F1 Blog

For Ferrari and their 2 drivers Gilles Villeneuve and Jody Scheckter the 1979 Formula 1 championship had thus far, proven to be a successful one. Gilles and his 2 early season victories at Longbeach and Kyalami left him with 20 points after the first 4 races, and the championship lead. Unfortunately for him a mid-season lull left him with only 6 more points by the end of the 10th round. These coming courtesy of an inspiring duel with Rene Arnoux in France. Meanwhile, the hard-charging Scheckter had scored consistently all season, and wins in rounds 6 & 7 at Zolder and Monaco found himself and his Ferrari 312 T4 leading the race for the title as they headed for the coast of Holland.

Round 12 at Zandvoort. The Ferrari team had high hopes as Gilles was coming off a 2nd place at the Osterreichring and Scheckter had yet another points finish. Qualifying proved tough for the team, Australian Alan Jones was on a roll, winner of the previous 2 races in his Williams/Cosworth V8 he qualified 2nd behind the 1.5lt Renault Turbo of Rene Arnoux. Villeneuve was 6th behind team-mate Scheckter.

Race day, and a warm but cloudy day greeted the teams as they completed final preparations for the race. As they lined up on the grid Ferrari knew in race trim their car was good, their main rival Jones and his V8.

The lights went out. The race was on. Scheckter had trouble, his clutch cooking in the anticipation of the start, he dropped to 18th. Villeneuve, on the other-hand leapt from the line like a scared rabbit. The low down pulling power of his Flat 12 too much for those in front of him. They barrelled down pit-straight heading for “Tarzan” the first right-hander. Gilles only match was Jones and his two-car head-start. Arnoux and his rev-happy turbo could only watch as his pole-position drove away. Jones lead Villeneuve through the hairpin and round the 4.3 kilometre circuit. After 10 laps of harrowing Jones, Gilles made his move. Down pit-straight heading again for “Tarzan” the scarlet Ferrari pulled out from behind the Williams and under braking gave Jones the fright of his life. Right on the ragged edge of the corner Villeneuve took Jones on the outside and with it the lead!! Leaving the Australian nothing but a tight inside line and no traction. Brilliant!!

Villeneuve slowly etched out a lead pushing harder and harder, but in doing so losing precious grip in those massive black Michelins. Unknown to Gilles he had picked up a slow puncture which was losing pressure. At the chicane, the tyre couldn`t hold, he lost it!! In true Villeneuve tradition he buried the throttle in an attempt to stay on track with the engine running, the red cars 12 cylinders let off a deafening shrill at 12,000 revs as Gilles drove through a cloud of smoke to now become the hunter. Jones had passed through.

Now driving like a man possessed he was pulling no punches in an effort to catch the Williams. Little did he know that the tyre only had one more lap in it. As the T4 passed the pits again, Bang! It went. Villeneuve struggled with a car jumping about violently as he headed for the barriers at the hairpin. Worse still he could see Ricardo Patreses` damaged Arrows sitting there, dormant. Villeneuve wrenched at the wheel attempting to avoid any impact. The 3 remaining tyres howled as smoke and sparks showered the Ferrari. As the dust settled the crowd cheered in amazement at Gilles and his ability to tame the red beast. From the outside the car it didn`t look like it was going anywhere. But Gilles Villeneuve was driving this Ferrari!! The now desperate pilot miraculously bought Enzo`s thumping 12 to life. Jamming it into reverse he shot back on the track. Gilles was on a mission. The Pits. For the next 4km he managed to keep his battered war-horse on the track, the mangled rear tyre was flailing about much like an anchor rather than a wheel. The weight of the engine sat the rear of the car on its haunches, sparks flew from underneath, the bodywork wearing away. The car staggered into the pits. The mechanics looked solemnly at the once proud 312.

Villeneuve though, restrained only by his own safety harness was screaming, “put a f***king wheel on there!” “Let me go out again!” Finally the rush of adrenaline had ceased. Out of his car Villeneuve saw the extent of the damage. His day was finished.

After the race some of the teams and officials criticised Gilles for dangerous driving. Irresponsible they cried. Villeneuve`s reply was simply, I didn`t know it was that bad. But for a fan of Gilles Villeneuve, they left Zandvoort that day proud. Proud of their man Gilles. A man who would leave his heart and soul on a race track. A man who never gave up.

For the record Alan Jones won his third Grand Prix in a row, Jody Sheckter, Mr Consistency climbed to 2nd and Jaques Laffite in a Ligier came in 3rd. A win in Monza would give the South African his first World Championship in his first season for Ferrari.

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