WRDA Secretary Robert Allender recalls "Tom was the only driver I ever saw who could make slick tyres squeal! Eddie Jordan later said the same of Michael Schumacher, so Toms' driving was streets ahead of his time" Tracks at that time had become safer but some, like the Nurburing, the original Osterreichring in Austria, Silverstone, & Brands Hatch, were still major challenge to a driver. Also there were no pits stops for fuel or tyres. So the drivers needed to pace themselves as a grand prix could last up to 2 hours.

Later in 1975 Tom took Pole Position for the British Grand Prix at Silverstone and had 2 laps in the lead in the rain on slick tyres, until he crashed after a heavy rain shower. Just to put that into context 15 other drivers crashed – 12 on one lap – only 4 cars were still running when they red flagged the race.

He then finished 3^rd in Austria held on the  original   daunting Osterreichring, in another rain hit race after starting 15^th . He was closing on James Hunt, who later admitted he was going to pit on the next lap for fresh tyres, and Vittorio Brambilla, who was leading, when they ended the race at half distance. Brambilla crashed as soon as he passed the Flag! So that was definitely a race he could have won. However in the dry he was 3^rd in Brazilian in 1976 behind Niki Lauda and Patrick Depailler, just to prove that wet weather racing wasnt all he could do. Later that same year in the classic Japanese Grand Prix that saw James Hunt crowned as World Champion after Niki Lauda pulled out, Tom was again closing on James just as Hunt was going to pit for fresh tyres, when the engine in Toms Shadow blew up, with the race at his mercy!

Just to give a picture of Toms' impact here are some quotes,