Video: tragedy follows success for Ferrari and Peter Collins | 1958 German GP. Tragedy struck on this day in 1958.

The 1958 German Grand Prix was held on 3 August 1958 at Nürburgring. It was race 8 of 11 in the 1958 World Championship of Drivers and race 7 of 10 in the 1958 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers.

Sadly, tragedy struck on this day in 1958, when Peter Collins lost his life at the German Grand Prix after his Ferrari ran wide and somersaulted, flinging its helpless driver into a tree. On lap 11 during the race, the British racing driver was pushing his Ferrari to the limit chasing Tony Brooks’ Vanwall in the Pflanzgarten section, when he had the fatal accident. Despite the fact that he was given medical treatment, Peter Collins died in hospital later that day. Tony Brooks later admitted in his biography that Peter Collins drove harder than any other opponent he had ever faced in his racing career.

This was the second fatal accident in Formula 1 in three races after the death of Luigi Musso at Reims a few weeks earlier. Peter Collins’ death came just two weeks after a brilliant win with Ferrari in the British GP, as he finished ahead of his Maranello teammate Mike Hawthorn at Silverstone.

A handsome young man from Kidderminster, Great Britain, Peter Collins’ talent behind the wheel of a racing car was matched by his off-track charisma. A popular figure in Formula 1, his death caused enormous grief in the racing community and in the country as well. His friendship with fellow Brit and Ferrari team mate Mike Hawthorn was perhaps as close as the sport has known. Unfortunately, Mike Hawthorn would join his friend in the heavens just a few months following the German Grand Prix tragedy.

— see video above —