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And what a sad irony it was that Schlesser's only start in WDC Grand Prix came 20 years after his uncle sadly made the headlines in his only real WDC Grand Prix start, the 1968 ACF Grand Prix at Rouen...
The most successful "local guest star" in GP must be John Love. He almost won the 1967 South African GP, after all the leaders except Pedro Rodriguez had retired. Alas a pit stop for fuel a few laps from the end deprived him from it !
About Eppie Wietzes, he even led a Canadian GP, but that was the 1973 edition where he drove the pace-car !!! In one of the most confusing Grand Prix of all time, this was the first time a pace-car appeared in F1.
The previous year, Mark Donohue started his first F1 event at the same Canadian GP in Roger Penske's mcLaren-DFV. Brillant race gave him the third place ! One of the few drivers to finish their very first WDC race on the podium.
Recently the best one-off appearance by a local driver I can remember is Nicola Larini at the tragic 1994 San Marino GP. Replacing an injured Jean Alési he finished 2nd IIRC.
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