Targa Florio with Gendebien and securing victories in the 1961 Dutch and British Grand Prix. Leading the World Championship, he only needed a third place at Monza to clinch the title. Despite securing pole position, he was pressured by Jim Clark in a Lotus on the second lap, resulting in a fatal collision that killed von Trips and 14 spectators.

Rumours circulated that von Trips was scheduled to fly to the USA on the day of his death on a plane that later crashed over Ireland. However, these rumours were proven false, as the flight took off too early for him to have made it. Von Trips had also promoted karting in Germany and opened a kart track in Kerpen in 1961, later leased by Rolf Schumacher, where Michael and Ralf Schumacher began their racing careers.

Wolfgang von Trips Formula One World Championship career

F1 Career1956–1961
TeamsFerrariPorsche, Scuderia Centro Sud
Entries29 (27 starts)
Championships0
Wins2
Podiums6
Career points56
Pole positions1
Fastest laps0
First entry1956 British Grand Prix
First win1961 Dutch Grand Prix
Last win1961 British Grand Prix
Last entry1961 Italian Grand Prix

Wolfgang von Trips Teammates

19 TeammatesInvolvementFirst YearLast Year
Peter Collins919561958
Eugenio Castellotti219561957
Juan Manuel Fangio11956
Luigi Musso619561958
Alfonso de Portago219561957
Mike Hawthorn1019571958
Cesare Perdisa11957
José Froilán González219571960
Maurice Trintignant219571960
Phil Hill1919581961
Olivier Gendebien319581961
José Behra11959
Maria Teresa De Filippis11959
Cliff Allison319591960
Tony Brooks11959
Richie Ginther1019601961
Willy Mairesse419601961
Ian Burgess11960
Ricardo Rodriguez11961

Formula One Record

YearEntrantTeamWDC PointsWDC Pos.Report
1956Scuderia FerrariFerrari0NCReport
1957Scuderia FerrariFerrari414thReport
1958Scuderia FerrariFerrari912thReport
1959Dr Ing hcf Porsche KG
Scuderia Ferrari
Porsche
Ferrari
0NCReport
1960Scuderia Ferrari
Scuderia Centro Sud
Ferrari
CooperMaserati
107thReport
1961Scuderia FerrariFerrari332ndReport

Race Wins

Win NumberGrand Prix
11961 Dutch Grand Prix
21961 British Grand Prix

Complete Formula One results

Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.

YearEntrantChassisEngine1234567891011WDCPoints
1956Scuderia FerrariLanciaFerrari D50Ferrari V8ARGMON500BELFRAGBRGERITA DNSNC0
1957Scuderia FerrariLanciaFerrari D50AFerrari V8ARG 6 *14th4
1957Scuderia FerrariFerrari 801Ferrari V8MON Ret †500FRAGBRGERPESITA 314th4
1958Scuderia FerrariFerrari Dino 246Ferrari V6ARGMON RetNED500BELFRA 3GBR RetGER 4POR 5ITA RetMOR12th9
1959Dr Ing hcf Porsche KGPorsche 718 F2Porsche Flat-4MON Ret500NEDFRAGBRGER DNSPORITANC0
1959Scuderia FerrariFerrari Dino 246Ferrari V6USA 6NC0
1960Scuderia FerrariFerrari Dino 246Ferrari V6ARG 5MON 8500NED 5BEL RetFRA 11GBR 6POR 47th10
Ferrari 246P F2Ferrari V6ITA 57th10
Scuderia Centro SudCooper T51Maserati Straight-4USA 97th10
1961Scuderia FerrariFerrari 156Ferrari V6MON 4NED 1BEL 2FRA RetGBR 1GER 2ITA RetUSA2nd33
*Indicates shared drive with Cesare Perdisa and Peter Collins
† Indicates shared drive with Mike Hawthorn

Sources: Wikipedia.com, fandom.com, statsf1.com and historicracing.com

Teammates

Driver Nationality Current/Last Team F1 Debut Status
British Ferrari 1952 Swiss Grand Prix Died
Argentine Maserati 1950 British Grand Prix Died, F1 Legend
British Ferrari 1952 Belgian Grand Prix Died, F1 Legend
Argentine Ferrari 1950 Monaco Grand Prix Died
American Eagle 1971 Austrian Grand Prix Died, F1 Legend
British BRM 1956 Monaco Grand Prix Died

Teams

Team Nationality Debut Season Status
Ferrari Italian 1950 Current
Porsche German 1961 Historic