On January 6, 1979, George Harrison and many friends paid tribute to Gunnar Nilsson, a 29 year old Formula One driver that had sadly died of testicular cancer in October of 1978. He was a Scottish born racer, who was admired not only for his driving but for his strength and determination after he was diagnosed. While he could no longer race, he started up the Gunner Nilsson Cancer Treatment Campaign, which this race in 1979 benefited.