Syd van der Vyver

Syd van der Vyver (1 June 1920 - 20 August 1989): South African racing driver who won the South African Drivers Championship in 1960 and 1961, and who was entered for the 1962 South African Grand Prix but withdrew after seriously damaging his Lotus 24 in a crash the previous week. Born in South Africa, van der Vyver began his motorsport career in speedway racing before switching to automobiles in the early 1950s. He competed in both circuit racing and hillclimbing, finding success quickly across multiple disciplines. By the end of the 1950s, van der Vyver had established himself as one of South Africa's leading racing drivers, competing regularly in national championship events and demonstrating consistent speed and racecraft.

His greatest success came in winning the South African Drivers Championship in consecutive years, 1960 and 1961, establishing his dominance over the country's competitive national racing scene. These titles marked him as South Africa's premier driver during that period and suggested he possessed the talent to compete internationally. In 1961, van der Vyver competed in well-attended non-championship Formula One races in South Africa, including the Rand Grand Prix, Natal Grand Prix, and South African Grand Prix, racing against top international drivers who traveled to South Africa during the European off-season. He finished in the top ten in all three races, demonstrating that he could run competitively against Grand Prix regulars even without regular exposure to international-level competition.

For the 1962 World Championship South African Grand Prix, van der Vyver entered with his new Lotus 24, representing his opportunity to compete in a World Championship event. However, one week before the Grand Prix, van der Vyver crashed heavily in the 1962 Natal Grand Prix, rolling his Lotus 24 and causing serious damage to the car. The accident left the car too damaged to repair in time for the World Championship race, forcing van der Vyver to withdraw his entry. He never competed in another World Championship Grand Prix.

Despite never actually starting a World Championship race, van der Vyver remains historically recorded as an Formula One entrant due to his official 1962 South African Grand Prix entry. His withdrawal represents one of motorsport's "what if" scenarios—had the Natal crash not occurred, van der Vyver would have competed in the World Championship and demonstrated whether his national championship success could translate to international-level Grand Prix racing. After his Formula One entry attempt, van der Vyver continued competing in South African national racing through the 1960s before eventually retiring from active competition. He died on 20 August 1989 at age 69.

Known for: Winning the South African Drivers Championship in 1960 and 1961, being entered for the 1962 World Championship South African Grand Prix but withdrawing after crashing his Lotus 24 the previous week, finishing in the top ten against international drivers in 1961 non-championship F1 races, and never actually starting a World Championship Grand Prix despite being an official entrant.