fbpx

Baton change

18. Feb 2022 
by Ziv Knoll
3726 views

The Ligier JS11-Cosworth, designed by engineer Gérard Ducarouge, won three of the first five Grand Prix of the 1979 F1 season in the hands of Jacques Laffite and Patrick Depailler (picture above), which they qualified respectively fifth and third for round 7, the 1979 Monaco Grand Prix.

Nevertheless, on the twisty circuit of Monaco, the Ferrari 312T4’s of Jody Scheckter and Gilles Villeneuve locked the front row. On the second row we found Depailler (Ligier) and Lauda (Brabham), always excellent in the Principality.

The 76-lap race was won from pole position by Jody Scheckter, driving a Ferrari. In a race of attrition, Clay Regazzoni, starting from the 16th position, steadily climbed through the field to finish a close second, in front of Carlos Reutemann’s Lotus. Patrick Depailler set the fastest lap of the race and finished 5th, despite an engine failure on the last lap.

This victory enabled Jody Scheckter to take the lead in the champion standings with 34 points, from Jacques Laffite (24) and team mate Gilles Villeneuve (20), who both had to retire and did not score any points.

Picture below: Jody Scheckter and Gilles Villeneuve (Ferrari) lead in the early stages of the 1979 Monaco Grand Prix.

 

Source: DR

Leave a comment