Egbert "Eppie" Wietzes (28 May 1938 – 10 June 2020) was a Dutch-born racing driver who made his name in Canada. He was born in Assen, in the Netherlands, and later established his racing career after emigrating to North America. While he is most often remembered for a handful of high-profile appearances in Formula One, Wietzes enjoyed a broader motorsport career that included sports car events, club racing and a long association with the Canadian racing scene.

Racing career and Formula One entries

Wietzes entered two World Championship Formula One Grands Prix. His debut came at the 1967 Canadian Grand Prix, an event that drew local talent and international competitors alike. In that race he retired on lap 69 due to wet electrics and was later disqualified for having received outside assistance after a problem. He returned to the Canadian Grand Prix grid in 1974, this time driving a rented Brabham BT42. That appearance also ended prematurely because of a transmission failure. Although his F1 record shows limited race finishes, his participation reflected the era when privateers and local drivers could compete alongside factory teams.

First use of a safety car in Formula One

Wietzes occupies a unique place in Formula One history as the driver of the first safety car used in a World Championship Grand Prix. At the 1973 Canadian Grand Prix he was called onto the circuit in a Porsche 914 to control race traffic after an accident involving François Cevert and Jody Scheckter. The deployment was experimental and the procedure, timing and communication were imperfect. The safety car episode generated controversy because it affected the running order and highlighted deficiencies in how race neutralisations were handled. The incident contributed to later rule development and the formalisation of safety car procedures in top-level motorsport.

Recognition and legacy

Wietzes' contributions to Canadian motorsport were recognised in 1993 when he was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame. Beyond the headline-making safety car role, he was respected for his long involvement in national racing, helping to popularise the sport and mentor other drivers and teams. His career exemplifies a generation of racers who combined local commitment with occasional international outings.

Notable facts

  • Birthplace: Assen, Netherlands.
  • Formula One starts: Two World Championship Grands Prix (1967 and 1974).
  • Historic role: Drove the Porsche course car used as the first F1 safety car at the 1973 Canadian Grand Prix, following a crash that involved François Cevert and Jody Scheckter.
  • Car in 1974: Rented Brabham BT42 used at the Canadian Grand Prix; entry ended with transmission trouble (Brabham BT42).
  • Honour: Inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame in 1993.

Although Eppie Wietzes did not accumulate a long list of international victories, his career is a reminder of the varied paths drivers took in the 1960s and 1970s. He bridged European origins and North American racing culture, and his name remains linked to a formative moment in safety operations for Formula One. For readers seeking further details on specific races or the development of the safety car in motorsport, contemporary race reports and archives provide fuller race-by-race context and technical information.