Three days before the opening round of the new season, the formula 1 mourns the loss of one of their most important men behind the Scenes: race Director Charlie Whiting has suddenly and unexpectedly passed away.
The Briton Charlie Whiting, the longtime race Director of the formula 1 (article picture), died in Melbourne of a pulmonary embolism, such as the Motorsport world governing body said FIA. Whiting was 66 years old. In Australia, will be opened next Sunday in the Albert Park, the new season of racing-king class.
“An inimitable figure”
FIA President Jean Todt expressed his “immense sadness” about the death of a comrade-in-arms. “Charlie Whiting was a great race Director, a Central and inimitable figure in the formula 1, which embodied the values and the spirit of this fantastic sport,” said the Frenchman. “Formula 1 has lost a loyal friend, and charismatic Ambassador. My thoughts are the FIA and the whole of the Motorsport community with his family, his friends, and to all that are close to the formula 1.”
Whiting began his career in 1977 in the service of the Hesketh racing team. In the 80s, he moved to Brabham, where he rose to chief mechanic and later to the chief engineer, ascension. In 1988, he joined the FIA, since 1997, acted Whiting as race Director. In this function, he was for the safe and fair conduct of the Grand-Prix week-ends responsible.
ml/ww (dpa, SID)