First victory for Pironi

Zolder, Belgian Formula One Grand Prix 1980. Didier Pironi, at the wheel of his Ligier JS11/15, took the first of his three wins. He should have won more races in F1, but his career was shortened by a terrible accident at Hockenheim, two years later.

The race was basically a duel between the two Ligiers of Pironi and Laffite and the two Williams’ of Jones and Reutemann. Jones took a convincing pole in front of Pironi, Laffite, Reutemann and the two Renault’s of Jabouille and Arnoux.

At the start, Pironi took the lead and never looked back. He won by 47 seconds over the Australian and eventual 1980 champion, Alan Jones in his Williams FW07B. Three French drivers appeared in the top-6: Arnoux (Renault) in fourth and Jarier (Tyrrell) in fifth.