As we approach the GP of Austria, today we remember the 1973 edition. Arturo Merzario finished  7^th with this Ferrari 312-73. Not a great result but I wanted in my collection because is a transition car in 1973, big front wing and Air duct on the tope, very different to the 312-73 of the first races of the year.

Arturo Francesco "Art" Merzario, born 1943is a racing driver from Italy. Merzario made his Formula One debut in 1972, and became one of the few drivers to score points at their first race by finishing in sixth place in the British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch. In 1973 Ferrari confirmed him for the whole season alongside Jacky Ickx. Merzario had a promising start with the old 312B2, finishing fourth in Brazil and South Africa. However, Ferrari's evolved car, the 312B3, proved to be a disappointment, and both he and Ickx struggled for the rest of the season. Deeply unimpressed with the way the season had unfolded, Enzo Ferrari decided to change the whole team for the 1974 season, and Merzario moved to Williams, then to Marc, and once-off race with Copersucar and then with Willians.

During the 1976 German Grand Prix, Niki Lauda crashed heavily; Merzario was one of the drivers, along with Guy Edwards, Brett Lunger and Harald Ertl who stopped to help, effectively pulling Lauda out of the burning car.

In 1977, Merzario was able to raise enough sponsors to set up his own Merzario team. The organization struggled in modern Formula One for three years but very poor resultsDuring his time in Formula One, Merzario was often photographed wearing a cowboy hat with sponsorship patches from Marlboro. This became his signature look, and Merzario still wears the hat.

The Chronicle   The Race