Guy Edwards

30/12/1942

Record updated

Guy Edwards participated in 17 grands prix, debuting on January 13, 1974. He competed in the Aurora Formula One Championship in the UK from 1978 to 1980, scoring several wins. Along with Arturo Merzario, Brett Lunger and Harald Ertl, he was one of the four drivers who saved Niki Lauda from his burning car during the 1976 German Grand Prix.

Guy Richard Goronwy Edwards was born in Macclesfield, Cheshire. He started in karts but put his driving on hold while attending Durham University, graduating with degrees in psychology and geography.

In 1965 Guy was back racing Ford Anglia and Mini saloons.

He switched to single seaters in 1968 with a Formula 3 Lola T60 and the following year entered the international arena in sports cars with backing from ferry operator Tor Line racing a Chevron B8.

For 1970 he secured sponsorship from Dutch home-appliances maker Philips to drive an Astra and a Lola T212. He entered the Lola at Le Mans in 1971 with Philips and Camel support but retired when the DFV engine failed.

In 1972 he finished third in the European 2-litre Sportscar Championship with a Barclays Bank sponsored Lola T290. He drove a Lola T292 in 1973 with a works support. He won twice at the Österreichring and at Clermond-Ferrand. He also tried single seaters again driving a Barclays backed Lola T330-Chevy in F5000, scoring two wins, at Zandvoort and Brands Hatch.

In 1974 he joined Graham Hill's Embassy Lola team. A seventh at Anderstorp and an eighth at Monaco were his best results. Guy also continued in F5000, backed by Embassy cigarettes, taking a win at Mallory Park.

For 1975 Guy concentrated on F5000 while also having a few exploits in 2-litre sportscars. Guy finished third overall in the F5000 Euro Championship.

Guy returned for another shot at Formula One in 1976, racing the Rizla/Penthouse Hesketh 308D on several occasions. In a season with little reward in the way of points, Edwards distinguished himself and was awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal for his part in rescuing Niki Lauda from his burning car at the Nürburgring.

Guy did win the non-championship Oulton Park Gold Cup race that year in a Brabham BT42.

For 1977 Guy raced in the British Group 8 Shellsport Championship, the precursor to the Aurora F1 series. Racing a March 761 he won three races and finished third overall in the final standings. He failed to qualify the Stanley-BRM P207 V12 at the British Grand Prix and made his second start in the 24 hours of Le Mans, retiring his Kremer Porsche 935K2 with a blown engine.

Guy continued in British F1 the following year. Now renamed the Aurora AFX F1 Championship, he drove his old March 761 and also a new March 781S which proved unreliable. He finished a disappointed fourth in the championship. He also raced at Le Mans, this time in the Hesketh 308 based IBEC 308LM. Once again the engine let him down after 19 hours.

1979 saw Guy driving a Fittipaldi F5A in British F1 with continuing sponsorship from Mopar, joined by Ultramar. This car proved equally unreliable and with only one win he finished a lowly fifth in the championship.

He raced an Arrows A1B and a much-modified A1G in 1980. Edwards won two races at Oulton Park and Snetterton and finished third in the championship. At Le Mans he finished 9th sharing a Porsche 935K3 with John Paul Sr and Jr. They also scored a fine second place at Donington Park.

In 1981 saw the end of the Aurora Championship so Guy concentrated on sportscars. He joined the works Lola team driving a Group 6 Lola T600 with Emilio de Villota. A dissapointing 15th at Le Mans was followed by two wins at Enna and Brands Hatch in the WEC.

For 1982 the FIA introduced the fuel restrictions in Group C. Driving a T610 the engine failed in the 6th hour at Le Mans and a seventh at Brands Hatch was the best result all season.

Guy joined John Fitzpatrick Racing in 1983 racing a Porsche 956 with Rupert Keegan taking 5th at Le Mans. For 1984 he stayed with John Fitzpatrick but crashed at Le Mans. Third in the Silverstone 1000kms and another third in the Brands Hatch 1000kms were his best results of the season.

1985 once again saw Guy team up with John Fitzpatrick Racing, for his ninth Le Mans, finishing 4th with David Hobbs and Jo Gartner in a 956.

Guy retired to concentrate on the business side of the sport working as a sponsorship consultant.



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