1975 Spanish Grand Prix
The Spanish Grand Prix 1975 was held on 27 April at the Circuit de Montjuïc in Barcelona and was the fourth round of the Formula 1 season 1975.
- 3.1 Start -up
- 3.2 race
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
- 4.2 Constructors' Championship
Reports
Background
Almost two months after the Grand Prix of South Africa the Spain GP was on the program, which should take place according to the annual change to the Circuito Permanente del Jarama again this year on the temporary race course on Montjuïc in Barcelona.
In the meantime, two not for the World Cup scoring formula 1 race had taken place. Tom Pryce had used this opportunity to ask with a victory in the Race of Champions at Brands Hatch, the competitiveness of the Shadow DN5 proof. The International Trophy at Silverstone Niki Lauda won with the new Ferrari 312T for themselves.
The team of Frank Williams stepped up to a new car and a new driver in Spain. Namely, since Jacques Laffite participated in a simultaneously occurring Formula 2 race at the Nürburgring, Tony Brise was given a chance on his Grand Prix debut. There were also two other debutants this weekend, and although Alan Jones, who went to the start in a private Hesketh, and Roelof Wunderink, who brought a new main sponsor for Ensign Racing whereby the team makes their first appearance in the 1975 season been.
Graham Hill was represented in his own team of François Migault. This therefore steered the second now officially known as " Hill GH1 " designated car alongside regular driver Rolf Stommelen, whereby the former Lola customer team was finally as a work team with the name "Embassy Hill ".
Training
Right at the start of the weekend, it was found that the barriers of the temporary track had only been insufficiently tightened and also other preparations did not meet the usual standards in terms of safety. The drivers union GPDA decided that under the leadership of reigning world champion Emerson Fittipaldi to strike against the Grand Prix.
Of the regular drivers then took only Jacky Ickx, who was not a member of the GPDA, the first training part. Besides it only drove Vittorio Brambilla one timed lap, he slowly but deliberately completed. The organizers have pledged then to improve the safety precautions in the course of the following night. To make this possible in such a short time, even sporadically mechanic of the racing teams were used to using.
On the second day, the drivers were still not satisfied with the result of the work and boycotted the training continues. Besides Ickx completed on Saturday morning only Bob Evans and freshman Roelof Wunderink official practice rounds. Then the organizers threatened to confiscate the entire Formula 1 material, which was in the paddock repurposed Olympic Stadium of Montjuïc, provided that the driver refused to continue to take the training. As also the CSI verlautbarte that the security measures are sufficient, the teams gave way and all the pilots took part in the qualification. Only Emerson Fittipaldi remained consistently by only completed three laps deliberately slow and refused to participate in the race.
The two Ferrari drivers Niki Lauda and Clay Regazzoni qualified for the front row. The second row split with James Hunt Mario Andretti. This was followed by Vittorio Brambilla and John Watson. Due to the shorter training time there were some unusual placements. Thus qualified, for example, the counting of the favorites Jody Scheckter on Tyrrell and the two Brabham of Carlos Reutemann and Carlos Pace only for places 13, 14 and 15
Race
Shortly after the start Brambilla tried to overtake the started right in front of him Andretti. The two collided, after Andretti crashed into the back of Lauda's Ferrari. This difference from when he was in turn pushed into the side of Regazzoni car. Although this made the way into the box and took the race after a repair stop again, but lay back hopeless. This came in the Hunt, ahead of Andretti, Watson, Stommelen, Brambilla and Pace.
For three other pilots already ended the race after just one lap, with Wilson Fittipaldi and Arturo Merzario aware tasks to demonstrate their protest against the organizers. Patrick Depailler different from the other hand due to a broken suspension.
In the fourth round, engine damage, making oil came on the track happened to Jody check Marketers car. As a result, injured Alan Jones and Penske driver Mark Donohue at this point. Three laps later followed them James Hunt. Andretti led by before Watson and Stommelen. Over the next few rounds Watson fell back because handling problems and Andretti out due to a suspension from damage. Rolf Stommelen thus attaining the leadership position before Carlos Pace, Ronnie Peterson, Jochen Mass and Jacky Ickx. Peterson retired in the 24th round in the course of an unsuccessful maneuver lapping against François Migault.
Two laps later, the rear wing broke on the car of the leading Stommelen. He bounced uncontrollably into the guardrail and was thrown back from this to the track. Then the immediately following Pace had to swerve to avoid a collision. In the course of which he had an accident while Stommelens car touched the guard rails on the opposite side of the road and somersaulted over the latter. Five standing there spectators died and Stommelen himself suffered serious injuries. The overburdened with this chaotic situation organizers did not arrive until four laps later the decision to stop the race. Meanwhile, Jacky Ickx was from Jochen Mass was overtaken, which thus reached his first and only Grand Prix victory. Jean -Pierre Jarier came in third place, but was punished with a time penalty, since he had previously overtaken Reutemann under yellow flags.
The time of abandonment, since less than half of the scheduled race distance had been completed, the drivers were on the first six places for the first time in the history of Formula 1, only half of the points. Among them was Lella Lombardi, who received 0.5 points as the sixth- place finisher. It is to this day the only points placing a woman in Formula 1
The decision of Emerson Fittipaldi, who had already departed, ultimately proved to be correct. As a consequence of the events since then was no Formula 1 racing is held at this track.
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).