A very open season

Ronnie Peterson (Lotus 76-Ford) leads Niki Lauda (Ferrari 312B3) and back-marker Tim Schenken in his Trojan-Ford, during the 1974 Spanish Grand Prix held at Jarama, near Madrid. The 1974 was turning out to be one of the most open ever, with five drivers of four teams, having won the first five races (including the non-championship Race of Champions, and International Trophy).

The Spanish Grand Prix, 4th round of 15 of the 1974 Formula One season, marked the debuts of the Trojan and Amon teams and of Rikky von Opel from Liechtenstein in a Brabham.

Niki Lauda took pole position from Ronnie Peterson (picture-below), but it was Peterson, in his surprisingly competitive Lotus 76, who led from the start as rain began to fall. As the track dried, cars dived into the pits and Lauda took the lead and won the race in front of his team mate Regazzoni in a Ferrari 1-2. It was Lauda’s first of 25 Grand Prix victories.