1975 Clay Regazzoni Race Winning Italian Grand Prix Scuderia Ferrari F1 Helmet
Very rare, original Bel's race-used helmet worn by popular Swiss driver Clay Regazzoni during the 1975 F1 season while driving for Scuderia Ferrari. This is the exact helmet that he wore during his famous 1975 Italian GP race win at Ferrari's home track in front of the 'Tifosi'.
The race was held on the 7th of September, 1975 and was the 13th race of the 14 round World Championship that season. Thousands of Ferrari fans flocked to Monza, as well as a large contingent of Austrian fans, in anticipation of Ferrari having the chance to clinch its first World Drivers' Championship in 11 years. With lead driver Niki Lauda on home soil, Ferrari was also in the running for the Constructors' Championship and that chance would certainly increase after qualifying. Lauda would go on to secure Pole Position, with team mate Regazzoni qualifying 2nd, while all championship challenger Carlos Reutemann could manage was a 7th place on the starting grid. So Sunday race day was now even more anticipated by the home fans.
On Sunday morning there was a sudden cloudburst and for some time the future of the race was in jeopardy, but the rain dried up with about an hour to go before the start. Clay Regazzoni led from the start with Lauda in second (he only needed to finish 6th to secure his first World Championship). The Ferraris were circulating 1–2 with Regazzoni leading majestically from Lauda. On lap 14 Emerson Fittipaldi passed Reutemann for third place, with Reutemann's involvement in the championship being effectively over (he would go on to finish 4th in the race). Despite the Ferrari's being way ahead, Fittipaldi would not give up the chase, carving down a gap of over ten seconds, and with just six laps left, he managed to catch Lauda who sensibly didn't put up a fight.
After 52 laps, Regazzoni took the checkered flag, with Fittipaldi in second, and Lauda in third, which was enough for Lauda to secure his first World Drivers' Championship. Lauda's 16.5 point lead in the drivers' standings would be too much for Fittipaldi (who now was second in the points) to bridge in the final round of the championship at the USGP. With Regazzoni and Lauda scoring 13 points between them, Ferrari also secured the International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers, their first such win since 1964. History had been made as Ferrari took the championship for the first time since 1961 in front of their home crowd.
Regazzoni is, still today, one of only 12 drivers in 92 Italian Grand Prix's to win in a Ferrari. He is also one of five drivers to do it more than once, joining Alberto Ascari, Phil Hill, Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello. 'Regga', as he was affectionately known, raced in F1 from 1970-1980 scoring 5 Grand Prix victories, winning four times for Ferrari and picking up Williams' first ever GP victory at the 1979 British Grand Prix. He was forced to retire from racing after he was paralyzed in an accident when his Ensign had a brake failure at the US Grand Prix West in Long Beach California.
On Dec 15th 2006, he would tragically lose his life after his road vehicle was hit by a lorry doing approximately 100km an hour on an Italian highway. Regazzoni was just 67 years old.
This distinctive Bel's helmet design was first pioneered by Regazzoni in 1974, and later rebranded Jeb's. This particular model was later used by other Grand Prix drivers as well, including Vittorio Brambilla, Carlos Pace and Jochen Mass.
It's possible that this very helmet model was also used into the 1976 season as it was re-stickered with the updated Jeb's helmets logo (placed over the top of the Bel's). It was later gifted by Clay Regazzoni to Englishman Derek Williams who worked for many years in Formula 1 for Goodyear. Williams spent the mid 1970's with Ferrari, before moving to the Williams team for the 1979 and 1980 seasons.
The helmet was recently acquired from Derek Williams' family and comes with a Certificate Of Authenticity.
Do not miss this ultra-rare opportunity to own a significantly historic, race winning Scuderia Ferrari F1 helmet.