1977 Swedish Grand Prix
The Grand Prix of Sweden 1977 was held on 19 June at the Scandinavian Raceway in Anderstorp place and was the eighth race of the Formula 1 season 1977.
- 3.1 Start -up
- 3.2 race
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
- 4.2 Constructors' Championship
Reports
Background
Two weeks after the inaugural win her compatriot Gunnar Nilsson at the Grand Prix of Belgium anticipated numerous Swedish motorsport fans awaited the eighth race of the season.
The fact that the new shadow team driver Riccardo Patrese took part in this weekend in a Formula 2 race at Mugello, took advantage of the now functioning as a team boss Jackie Oliver for a brief comeback as a Formula 1 driver. His last Grand Prix participation at the U.S. Grand Prix in 1973 was that date back more than three and a half years.
RAM Racing announced a second vehicle for the Finnish Formula 1 rookie Mikko Kozarowitzky.
Training
The tire manufacturer Goodyear, who was the sole supplier of the Formula 1 since 1975, with few exceptions, developed with high-pressure new tire compounds to face the competitors Michelin, whose entry into the Grand Prix racing was imminent, to maintain a competitive advantage. Some of these new types of tires were tested during the training sessions, but did not cause any significant performance differences.
Just like two weeks ago in Belgium sat on the front row of the Lotus 78 of Mario Andretti and John Watson together in a Brabham. Behind qualified James Hunt in the McLaren M26 and in the World Cup still leading Jody Scheckter. Its title rival Niki Lauda, who had meanwhile caught up in the standings to a point, only reached the 15th place.
The 24 fastest of the 31 drivers who had traveled qualified for the race.
Race
Once again succeeded Watson a better start than Andretti, what briefly earned him the lead. Already in the second round, however, Andretti took the lead and defended it to the third last round.
In the 30th round of an overtaking Scheckter against Watson led to a collision, after which Scheckter failed and Watson had to pit to have repairs. James Hunt came by to second place ahead of Patrick Depailler, Jochen Mass, Jacques Laffite and Carlos Reutemann. Within the next five rounds Laffite overtook the three pilots ahead of him and shortened steadily thereafter Andretti's lead. Meanwhile reached level of Depailler over to third place, followed by Reutemann.
As Niki Lauda gave up the race in the 48th lap due to handling problems, remained at this weekend's two leading into the World Cup without points.
Three laps to go had to go with the fuel supply, the box Andretti due to problems. The stop threw him back to sixth place. Laffite took the lead and won his first Grand Prix. It was the first victory of a French driver in a French race car engine with French and French main sponsor.
None of the three local pilots reached the goal. Conny Andersson had already failed with the inferior BRM P207 in the qualifiers, Ronnie Peterson was forced to retire in the eighth lap of the race was the first driver of the day due to a technical defect prematurely and Gunnar Nilsson could not finish the race due to suspension damage, however, was as the 19th and thus counted last, because its failure occurred only in the 65th round.
Message list
Classifications
Line-up
Race
WM stands after the race
The first six of the race were 9, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point (s).