Gunnar Nilsson

Interesting facts

After studying engineering and serving as a submarine radio officer in the Swedish Navy, Gunnar Nilsson chose racing over running a transport business, inspired by fellow Swedes Ronnie Peterson and Reine Wisell. In 1975, only his second season, he won the British Formula Three Championship. He debuted for Lotus in 1976, qualifying last on his first race but taking podiums in Spain and Austria that same year. His career peak came at the 1977 Belgian Grand Prix in Zolder, where in wet conditions he passed Niki Lauda's Ferrari late in the race to take victory. In December 1977 he was diagnosed with testicular cancer; by mid-1978 radiotherapy had cost him over 30 kilograms and all his hair. Rather than rely on painkillers, he kept working and founded the Gunnar Nilsson Cancer Foundation, supported by a charity single from George Harrison. He died on October 20, 1978, just five weeks after his friend Ronnie Peterson's fatal crash at Monza. Gunnar Nilsson raced in Formula 1 from 1976 to 1977, across 2 seasons as a Swedish driver. He scored a total of 31 championship points over his career. His best season was 1977, when he finished 8th in the championship with 20 points.