1983 European Grand Prix
The Grand Prix of Europe 1983 took place on 25 September at the Brands Hatch Circuit held in the UK and was the 14th race of the Formula 1 season 1983.
- 3.1 qualifying
- 3.2 race
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
- 4.2 Constructors' Championship
Reports
Background
For the first time a race with the sole title was Grand Prix of Europe organized a World Championship race, after this term was previously only awarded to 1977 altering national Grand Prix as an additional honorary title. As a venue Brands Hatch was elected, which for the first time took place within a year, two world championship races in the UK.
For Williams, it was decided again against a race for the new FW09 with Honda turbo engine. Instead, they reported a third works car of the type FW08C for the test driver Jonathan Palmer, who thus came to his Grand Prix debut. The Team Theodore Racing, however, has reduced its exposure to financial reasons, to only one vehicle. Johnny Cecotto had to renounce in favor of Roberto Guerrero to participate in the race weekend, limiting the number of training participants was stable overall was 29.
Before the penultimate race of the season had with Alain Prost, René Arnoux and Nelson Piquet, three pilots from three different teams a realistic chance of winning the drivers' world championship.
Training
For the first time in his Grand Prix career, Elio de Angelis qualified for the pole position. For Team Lotus, this was the first pole since the Grand Prix of Canada 1978. Brabham driver Riccardo Patrese behind also followed with Nigel Mansell, the second Lotus driver. Nelson Piquet started in fourth in front of his title rival René Arnoux. The third title aspirant Alain Prost followed behind Patrick Tambay and Eddie Cheever on the eighth place.
Fastest of the still equipped with conventional naturally aspirated pilots was again the reigning World Champion Keke Rosberg. He qualified for the 16th place.
Race
Shortly after the start de Angelis was overtaken by Patrese. Mansell, Piquet and Cheever followed in the stands three to five. In the second round Mansell was overtaken by Piquet. Prost took over in the ninth round to his teammate Cheever.
When de Angelis dueled in the twelfth round with Patrese at the top, both pilots turned. Piquet took over by the tip. Before Prost reached the spot, Patrese was able to continue the race in second place, while de Angelis initially fell back to sixth place and had to retire shortly after.
Apart from the phase of pit stops came in the further course of the race no further overtaking maneuvers at the top. The third place was taken by the technical reasons falling back from Tambay in the 65th round of Mansell. This also confirmed the competitiveness of the Lotus team this weekend after a good workout result by completing the fastest lap of the race. Behind Andrea de Cesaris took Derek Warwick for the third time in a row, a place in the points. His team-mate Bruno Giacomelli received sixth his first World Championship point of the year, thus confirming an upward trend in Toleman.
As Alain Prost took the second place, he was before the season finale in South Africa in the World Cup standings while still leading, but with only two points ahead of Nelson Piquet.
Message list
Classifications
Qualifying
Race
WM stands after the race
The first six of the race were 9, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point (s).