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During the 1970's Ronnie Peterson staked a strong claim to being the fastest driver of the decade, but despite his obvious speed the World Championship would elude him. No-one who was there could ever forget the sight of the black and gold Lotus hurtling through Woodcote corner at Silverstone, seemingly defying several laws of physics in the process.

Peterson's arrival in the world of car racing brought almost immediate success. After learning the ropes in European kart racing his first drives in Formula 3 were in a car he designed along with his father. His natural talent was recognised by the Tecno team who signed him up for the 1968 season. By the end of the following year he was a Formula 3 champion. He would also claim the European Formula 2 title in 1971.

His Grand Prix debut came in the 1970 Monaco Grand Prix, a race remembered for Jack Brabham's last corner misjudgement which handed Jochen Rindt an unlikely victory. Ronnie was driving a March for the Antique Automobiles team but his performances in 1970 were such that, by 1971 he was a works March driver. His first full season, although bringing no wins, saw him finish second in the championship to Jackie Stewart.

It would take a move to Lotus in 1973 to bring Peterson his first victory, achieved in France. Three more followed and he ended the year third in the title race. 1974 brought three further wins but by 1975 the Lotus 72 was really showing its age and, after two races of the 1976 season, Ronnie returned to March. He scored one victory at the Italian Grand Prix before switching teams again, this time to the British Tyrrell organisation, for 1977. Although their innovative six-wheeled car had been competitive the previous season, by 1977 a lack of development on the special tyres required meant that Peterson was able to score just a single podium finish, in Belgium.

1978 saw Lotus back on top with their beautiful ground-effect cars, and Ronnie was a part of it, team-mate to Mario Andretti. Peterson scored two wins, including passing Patrick Depailler on the last lap in South Africa, but it was Andretti who took the title at Monza. There was, however, no joy in the victory for the popular American. On the run down to the first corner, where the track narrowed, a multiple collision occurred, pushing Ronnie's Lotus into the barriers. The car caught fire and he had to be rescued by fellow drivers. Nevertheless initial reports were encouraging. He had broken both of his legs but the injuries were not thought to be life-threatening. In a terrible twist, early in the hours of the next morning an embolism took the popular Swede's life. Perhaps Andretti summed it up best when he said, unfortunately, motor racing is also this'.

In a tragic postscript to Ronnie Peterson's story, his wife would also become a victim. Having always struggled to come to terms with Ronnie's death she took her own life in 1987.

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