Trans Am Champion Eppie Wietzes Passes Away at the Age of 82
The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli is sad to report on the passing of former champion Eppie Wietzes.
Eppie Wietzes competed in 33 career Trans Am races between 1981 and 1986. His best year was his rookie campaign, winning his only two career races en route to the championship. Wietzes debuted with a victory at Charlotte in his own Corvette. He also won at Trois Rivieres, in additions to seconds at Portland, Road America and Brainerd, among six podium finishes.
He also had seven top-five finishes and eight top-10s.
Over his career, he amassed 20 top-fives and 25 top-10s. Wietzes was credited as car owner in all but two of his races, driving a Corvette, Pontiac Trans-Am, Pontiac Firebird and Chevrolet Camaro. He finished sixth in his last race, at St. Petersburg in 1986.
Born in the Netherlands in 1938, Wietzes moved to Canada at age 12. He raced in the inaugural Canadian Grand Prix at Mosport in 1967 and also competed in the 1974 event at Mosport, retiring from both events with mechanical issues. He also raced in both the Canadian and U.S. Formula 5000 series and the IMSA Camel GTP championship.
He was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame in its inaugural class in 1993.
Sources: gotransam.com