Helmuth Koinigg

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Helmuth Koinigg
Nationality  Austrian
Formula One World Championship career
Active years	1974
Teams	Scuderia Finotto, Surtees
Races	3 (2 starts)
Championships	0
Wins	0
Podium finishes	0
Career points	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
First race	1974 Austrian Grand Prix
Last race	1974 United States Grand Prix

Helmuth Koinigg (November 3, 1948 - October 6, 1974) was an Austrian racing driver who died in a crash in the 1974 United States Grand Prix, only his second Grand Prix start.

Koinigg was born in Vienna. He raced in touring cars, Formula Vee and Formula Ford before a period in sports car racing. He subsequently found the finance to buy a seat with Scuderia Finotto driving their Brabham at his home grand prix in 1974, and although he failed to qualify, this led to a contract with Surtees for the last two races of the season.

After a good showing at the 1974 Canadian Grand Prix, Koinigg was beginning to establish himself as a good prospect for 1975. But running near the back in the US Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, disaster struck when, approaching the braking zone for Turn 7, a suspension failure on his car sent it crashing head-on into the outer armco. The speed at which Koinigg crashed was relatively minor, and he ought to have escaped the scene uninjured. Unfortunately, as with a number of other circuits at that time, the armco barrier was insecurely installed and the bottom portion of it buckled as the vehicle struck it. The car passed underneath the top portion, which remained intact, decapitating the luckless driver and killing him instantly.

[edit] Complete Formula One results

(key)

Year	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	Team	WDC	Points
1974	Scuderia Finotto	ARG	BRA	RSA	ESP	BEL	MON	SWE	NED	FRA	GBR	GER	AUT DNQ	ITA	CAN 10	USA Ret	Surtees	-	0

Preceded by Peter Revson

Formula One fatal accidents October 6, 1974

Succeeded by Mark Donohue

[edit] External links

• Koinigg's profile at www.grandprix.com