Race of my life: Helmut Marko

Targa Floria, May 21 1972

"Throughout the 1972 season the Ferrari 312P was a much better car and they beat the Alfa Romeos everywhere. Then at the Targa Florio, I don't know what happened, but in the race I was incredibly quick.

"I was 100 per cent from start to finish with not one mistake. I didn't have time to think about what I was doing. Once I smelt the chance of victory, I did things that I never thought I could do.

"It was bizarre because instead of guardrails, there were just people on the side of the road. There were not many points to overtake, but there was a hairpin that was lined with Italians - you can't imagine it!"

"I was right behind Arturo Merzario and - bang! - I passed him. Although the race was on time, rather than position, I didn't want to lose time behind him.

"Unfortunately my co-driver Nanni Galli, who had started the race and handed the car over in third, was not in good shape personally - I think a friend of his had died. He lost the lead after I handed the car back over and also in a pitstop he made a mistake and crashed into the wall, which cost us more time.

"I did the last stint and was almost two minutes behind Merzario with two laps left - I then did things I thought impossible.

"At the time, safety was moving on and Jackie Stewart was doing a good job to push it in F1. Then you go to a place like the Targa Florio with people as guardrails!

"At one point, I had a big moment and just managed to get away with it - if I hadn't I'd have rolled down a mountain. You were racing through villages with houses that had nailed the doors shut so that their dogs couldn't run onto the track!"

"In my head I thought, 'what are you doing?' but then the racing spirit took over and I did unbelievable times. I admit, my brain was switched off.

"There was a long finish straight, where we lost a lot of time so I knew that I had to build my advantage before I got there. They showed me at various points that I was catching on the last lap, but it wasn't quite enough and I finished second by 17 seconds after six-and-a-half hours' racing.

"It's depressing to lose by such a small amount after such a drive, but that's racing."