Vadim Pshenichnikov

Vadim Pshenichnikov in uniform, circa 1966

23 June 1944

Smolensk, Soviet Union

**Vadim Ivanovich Pshenichnikov** (Russian: Вадим Иванович Пшеничников) was a Soviet racing driver who participated in the Soviet version of Formula One and in the International Formula One Championship.

He passed away on 26th December 1986 from thyroid cancer, months after being allegedly present in Ukraine during the Chernobyl Disaster. The Kremlin denied his involvement in the cleanup of the disaster, but footage and documents released in 1997 showed that he was indeed present in the area at the time.

## Personal life

Vadim was born on 23 October 1943 in Smolensk, Soviet Union and is the son of Ivan Pshenichnikov and Ludmila Pshenichnikov. He was born less than a year after the liberation of the city by Soviet forces in the Second Battle of Smolensk. His father Ivan was one of the first soldiers to enter the city when it was liberated. Here he met Ludmila, and they married shortly after.

His father, Ivan Pshenichnikov served as a military officer during World War 2. After the war, Ivan continued to serve in the military until 1958 when he joined the KGB.

Due to Vadim's father, he spent most of his childhood near military bases and quickly showed an interest in machinery.

## Military career

Vadim was conscripted into the Soviet army just before he turned 18 and completed his military service between 1961-1962.

After his military service, Vadim took employment in the Soviet Army and served as a tank driver and mechanic in the 5th Separate Tank Brigade between 1962 and 1965 while stationed in Germany.

In late 1965, Vadim moved back to the Soviet Union and took residence in Moscow. There is unfortunately very little known about Vadim during this time until his entry in the 1968 London-Sydney Marathon rally.

## Racing career

### Early racing career

Vadim started out in Motorsport as a teenager by racing modified tractors in unofficial races.

### London-Sydney Marathon (1968)

As a part of the Avtoexport Team, Vadim drove a Moskvitch 408 and finished 4th overall.

### Soviet Formula 1 Championship (1971-1974)

Vadim started professional racing in the 1971 season of the USSR Formula 1 Championship where he raced a Moskvitch G5. He continued in the Soviet championships until 1974 where he entered the international Formula oNE championship with Frank Williams Racing Cars.

### Formula One World Championship

#### **1974**

Vadim got the chance to drive in Formula One in 1974 where he visited the German Grand Prix. He had approached Frank Williams after the crash of Hank Stephenson which would render him unable to compete. Frank needed a driver and Vadim had experience in open wheelers. Vadim had to enter the race under the pseudonym "Viktor Richter" and raced under a German flag. Vadim showed decent pace but retired on lap 5 after a gearbox issue. He also raced in the following Austrian and Italian Grand Prix.

#### **1975**

For the 1975 season, Vadim was approached by Bruce Mclaren to drive full time for his team. He accepted McLaren's offer and relocated to the UK under the name "Viktor Pearce".

Just ahead of the Argentinian Grand Prix, the FIA discovered that Vadim had entered under a false name and was banned from participating in the race.

After some heated discussions with the FIA and the Soviet government, he was finally allowed to race under the USSR flag and resumed his Russian name ahead of the South African Grand Prix.

Vadim missed out on a couple of rounds in the middle of the 1975 season because of what he called, "Mandatory vacation in Siberia".

In the 1975 Italian Grand Prix, Vadim suffered a broken Tibula after colliding with his teammate, Maria Parker. Due to the severity of the injury, the FIA forced Vadim to miss the two following rounds and McLaren replaced him with the previously unknown Russian 'Poddel Noyeimya'.

Vadim was very vocal about this ban stating:

> "It crap FIA not allow Vadim to race. It only little broken leg. I sit in car, not run marathon. Very safe. no problem."
>
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> - Vadim Pshenichnikov
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>

Shortly following the statements against the FIA, Vadim left the hospital against Doctors orders and was later spotted near Malapesa Airport.

After his accident in the 1975 Italian Grand Prix, Vadim disappeared from public view. This extended hiatus carried on until the start of the 1978 season where he, with no prior announcement, arrived in the paddock alongside the newly formed Warsteiner Arrows Racing Team. In an interview prior to the 1978 South African Grand Prix, Pshenichnikov stated that he spent his time away from racing doing work in Moscow, as well as 'vacationing' in Cambodia and Bangladesh.

#### **1978**

For the 1978 season, Vadim returned to the Formula One paddock and joined Warsteiner Arrows Racing Team alongside Ed Houben.

#### **1983**

Vadim one again returned to the sport in 1983, once again with Arrows. He had a disappointing season, and left the sport after the 1983 British Grand Prix.

## Death

Pshenichnikov passed away on Boxing Day of 1986 due to Thyroid Cancer. Rumours circulated that he was involved in the cleanup operation of the Chernobyl Disaster, which the KGB and Soviet government strongly denied for some time.

However, declassified footage released in 1997 did appear to show that Pshenichnikov was present in the area at the time of the disaster. The footage showed Vadim assisting in the hoisting of a Soviet flag on a tower at the plant in October 1986, just two months before Pshenichnikov's death. Furthermore, documents revealed that he had been called in by the KGB and Soviet authorities in order to help control the narrative of the disaster and to coordinate liquidators in cleaning up radiation in the wider area.

Vadim was posthumously awarded the Order of the Red Banner in January 1987 for his service to the Soviet Union.

## Controversy

### **Espionage allegations**

Vadim was accused of both espionage and sabotage several times during his career but none of the allegations were proven.

### **United States Grands Prix**

Vadim wasn't able to attend any Grand Prix in the United States due to being unable to procure a visa because of his connections with the KGB. Eventually, he was given permission to race in America prior to the 1978 United States Grand Prix West.

### **KGB Connections**

Although Vadim Pshenichnikov did not have any official ties to the KGB, he had on a number of occasions been linked to KGB activity and officials. When questioned, Vadim and the KGB had repeatedly denied any such associations.

## References

1. ↑ LINK
> "After deliberating with the medical staff at the hospital in Milan, the FIA has decided to not allow Vadim Pshenichnikov to participate in the upcoming race at Mosport.
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> Vadim is of course very angry at this decision as he thinks that he's fit to drive. We're working closely with the FIA to try to get Vadim in the car as soon as possible. In the mean time, we've decided to bring in Poddel Noyeimya as a replacement driver for this weekend.
>
>

> Vadim will not be available for comments."
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> - Alfred McCarthy, Head of marketing. Marlboro Team McLaren
>
>

LINK