Hiroshi Kazato & Seiichi Suzuki's Fatal Crash @ Fuji 1974

What happened at the start of the second heat remains subject of much speculation and controversy to date. As the green flag was given, Norimitsu Urushibara and Gen Kitano made an audacious bid for the lead, but their two March 745-BMW cars collided at the first turn; it is worth noting that at the time the Fuji circuit still used the original, daunting, ultra-fast and highly banked right-hander at the end of the main straight, named "Daiichi". When Urushibara and Kitano reached the wide banked turn, the two cars touched, collided violently against the guard-rail and bounced back to the middle of the track, blocking it. The pack of drivers that closely followed the two leaders could not avoid piling on the wreckage, and a blazing inferno ensued. Motoharu Kurosawa was also involved in the multiple pile-up and sadly, both Hiroshi Kazato and veteran racer Seiichi Suzuki perished in the accident. As reported by the Associated Press, six other drivers and spectators were injured, while Urushibara and Kitano escaped injuries. The race was abandoned after such a terrible tragedy.

R.I.P