Focus on 1972 F2 European Championship

Three images from the 1972 Formula 2 European Trophy meeting at Mallory Park have just been added to the Mike Hayward Collection.

This was the opening round of the season and the first year of cars with 2 litre production based engines, after seven successful seasons with 1600cc units.

The race provided a surprise winner in Dave Morgan driving a spaceframe 1971 Formula Atlantic Brabham BT35. 

Niki Lauda was a close second in an STP March 722, followed by Carlos Reutemann's Rondel Brabham.

Mallory provided brilliant photographic vantage points with a 200mm lens proving plenty long enough to fill the frame at the hairpin and Devil's Elbow. 

The cameras I used in those days would have been a Pentax Spotmatic and perhaps a Ricoh Singlex using Kodak Tri-X film.

Niki Lauda ended the season as champion, with March team mate Ronnie Peterson in second place.

The new images can be seen below. They are, from left: Jody Scheckter, McLaren M21; Niki Lauda, STP March 722; and Peter Gethin, Chevron B20.

Gethin was disqualified in the second heat because his wing was too high.

Published by The Mike Hayward Collection on (modified )