Mark Donohue American racing driver Date of Birth: 18.03.1937 Country: Austria

Biography of Mark Donohue

Mark Donohue was an American racing driver and participant in the Formula-1 World Championship. He graduated from Brown University in 1959 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. In 1961, he won a class in the SCCA Championship driving an "Elva" car. In 1965, Donohue won the SCCA Championship in Classes B and C and made his debut in sports prototype racing, participating in the "12 Hours of Sebring."

In the following year, he finished as the runner-up in the "12 Hours of Sebring" and won the "Can-Am" race at Mosport Park. At the same time, Donohue joined the team of his old acquaintance Roger Penske, where he achieved most of his subsequent victories. In 1967-68, he became the USRRC Champion twice and won the 1968 "Trans-Am" Championship.

In 1969, Donohue again won the "Trans-Am" Championship and made his debut in the Indianapolis 500, finishing in seventh place and earning the title of "Rookie of the Year." The following year, he finished second in the Indianapolis 500 and won two races in the "Formula A" series.

In 1971, Donohue made his debut in the Formula-1 World Championship and finished third in his debut race at the 1971 Canadian Grand Prix. He was also entered for the United States Grand Prix of the same year but instead started in a USAC Championship race. In 1972-73, he continued to compete in North American championships, winning the 1972 Indianapolis 500 in a McLaren car and becoming the Can-Am Champion driving a Porsche 917/30, with six victories in eight races.

In 1974, the Penske team entered the Formula-1 World Championship, and Donohue became its sole driver in the series. In 13 starts during the 1974-75 seasons, Donohue scored four points with two fifth-place finishes. During a practice session before the 1975 Austrian Grand Prix, a tire on his car burst on the starting straight, causing the car to go off the track and accidentally hitting two marshals, one of whom passed away. Donohue was sent to the hospital, where he died three days later from head injuries.

In 1990, Mark Donohue was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.