Three drivers did not take part in either timed session thus far: Patrick Depailler, Pryce's team-mate Renzo Zorzi (engine) and Boy Hayje.

Niki Lauda took third despite a broken seat and tyre problems, alongside Depailler, ahead of Ronnie Peterson.

[1] James Hunt led off at the start, with Niki Lauda and local driver Jody Scheckter following him after Carlos Pace struggled.

Tom Pryce lost ground at the start, leaving him 22nd, ahead only of Larry Perkins, although he quickly gained places, climbing to 16th by the end of lap six.

On lap 22, the Shadow-Ford of Italian driver Renzo Zorzi, running 19th, pulled off to the left side of the main straight, just after the brow of a hill and a bridge over the track.

Stuck saw Jansen van Vuuren and moved to the right to avoid both marshals, missing Bill by what journalist David Tremayne, calls "millimetres".

Pryce's Shadow DN8, now with its driver dead at the wheel, continued at speed down the main straight towards the first corner, called Crowthorne.

Lauda's Ferrari was barely able to finish the race after his car had picked up part of Pryce's roll bar in the underside of its monocoque, after the fatal accident.

Tyrrell mechanic Trevor Foster viewed the incident from a distance, later recalling I can remember quite vividly [Pryce's] teammate's car had already pulled off to the side of the track and it had started a small fire.

I can almost remember now a momentary lift of the throttle much earlier than you would have expected and I looked and I saw something fly up from the car, which tragically turned out to be the marshal.

[9]David Tremayne, a veteran biographer and motor sports journalist, recalled the feelings of disbelief and horror following the aftermath of the incident; The tragedy itself – the sheer randomness of it – is so hard to take and still is.