David leapt out and ran to where the March had come to rest with Roger trapped inside, and waded into the fire'

Five decades ago, a shameful accident in Holland ended the life of Britain's most promising young racing driver

- SIMON TAYLOR

It's exactly 50 years since a dreadful accident in the Dutch Grand Prix shamed Formula One and, perhaps, robbed Britain of its next World Champion. At the time, several young British chargers were being eyed by F1 teams: Tom Pryce, Tony Brise and James Hunt all looked like strong hopes for the future. But for many the man on his way to the top was a stocky, smiling lad from Leicester called Roger Williamson.

Roger came via boyhood karting to club racing in a self-built Mini, winning 14 out of 18 races. He went on to dominate the 1970 club saloon championship in an indecently fast Ford Anglia. Then his dad, Dodge, who ran a small garage and raced speedway 'bikes, scraped up the funds to buy him a Formula Three car on hire purchase. At once he was winning, but Dodge still hadn't made the first payment when the tired engine needed an urgent rebuild. In the paddock, a thickset chap with a broad Leicester accent came up and said: "Why don't you put in yer spare engine?" Roger laughed: "What spare engine?" So the man said: "Go and buy one, lad. I'll pay fer it."

That man was Tom Wheatcroft: hard-nosed builder, millionaire property developer, huge motorsport enthusiast. It was the start of an extraordinary relationship. Tom treated Roger like a son, and Roger never took his benefactor for granted. Now with the right equipment, he dominated F3. In two years he won an amazing 44 races, three championship titles and the prestigious Grovewood Award, given each year to the most promising young driver. He became a crowd favourite for his distinctive head-down crouch at the wheel, his indomitable determination and self-belief in the cockpit, and his perpetual broad grin out of it.