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Pressure at the Glen

25. Jul 2022 
by Ziv Knoll
4423 views

In the summer of 1977, Hans Joachim Stuck had scored two consecutive podiums in the Brabham-Alfa. Always running well ‘at home’ at Hockenheim and Zeltweg, the tall German finished twice third and thought his seat at Brabham was safe for 1978.

Just before the US Grand Prix held at Watkins Glen however, Bernie Ecclestone owner of Brabham at the time, told him that he expected him to win at least one race before the end of the year, if he wanted to be retained for one more season.

Stuck understood the message perfectly and qualified on the front row, next to pole sitter Hunt, and in front of his team mate John Watson in third.

At the start, it began to drizzle, Stuck quickly jumped ahead of Hunt and took the lead followed by Andretti, Reutemann, Peterson, Lauda and Scheckter. The German, was performing very well in the wet, and pulled away from Hunt’s McLaren despite some clutch worries.

On lap 15 however, still leading the race from Hunt, 4 seconds behind, Stuck struggling to make gear changes without a clutch, popped out of gear entering a corner and went straight on. It was the end of his race. Hunt (McLaren) won the race from Andretti (Lotus) and Scheckter (Wolf).

A few weeks later, Ecclestone proudly announced the arrival of Niki Lauda in the team for 1978, and John Watson as his second driver. Stuck (picture below) had lost his drive…

 

 

Source: DR

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