In June, 2008, a memorial will be unveiled in the Welsh town of Ruthin to honour one of its favourite sons. Tom Pryce, the modest and unassuming Formula 1 driver, was born there in 1949. Despite his humble demeanour outside of a racing car there was no hiding his aggression once out on track. His innate skill and feel for a car’s limits ensured he made it all the way to the top of the sport.
As a child Tom idolised the great Scottish double World Champion Jim Clark. His early promise in a racing car was rewarded when he won a championship sponsored by a natioanl newspaper, his prize being a brand new Formula Ford. Tom blossomed in the category and soon moved up into more powerful Formula 3 machines.
1974 saw a major breakthrough in Tom’s career when he landed a Formula 1 drive with the small Token team. At Monaco he was not allowed to race, being considered too inexperienced. Proving his doubtors spectacularly wrong he competed in the supporting Formula 3 race and won easily.
Later the same year Tom had his first drive in Formula 1 for the American Shadow team. In 1975 he firmly established himself as a serious contender. His day of days came in the non-championship Race of Champions at Brands Hatch where he beat all comers, becoming the first and so far only Welshman to win a Formula 1 race. Tom reinforced his credentials at Silverstone later in the season, qualifying the Shadow on pole position.
If 1975 had been good, 1976 was a huge disappointment as Tom struggled with the recalcitrant Shadow. Nevertheless his driving remained committed as ever. Throughout his career he was a fan favourite with his oversteering style of driving.
By the time of the 1977 South African Grand Prix there had been some improvement and, during a wet practice session for the race, Tom was quickest. In the race itself he made a poor start and dropped to the back of the field. In typical style he quickly disposed of several cars until fate intervened.
As Tom crested the rise on Kyalami’s pit straight his Shadow was tucked behind the rear wing of Hans Stuck’s car. Stuck suddenly swerved to avoid a marshal running across the track. 19-year old Frikkie Jansen van Vuuren was on his way to extinguish a small fire on the other Shadow of Renzo Zorzi, which had stopped opposite the pits. Unsighted and with no time react Tom struck van Vuuren. Both men died instantly, Tom struck in the face by the marshal’s fire extinguisher.
Years later David Richards, the man behind the Prodrive racing organisation and a good friend of Tom's, offered his thoughts. He is quoted in David Tremayne's 2006 book, 'The Lost Generation', published by Haynes;
"My lasting recollection of Tom is of someone of extraordinary talent who had been totally unaffected by the situation he found himself in... What a contrast to today's Formula 1 driver!"
A freak accident had claimed the life of two men, one a volunteer and the other one of the fastest drivers of his generation. Tom left behind his wife, Nella. He is buried in Otford, Kent.
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