15 Facts About Harald Ertl

Harald Ertl was an Austrian racing driver and motorsport journalist.

Harald Ertl was born in Zell am See and attended the same school as Grand Prix drivers Jochen Rindt, Helmut Marko and Niki Lauda.

Harald Ertl worked his way through the German Formula Vee and Super Vee, and then on to Formula Three, before a successful switch to Touring Cars.

Harald Ertl was killed in an aeroplane crash in 1982, when the small plane he was travelling in suffered from engine failure.

Harald Ertl was second in the European Cup with a Kaimann chassis in 1970, and started in a round of the Championnat de France with a March-Ford 703, at Aeroport Dijon-Longvic circuit.

Harald Ertl continued with F3 the following season, undertaking a selection of races in England, best result being ninth at Brands Hatch.

In 1975 Harald Ertl signed for Fred Opert Racing to continue racing in F2.

Harald Ertl went on to retire in his home GP, then finished ninth at Monza.

Two weeks later at the 1976 German Grand Prix, Harald Ertl was one of the four drivers who helped pull Niki Lauda from his burning Ferrari after Lauda's infamous crash during the second lap of the race.

Harald Ertl continued with Hesketh for a third season, taking in some European races, finishing 9th at the 1977 Belgian Grand Prix.

Harald Ertl left Hesketh after the 1977 French Grand Prix where he again failed to qualify for the race.

Two years later, Harald Ertl tried with ATS in the 1980 German Grand Prix with the same result.

Away from single-seaters, Harald Ertl returned to Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft in 1977, now that the series had switched to Group 5.

Harald Ertl did not race internationally at all in 1981, but planned a return for the 1982 Renault 5 Turbo Cup.

Harald Ertl was travelling in a Beechcraft Bonanza flown by his brother-in-law Jorg Becker-Hohensee from Mannheim to their holiday home in Sylt in Northern Germany for an Easter vacation.