Harald Ertl, the tragic story of the man who saved Niki Lauda with Arturo Merzario
Harald Ertl was one of the drivers who saved Niki Lauda from the Nurburgring fire: almost fifty years ago, on August 1, 1976, the reigning world champion crashed into the guard-rail of the German track, his Ferrari caught fire and only the courage of four colleagues, Guy Edwards, Brett Lunger, Arturo Merzario and precisely Ertl, prevented the Austrian from dying. It was a true miracle, with the Como man, now 82 years old, who was quick to release the seat belts that held the champion in the cockpit, while some colleagues opened the way for him, using fire extinguishers with great skill.
Lauda, who had also breathed in many noxious gases after the impact, was between life and death for several days but then won his battle. Stubborn as few are, he underwent a very painful rehabilitation, which was necessary to be able to return to racing before the world championship ended. Niki, in fact, succeeded in the feat but unfortunately he could not get the better of James Hunt: in the last race, in Japan, on the Fuji circuit, he raised the white flag after a few laps because he considered it too dangerous to race in the pouring rain, and so the Briton only needed to finish third to overtake him in the standings.
The year before, Ertl, also an Austrian, had managed to make his Formula 1 debut in a Hesketh, thanks largely to sponsorship with Warsteiner, with the beer brand’s executives believing in his talents. The bearded driver’s Formula 1 career ended in 1980, at the German Grand Prix: 29, in all, were the Circus races in which he had taken part, but without ever being able to celebrate winning a point. In Britain, in 1975, he achieved his best ever result, finishing seventh in the British single-seater of Lord Alexander Hesketh, a friend also of James Hunt.
Ertl, who closed his Formula 1 experience remained in the business both as a journalist and as a driver in lower categories, died in a plane crash, April 7, 1982, while traveling with his family: they were on their way to the house they used to live carefree vacation days. His wife and son, who was only three years old, survived; unfortunately, this was not the case for Harald, who was not even 34 years old, his brother-in-law and a niece. A dreadful fate that clashes, for example, with that of Merzario: the 80-plus-year-old still has fun behind the wheel and does not back down when there’s a need to press the accelerator pedal.
