Regazzoni killed in road accident.

Former grand prix driver Clay Regazzoni has died following a road accident in Italy, aged 67.

According to the Ansa news agency, the former Ferrari and Williams driver was killed in a collision with a lorry on a motorway near Parma.

The popular Swiss driver made his Formula One debut with Ferrari in the 1970 Dutch GP at Zandvoort, qualifying in sixth place and coming home fourth behind team-mate Jacky Ickx. Further top four finishes followed at Brands Hatch and the ?sterreichring before he clinched his maiden win - and his place in the hearts of the tifosi - in the Italian GP at Monza.

Continuing at Ferrari for the following two seasons, Regazzoni failed to add to his victory tally and, having been dropped by the Scuderia for the 1973 season, he was paired with Niki Lauda at BRM. However, it was to be just a short stay away from Maranello, as Regazzoni returned to Ferrari in 1974, with Lauda once again his team-mate.

That season, he finished fifth or higher in all bar one of the races he finished - including a second career win in Germany - and ended the season second in the championship standings, just three points behind Emerson Fittipaldi.

Regazzoni added further wins to his tally in 1975 and 1976, but was replaced by Carlos Reutemann for the 1977 season and moved on to the small Ensign team. Two fifth place finishes towards the end of the year would be the highlight and, for 1978, Regazzoni was on the move again as he signed for Shadow. However, it was a challenging season that looked like being his last in F1 before Frank Williams handed him a lifeline, and a seat alongside Alan Jones for 1979.

Although the Australian was number one within the team, it was Regazzoni who took his place in history with Williams' maiden win in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. However, it was not enough for him to keep his seat, as he was ousted at the end of the year in favour of Reutemann, returning for a second spell with Ensign.

Sadly, the relationship would prove to be a short one, as an accident at Long Beach - the result of brake failure - not only ended Regazzoni's race but also his Formula One career, with serious spinal damage leaving him paralysed and confined to a wheelchair.

Although he would never walk again, Regazzoni did manage to compete in other forms of motorsport away from F1, including the Dakar Rally and numerous saloon car races, using specially adapted cars. He would also become a regular commentator on Swiss TV.

Crash.net extends its full sympathies to Clay's family and friends.