Pironi amazes doctors

Press, 9 December 1982, Page 27

Pironi amazes doctors

The rate of recovery of Didier Pironi, the No. 1 Ferrari driver, who was gravely injured in a pre-race qualifying crash before the German Grand Prix, is amazing his doctors in the hospital in Choisy, near Paris. After his horrifying accident, Pironi’s right foot was nearly severed and for a considerable time there was risk of amputation. However, the Frenchman’s condition is improving rapidly and there is a possibility that his badly injured legs will be able to bear his weight before Christmas. Pironi has been quoted as saying he is haunted by the thought that he would have won the world racing

drivers’ championship if he had not crashed in Germany. As it was, .he finished runner-up in the world series to Finland’s Keke Rosberg even though he did not take part in the last five races. Thus it is not surprising that Pironi is saying that voluntary retirement in such circumstances is “unthinkable.”. All being well, Pironi hopes to be behind the wheel of a Ferrari again next June or July. If his driving ability is not as good as it was before the accident, he will retire. But if the old magic is there, he will start racing again as soon as it is practicable to do so.