Guy Tunmer

Percival Guy Tunmer (1 December 1948 - 22 June 1999): South African racing driver from Johannesburg who participated in one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix. Competed in the South African Formula Atlantic championship in 1974 after acquiring a Chevron racing car. Dominated the 1974 Formula Atlantic season with extraordinary consistency, taking nine pole positions and nine victories from nine starts, establishing himself as South Africa's premier single-seater racing talent. His complete domination of the domestic championship earned him the opportunity to compete in Formula One at his home race.

Made his sole Formula One appearance at the 1975 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami on 1 March 1975, driving a Lotus 72E entered by Team Gunston, a local South African team. Qualified for the race at Kyalami, demonstrating sufficient pace to make the grid at one of the world's most challenging circuits during an era when many aspiring drivers failed to qualify. During the race, passed both Eddie Keizan and works Lotus driver Jacky Ickx, demonstrating impressive racecraft against more experienced Formula One competitors. Finished the race in 11th place, just behind Ronnie Peterson, completing the full distance but outside the points-paying positions (only the top six scored points in 1975).

Scored no championship points from his single Formula One start, though his performance was respectable given his lack of experience in Formula One machinery. At the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix at Montjuïc Park in Barcelona, received an extraordinary opportunity when Bernie Ecclestone offered him a drive in the Brabham BT44B. The offer came during a GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers' Association) strike called due to poor safety standards at the dangerous Barcelona street circuit. By the time Tunmer returned to the paddock having accepted Ecclestone's offer, the strike had been resolved and the race proceeded with the regular drivers, ending Tunmer's second Formula One opportunity before it began.

His Formula One career ended with that single race at Kyalami, never receiving another opportunity to compete at the world championship level. After his brief Formula One appearance, continued racing in South African national motorsport throughout the late 1970s and 1980s. Passed away on 22 June 1999 at age 50. Though his Formula One career consisted of a single 11th-place finish, Tunmer's dominant 1974 Formula Atlantic season demonstrated the level of talent that existed in South African motorsport during the apartheid era when international opportunities were limited.