Tusi se faaauauga mo lenei palakalafa - Na amata e Peterson lana galuega tau tuuga taavale i tuuga kata, o se tuuga masani lea e amata ai e le toʻatele o avetaavale tuuga a latou galuega i tuuga uili matala. Ina ua uma ona manumalo i le tele o suafa karting, e aofia ai suafa Suetena e lua i le 1963 ma le 1964, na ia siitia atu i le Formula Three, lea na ia manumalo ai i le Monaco Grand Prix Formula Three lagolago mo le 1969 Grand Prix
. Mulimuli ane i lena tausaga na ia manumalo ai i le FIA European Formula 3 Championship ma siitia atu i le Formula One, na taufetuli mo le March factory team. I le tolu tausaga na ia i ai i le 'au, na ia mauaina ai tulaga e ono o le podium, o le tele o ia tulaga na maua i le 1971 Formula One vaitau lea na ia faʻauʻuina ai foʻi o le runner-up i le Drivers' Championship.