Arrows close to a miracle

Riccardo Patrese (Arrows A1-Cosworth) and Jacques Laffite (Ligier JS7-Matra) battle it out at the 1978 South African Formula One Grand Prix held at Kyalami (picture-above). Patrese and his new Arrows were instantly competitive, qualified seventh and led the race comfortably, till the engine blew.

The Italian remembers: “The first Arrows was built in seven weeks, and when we flew it to the first race in Brazil it hadn’t turned a wheel, because Silverstone was under 10 cm of snow. In practice in Rio the fuel wouldn’t pick up unless the tank was half full, so I qualified with heavy tanks, and in the race I had to stop for more fuel, but I finished 10th. So we knew that when the got the fuel system right, the car would be quick.”

Riccardo Patrese continues: “And quick it was. Second race, the South African Grand Prix at Kyalami, by lap 27 I was in the lead. The car was good, everything seemed easy. It was a fantastic day, because it was only the team’s second race. I stayed in front until, with 14 laps to go, the engine blew. A very big disappointment.” 

The car was competitive indeed, and Patrese finished second in Sweden, but no more opportunity of victory for the new Arrows team, that will never succeed to win a Grand Prix. Patrese will have to wait till the 1982 Monaco Grand Prix, to finally triumph in a Brabham.