Helmut Marko

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Helmut Marko
Marko in 1970
Nationality  Flag of Austria Austrian
Formula One World Championship career
Active years 1971-1972
Teams BRM, non-works McLaren
Races 10 (9 starts)
Championships 0
Wins 0
Podium finishes    0
Career points 0
Pole positions 0
Fastest laps 0
First race 1971 German Grand Prix
Last race 1972 French Grand Prix

Dr. Helmut Marko (born April 27, 1943 in Graz) is a former racing driver from Austria.

A friend of Jochen Rindt, he entered racing, and eventually participated in 10 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 15 August 1971. He scored no championship points.

However, he had more success in endurance racing, winning the 1971 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving a Martini-Porsche 917K with Gijs van Lennep. During that year, they set a new overall distance record which is still unbeaten.

Despite being concerned about the lack of safety at the Targa Florio, he drove the fastest laps the mountains of Sicily in order to catch up several minutes, eventually losing by a mere seconds. On 21 May 1972, Helmut Marko set the all-time race lap record of the 720km event in an Alfa Romeo 33 (race car) at 33'41 min, at an average of 128,253 km/h.

A few weeks later on 2 July, during the 1972 French Grand Prix, a stone thrown from the car ahead, due to "cutting the corners" at the Charade Circuit which had no curbs at the time, hit Marko in the eye as his visor got pierced. The injury damaged his eye, leaving him partially blind, ending his racing career.

Marko is also a barrister, and opened two hotels near Graz after his racing career ended. Later, he returned to motor sport to become a manager for Gerhard Berger and Karl Wendlinger, before running his own Formula 3 and Formula 3000 team, RSM Marko. Currently, Marko is in charge of the Red Bull driver training programme.

[edit] Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 WDC Points
1971 Ecurie Bonnier McLaren M7C Cosworth V8 RSA
ESP
MON
NED
FRA
GBR
GER
DNS
- 0
Yardley-BRM BRM P153 BRM V12 AUT
11
ITA
Ret
CAN
12
BRM P160 USA
13
1972 Austria-Marlboro
BRM
BRM P153 BRM V12 ARG
10
RSA
14
ESP
- 0
BRM P153B MON
8
BEL
10
BRM P160B FRA
Ret
GBR
GER
AUT
ITA
CAN
USA


Preceded by
Hans Herrmann
Richard Attwood
Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1971
Helmut Marko
Gijs van Lennep
Succeeded by
Henri Pescarolo
Graham Hill
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