Video: Didier Pironi’s tragic death – Remembering the true 1982 F1 World Champion. On 23rd August 1987, Didier Pironi lost his life in a powerboat accident.

On 23rd August 1987, French racing driver Didier Joseph Louis Pironi lost his life in a powerboat accident, while taking part in the Needles Trophy Race around the Isle of Wight (Great Britain).

Born in Villecresnes (France) on 26th March 1952, Didier Pironi took part in 70 Formula 1 Grands Prix, winning three of them. Out of 25 races driving for Scuderia Ferrari, he won two, both in 1982: the San Marino Grand Prix has passed into motor sport legend because of his duel with team-mate Gilles Villeneuve, while the other victory came in the Dutch Grand Prix. In Hockenheim, when he had a clear lead in the Drivers’ championship, the Frenchman had an accident when he collided with the Renault of fellow countryman Alain Prost during qualifying. Didier suffered such severe injuries to his legs that he would never return to the race track. However, his love of speed meant that, after a long period of rehabilitation, he turned his attention to powerboat racing, a passion he shared with Gilles, and also reached a high standard. “In these races, he went to meet his destiny,” wrote Enzo Ferrari in “Piloti, che gente.” A few months after his death, his partner Catherine gave birth to twins, whom she named Gilles and Didier…

Although he missed four of 16 races in 1982, Didier Pironi lost the championship title that season for just five points from Keke Rosberg. At the German Grand Prix in 1982, Pironi’s team-mate Patrick Tambay won for the first time in his career, second finished Rene Arnoux in Renault, and the third Keke Rosberg in Williams.