Torsten Palm

Torsten Palm (23 July 1947 - 23 March 1989) was a Swedish racing driver who competed in Formula One and sports car racing during the 1970s. Born in Kristianstad, Sweden, Palm made five Formula One World Championship starts in 1975, driving for the small British team Hesketh Racing. He competed in the Swedish Grand Prix at Anderstorp (his home race), the Austrian Grand Prix, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, and the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen. Palm's best result was 11th at the Austrian Grand Prix, but he generally struggled with uncompetitive machinery and limited experience at the Formula One level.

Beyond his brief Formula One career, Palm competed extensively in sports car racing, particularly in endurance events and Scandinavian racing series. He raced various sports prototypes and GT cars throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s, competing at circuits across Europe. Palm was part of the small group of Swedish drivers who attempted to establish themselves in international motorsport during the 1970s, paving the way for later Swedish Formula One drivers. His Formula One opportunity came during a period when Hesketh Racing was experiencing financial difficulties and declining performance, making it difficult for any driver to achieve results with the team.

After his Formula One venture, Palm continued racing in Scandinavian championships and various international sports car events, maintaining his passion for motorsport throughout the 1980s. Tragically, Torsten Palm died in March 1989 at the age of 41 under circumstances that were not widely publicized. He is remembered as one of Sweden's Formula One pioneers who competed during the sport's expansion into new markets during the 1970s.