1979 South African Grand Prix
The Grand Prix of South Africa 1979 took place on March 3, held at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit and was the third race of the Formula 1 season 1979.
- 3.1 Start -up
- 3.2 race
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
- 4.2 Constructors' Championship
Reports
Background
In the dominance of the Ligier team in the first two races of the season several competitors saw the reason to promote the development of their own Wing Cars faster. Thus, the Scuderia Ferrari 312T4 to put the race in South Africa for the first time at the start, went to Ensign Racing and Fittipaldi Automotive with the N179 with the F6.
In the field of riders there were no changes compared to the Brazilian Grand Prix, which had previously taken place about a month.
Training
The training ended with the surprising result that Jean -Pierre Jabouille reached the pole position ahead of the two new Ferrari by Jody Scheckter and Gilles Villeneuve in the Renault RS01. Niki Lauda qualified for the fourth place. The two Ligier driver Patrick Depailler Jacques Laffite and which had formed in the reverse order, the first row in the two previous Grand Prix, this time occupied the third row.
Race
In rainy conditions on race day Jabouille retained initially the lead ahead of Scheckter and Villeneuve. Shortly after Villeneuve had fought in the second round at both past the top, the race was interrupted due to a downpour.
Upon reboot, still prevailed unstable weather. However, some pilots decided to go on slicks in the race. Villeneuve, who had been lying at the point canceled forward, started from pole position and was able to work out during the first rounds of a head start. However, as the track began to dry, those drivers had an advantage, who had chosen the dry tires.
In the 15th round Villeneuve headed to the pits to make change his tires. His teammate Scheckter took over by the leadership. Villeneuve lost through the pit stop, but only one position. He stopped in front of Patrick Tambay and Nelson Piquet.
Favored by engine problems on Piquet's car came Jean -Pierre Jarier and Mario Andretti in this as well as to Patrick Tambay over to the third and fourth places. Jean -Pierre Jabouille took the fifth place, but fell shortly thereafter for the umpteenth time because of damage to the Renault turbo engine. In addition, since Jacques Laffite had turned off due to a puncture, Carlos Reutemann could occupy the fifth place ahead of Nelson Piquet.
In the 52nd round Scheckter had to change his tires in the pits, which Villeneuve again took the lead. By the end of the race, the South Africans could shorten the projection of Canadian still at around three and a half seconds. However, a home win, as he was succeeded in 1975, he could not repeat. Jarier was third ahead of Andretti, Reutemann and Lauda.
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).