Lauda’s quest

The 1984 South African Grand Prix was held at Kyalami on 7 April 1984. It was race 2 of 16 in the 1984 Formula One World Championship. This 75-lap race was won by Niki Lauda, driving a McLaren-TAG, with teammate Alain Prost, who started from the pitlane, second and Derek Warwick third, a lap down, in a Renault.

Picture above: Niki Lauda, McLaren MP4/2 takes the checkered flag to win the 1984 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami. After his teammate’s Prost victory in Brazil, this win was welcome and launched Lauda’s quest for a third crown.

Qualifying had seen reigning World Champion Nelson Piquet take the first of an eventual nine pole positions (!) for 1984 in his Brabham-BMW, but the Brazilian was forced to retire on lap 29 with a broken turbo.

By finishing third in his Renault, Derek Warwick gained the first F1 podium of his career, while completing the top six were Riccardo Patrese, fourth in his Alfa Romeo that for once held the distance, Andrea de Cesaris (Ligier-Renault) who did not crash… and, gaining his first ever championship point, Ayrton Senna in his Toleman-Hart. The Brazilian is seen here-below, leading his Venezuelan teammate Johnny Ceccoto (dnf).