Karl Oppitzhauser [SEP] country of citizenship
Karl Oppitzhauser
Karl Oppitzhauser (born 4 October 1941, in Bruck an der Leitha) is a former racing driver from Austria. He is chiefly known for his optimistic attempt to enter the 1976 Formula One Austrian Grand Prix.
Career.
Oppitzhauser began his career in Formula Vee in the 1960s, and also raced a Lotus Europa. By 1968 he had progressed to a Ferrari Dino, and later a Lamborghini Miura, before competing in the Alfasud Cup in the mid-1970s.
In 1976, Oppitzhauser attempted to enter the
circuit. This is the last time an American-licensed constructor won a F1 race. Roger Penske would withdraw from F1 at the end of the season to concentrate on Indycars.
Jacques Laffite finished second in a Ligier-Matra, with Gunnar Nilsson third in a Lotus-Ford. Drivers' Championship challenger James Hunt finished fourth in his McLaren-Ford, having started from pole position.
Local drivers Otto Stuppacher and Karl Oppitzhauser had applied to enter the event, but were refused due to their lack of experience.