The name was one that was hard to bypass. His name was well respected in the world of racing as well as throughout Germany. Wolfgang von Trips was born in 1928 to a Rhineland family of notable respect. His Germany roots would be well grounded and he was quite recognized for his race car driving as well as his family name.

Wolfgang would begin his racing car in 1956. His career would lead him through a career packed full of Grand Prix racing including 29 Grand Prix starts. He won two races and would go on to achieve six podiums and one pole position while capturing fifty-six championship points.

In 1961, Wolfgang von Trips was the favorite driver to win the Italian Grand Prix. It was also predicted that he would’ve been the first German to win the Formula One Championship and he was very close to realizing that as a claim to fame as well. However, fate wasn’t kind to Wolfgang von Trips.

At the 1961 race in Monza, Italy, Wolfgang von Trips lost control of his car, his career and his life when his Ferrari crashed into the Jim Clark Lotus car. Wolfgang was thrown from the car. He was killed taking fifteen race spectators with him.

While there were various myths surrounding his death, the one that surrounds Wolfgang von Trips is one that has a lot to do with destiny and fate. Wolfgang von Trips was already booked on a flight to the United States prior to his death.

The flight that he was scheduled to be a passenger on actually crashed over Scotland. It would seem that death was going to call on his doorstep whether it was behind the wheel of a race car or whether it came for him when least expected. Still, his name and his legacy forever live on in Germany and in racing.