John Watson

'Wattie' has perhaps not been given the credit that is his due, which may
sound strange when you consider he holds the MBE. But because his successes
in Grand Prix racing were not concentrated into one great spell, his long
and in the main very successful career, which spanned more than twenty
years, tends to be overlooked.

In fact he started racing way back in 1963-64 in his native Northern Ireland
with an Austin Healey Sprite, before graduating to single-seaters.
Outstanding in Irish Formula Libre, he soon crossed the water to try his
hand against sterner opposition. In 1970 he took his Brabham BT30 into the
European F2 championship, but a heavy crash at Rouen left him with a broken
arm and leg. Undaunted, he was back the following year and, competing as a
privateer in his elderly car, put to shame many more vaunted names. His
persistence was about to bring rewards, for in 1972 a sixth place in the
John Player Trophy race at Brands Hatch in a March 721, plus some excellent
drives in Alan McCall's F2 Tui, caught the eye of both Brabham and Gulf, who
were to give the then bearded Ulsterman his first real breaks. The 'luck of
the Irish' certainly deserted him when, in the Race of Champions early in
1973, he broke his leg once more after the throttle stuck open on the new
Brabham BT42. With typical quiet determination he was back to make his Grand
Prix debut at Silverstone, and by the end of the year he had set up a full
F1 season with Hexagon Racing's private Brabham. A great drive to sixth
place at Monaco was followed by some terrific performances once he had the
use of the BT44 chassis, headed by a brilliant drive into fourth in Austria
after a pit stop.

Sadly the team were unable to continue in 1975, and Watson, having
previously driven in a few Formula 2 races for Surtees, joined 'Big John's
outfit. A second place in the Race of Champions and fourth in the
International Trophy were as good as it was going to get in a year fraught
with mechanical difficulties. Just before the end of the season Surtees
withdrew to regroup his efforts, leaving 'Wattie' unemployed. Fortunately he
soon picked up a ride in the Penske team at Watkins Glen and, after taking
ninth place with a car not set up for the track, he was offered a contract
for the 1976 season. The team were to suffer something of an up-and-down
year, but John's magnificent victory in Austria gave him the confidence that
comes from being a winner. The only thing he lost that day was his famous
beard, as a result of a wager with Roger Penske!

When Penske decided to call it a day at the end of the year, Bernie
Ecclestone lost no time in signing John to join Carlos Pace in his
Brabham-Alfa team for 1977. Tragically, the Brazilian was soon killed in an
air crash, leaving Watson to carry the burden of development in an unproven
car. He nearly won at Paul Ricard until fuel pick-up problems took away his
last-lap lead. The season ended up as a major disappointment after beginning
with so much promise, but things improved in 1978, when at least he was a
regular points scorer, although teamed with Niki Lauda his performances
seemed a trifle erratic. When James Hunt became disillusioned with McLaren,
Watson was the man chosen to take his place. Initially it seemed to be a
disastrous move, for the team were at a low ebb under the declining Teddy
Mayer regime. The following season was frustrating, with points scraped here
and there in a difficult car, and 1980 was to bring even less cheer, Watson
being out-driven in the early part of the year by newcomer Alain Prost. Some
observers were tempted to write him off but John fought back, and his
confidence and speed began to return - particularly when he was installed in
the John Barnard-designed MP4 under McLaren's new Ron Dennis regime in 1981.
He scored a lucky win at Silverstone when Arnoux's Renault faltered, and
generally re-established his standing as one of the leading drivers which
had seemed under threat.

Joined by Niki Lauda in 1982, Watson answered the Austrian's Long Beach
challenge with a well-taken win at Zolder, but overall his season was
hampered by unpredictable lapses in form which led to some lacklustre
showings. In 1983 he came through the field to take an unexpected win at
Long Beach, but was generally handicapped by the lack of turbo power until
late in the season. He fully expected to remain paired with Lauda for a
third year in 1984, but protracted negotiations worked against him when
Alain Prost came onto the scene after being released by Renault. With no
other options open, 'Wattie' was left to find a seat in sports car racing,
driving occasionally for Rothmans Porsche over the next couple of years and
taking a win at Fuji in 1984 with Bellof. A last-minute call-up by McLaren
to deputise for the injured Lauda in the European GP merely emphasised how
two seasons out can take away the edge, and there was to be no more Formula
1.

Instead he returned to endurance racing with the Silk Cut Jaguar team and
later with Toyota, before retiring from the track to concentrate on his
Silverstone-based Performance Driving School and take on a role as a
commentator, most recently for the A1GP Series.