Former French Formula 1 driver Philippe Streiff has died at the age of 67, F1Media, the organisation’s official communications agency, said on Saturday.
“I am saddened to learn of the passing of Philippe Streiff. He showed incredible courage and determination throughout his life,” F1 president Stefano Domenicali said in a tribute tweet.
Streiff had suffered a horrific F1 crash during private practice to test tires for the French AGS team in 1989 at the Brazilian circuit of Jacarepaguá, in Rio de Janeiro. As a result of the accident, he became a quadriplegic.
The pilot born in 1955 has since dedicated his life to the defense of people with some kind of disability.
His crash helped F1 authorities improve the safety and medical infrastructure of the circuits.
He contested fifty Grands Prix in the 1980s, most of them for the English team Tyrrell. He also raced the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Source: AFP
Source: Clarin
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