When F1 championship-hopefuls were last tied on points | Thank Frankel it’s Friday

It was one of those betwixt and between seasons. There were just three former World Champions on the grid (Hulme, Fittipaldi and Hill) with just four titles between them, ten fewer than the total claimed by those racing in Abu Dhabi this weekend. Jackie Stewart had retired and the next big name in the sport – Niki Lauda – was certainly up and coming in a resurgent Ferrari, but still not quite there.

But the absence of any dominant Hamilton figure on the grid actually created a cracking season, with seven different drivers from five different manufacturers winning races. With just two of the 15 rounds remaining, no fewer than five drivers were in contention for a crack at the title, with one to go three still remained in the race. Of which more in a minute.

It was also a staggeringly popular sport among drivers and constructors. There were so many that plenty often failed to qualify. At the Belgian Grand Prix there were 31 cars on the grid. And no fewer than seven constructors made their debut at the top level – Amon, Hesketh, Lola, Parnelli, Penske, Token and Trojan. Imagine that today. Actually don’t bother, it’ll only make you sad.

The cars looked brilliant too, slithering around on their fat crossply Goodyears, not yet subject of the tyranny of downforce, tall airboxes waving in the air. And there were different sounds too, from flat-12 Ferraris, V12 BRMs and, of course the ubiquitous V8 Cosworths.

But why all this now? Simply because 1974 had a claim to fame that made it unique in the history of the Formula 1 World Championship, before or since. It was the only season in which the two chief protagonists entered the final race of the season with equal points. Until, you cannot fail to have noticed, now.

Back then it was not an Englishman and a Dutchman fighting it out, but a Brazilian and a Swiss, Emerson Fittipaldi and Clay Regazzoni. Emmo had won more races for McLaren – three to Clay’s one – but Regga had been captain consistent, helped by the almost unbustable qualities of Ferrari’s superb flat formation motor.

There was a third contender too, the young gun and still loose cannon that was Jody Scheckter. The previous year his impetuosity at the British Grand Prix had taken out over a third of the grid and led to calls for him to be banned. At the same event this year he’d stalked Lauda for the entire race, then when the Ferrari suffered a puncture took a commanding second win for himself and for his Tyrrell team since the retirement of the talismanic Stewart upon the death of François Cevert at Watkins Glen the year before.

So as the circus rolled into the Glen once more, who would drive away with the title? As usual, there were millions of possible permutations but with Emmo and Regga equal on 52 points and Jody trailing on 45, Scheckter had to win to have any chance at all. If he didn’t (and quite possibly even if he did) whichever one of Fittipaldi and Regazzoni scored more points would be champion. What a showdown it would be!

Right up to the moment it proved to be nothing of the sort. It turned out to be complete damp squib of a race, and completely overshadowed by yet another appalling accident, this time a poorly constructed barrier claiming the life of the affable Austrian Helmuth Koinigg. Quite shockingly he was the fourth Formula 1 driver to have been killed since the start of the previous season, after Roger Williamson, Cevert and Peter Revson.

The race was a Brabham benefit, its drivers Carlos Reutemann and Carlos Pace running away to a one-two win, a minute clear of the field. Perhaps the most interesting facet was James Hunt scoring his third podium of the year for Hesketh. Having already won the non-championship International Trophy Race at Silverstone earlier in the year, car and driver were rapidly proving no flash in the pan.

As for our contenders, Scheckter and Regazzoni lacked race pace, allowing Fittipaldi to control the gap, look after his car and come home fourth, Jody retiring and Regga finishing 11^th, pointless and last but one of drivers to be classified. Abu Dhabi this weekend at least looks likely to be more interesting than that.

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.