NEW CARS

There were quite a number of new cars in the pits for the British Grand Prix. Most notable was the Formula One Renault RS/01 described in the June issue of Motor Sport, though somewhat altered in outward appearance with an entirely new frontal treatment to the bodywork, with a chisel form rather than the original full-width “bluff” nose, and the power-unit being exposed rather than hidden under cowlings. The 1 1/2-litre V6 four-cam engine with exhaust-driven turbo-charger had ducts on the side of the cockpit to scoop air into the inter-cooler situated between the driver and the engine, and this interesting power unit made a deep-throated roar from its single large megaphone exhaust pipe.

The McLaren team had completely rebuilt the original M26 that Mass raced last year, and Hunt crashed during testing in South Africa. Although virtually a new car and officially referred to as M26/3 at the factory, it is in fact a second generation of M26/1, so will be referred, to as M26/1-2. It was driven by Jochen Mass and his usual car M23/12 was the team spare. In Team Lotus the original Type 78 had been pensioned off and replaced by 78/4 in the Lotus series, or JPS 18 in the John Player Special series. Andretti and Nilsson retained their usual cars and this new one, to the same specification, was the team spare.

Down in the woods of Tyrrell country the team had juggled about with their giant Meccano set and fitted the to in. wider front track layout off Depailler’s P34/7 to Peterson’s P34/5. A new front end, half an inch wider still on each side making a total increase of 11 inches, was built onto Depailler’s car, which still had the front-mounted oil radiators. It also had a lighter body shell, the rear track brought out to the maximum and fibre brushes under the nose and the leading edges of the side sponsons to prevent air from getting under the car, unlike the Lotus 78 theory which welcomes air under the car providing it XXXi orderly and well-controlled air. P34/6 in “standard” 1977 form was the team spare. The Brabham team had made no changes to their three cars, apart from rear aerofoil alterations and Ferrari had 031, 029 and 027 of their 312T series cars. Ian Scheckter’s Rothmans International Racing March 761B had a new coat of paint in the bright blue and yellow colours of the cigarette company. Shadow had built a new DN8, number 5A in the series, for Riccardo Patrese, to replace the original DN8 he has been using, and Hesketh produced 308E/4 for Rupert Keegan, to replace the original 308E/1. Team Surtees completed another TS19, number 07 in the series to the same specification as TS19/06 and the new car was for the Durex side of the team, while Beta Tools and Brambilla retained o6. Nunn’s Ensign team still had MN06 ans MN07 for Regazzoni, both cars now having the revised oil radiator layout seen at Dijon and the air deflectors in front of the rear tyres, while MN06 was back to the wide front track layout tried at Dijon, and that was the car they were concentrating on. A third 1977 car had been completed, MN08, and was driven by Tambay. The Wolf team were racing WR1, with WR2 as the spare, and Ligier had their usual pair of JS7 cars. – D.S.J.

Silverstone Sibblings

The RAC/BRDC and all the clubs and thousands of people involved, deserve a warm round of applause for putting on one of the best British Grand Prix meetings for a long time; and spare a thought for all those people involved in the office-work or marshalling or gate-control, who saw nothing of the racing throughout the four days.

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Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham and Roy Salvadori took part in the race for Historic cars, driving 250F Maserati, 250F Maserati, and 3-litre DBR4 Aston Martin respectively, loaned by Neil Corner and Patrick Lindsay. Salvadori led until the Aston’s front suspension collapsed. Moss finished third behind Willie Green (Maserati 250F) and Neil Corner (BRM-P25). The official result: Car number VI did XII laps in a time of XXII. VI. LIX at a speed of CL II.LXVI k.p.h.

making a total increase of t 1 inches, was built cx to Depailler’s car, which still had the fron mounted oil radiators. It also had a lighter bod shell, the rear track brought out to the maximur and fibre brushes under the nose and the leadin edges of the side sponsons to prevent air from gc ing under the car, unlike the Lotus 78 theor which welcomes air under the car providing it i orderly and well-controlled air. P34/6 in “star dard” 1977 form was the team spare. Th Brabham team had made no changes to thei three cars, apart from rear aerofoil alteration: and Ferrari had 031, 029 and 027 of their 312T series cars. Ian Schecktees Rothmans Intel national Racing March 76111 had a new coat c paint in the bright blue and yellow colours of th cigarette company. Shadow had built a net DN8, number 5A in the series, for Riccard Patrese, to replace the original DN8 he has bee using, and Hesketh produced 308E/4 for Rupet Keegan, to replace the original 308E/i. Tear Surtees completed another TS19, number 07 i the series to the same specification as TSI9/of and the new car was for the Durex side of th team, while Beta Tools and Brambilla retaine o6. Nunn’s Ensign team still had MNo6 an MNo7 for Regazzoni, both cars now having di revised oil radiator layout seen at Dijon and th air deflectors in front of the rear tyres, whil MNo6 was back to the wide front track layot tried at Dijon, and that was the car they wet concentrating on. A third 1977 car had bee completed, MNo8, and was driven by Tamba: The Wolf team were racing WR1, with WR2 the spare, and Ligier had their usual pair of JS cars. -D.S. J.

making a total increase of t 1 inches, was built cx to Depailler’s car, which still had the fron mounted oil radiators. It also had a lighter bod shell, the rear track brought out to the maximur and fibre brushes under the nose and the leadin edges of the side sponsons to prevent air from gc ing under the car, unlike the Lotus 78 theor which welcomes air under the car providing it i orderly and well-controlled air. P34/6 in “star dard” 1977 form was the team spare. Th Brabham team had made no changes to thei three cars, apart from rear aerofoil alteration: and Ferrari had 031, 029 and 027 of their 312T series cars. Ian Schecktees Rothmans Intel national Racing March 76111 had a new coat c paint in the bright blue and yellow colours of th cigarette company. Shadow had built a net DN8, number 5A in the series, for Riccard Patrese, to replace the original DN8 he has bee using, and Hesketh produced 308E/4 for Rupet Keegan, to replace the original 308E/i. Tear Surtees completed another TS19, number 07 i the series to the same specification as TSI9/of and the new car was for the Durex side of th team, while Beta Tools and Brambilla retaine o6. Nunn’s Ensign team still had MNo6 an MNo7 for Regazzoni, both cars now having di revised oil radiator layout seen at Dijon and th air deflectors in front of the rear tyres, whil MNo6 was back to the wide front track layot tried at Dijon, and that was the car they wet concentrating on. A third 1977 car had bee completed, MNo8, and was driven by Tamba: The Wolf team were racing WR1, with WR2 the spare, and Ligier had their usual pair of JS cars. -D.S. J.

A study of the starting grid, where each driver’s fastest race lap is given shows that most of them were done late in the race, showing that there was a lot of hard driving going on all the time, unlike some Formula One races where the fast driving is over after 10 or 20 laps.

making a total increase of t 1 inches, was built cx to Depailler’s car, which still had the fron mounted oil radiators. It also had a lighter bod shell, the rear track brought out to the maximur and fibre brushes under the nose and the leadin edges of the side sponsons to prevent air from gc ing under the car, unlike the Lotus 78 theor which welcomes air under the car providing it i orderly and well-controlled air. P34/6 in “star dard” 1977 form was the team spare. Th Brabham team had made no changes to thei three cars, apart from rear aerofoil alteration: and Ferrari had 031, 029 and 027 of their 312T series cars. Ian Schecktees Rothmans Intel national Racing March 76111 had a new coat c paint in the bright blue and yellow colours of th cigarette company. Shadow had built a net DN8, number 5A in the series, for Riccard Patrese, to replace the original DN8 he has bee using, and Hesketh produced 308E/4 for Rupet Keegan, to replace the original 308E/i. Tear Surtees completed another TS19, number 07 i the series to the same specification as TSI9/of and the new car was for the Durex side of th team, while Beta Tools and Brambilla retaine o6. Nunn’s Ensign team still had MNo6 an MNo7 for Regazzoni, both cars now having di revised oil radiator layout seen at Dijon and th air deflectors in front of the rear tyres, whil MNo6 was back to the wide front track layot tried at Dijon, and that was the car they wet concentrating on. A third 1977 car had bee completed, MNo8, and was driven by Tamba: The Wolf team were racing WR1, with WR2 the spare, and Ligier had their usual pair of JS cars. -D.S. J.

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making a total increase of t 1 inches, was built cx to Depailler’s car, which still had the fron mounted oil radiators. It also had a lighter bod shell, the rear track brought out to the maximur and fibre brushes under the nose and the leadin edges of the side sponsons to prevent air from gc ing under the car, unlike the Lotus 78 theor which welcomes air under the car providing it i orderly and well-controlled air. P34/6 in “star dard” 1977 form was the team spare. Th Brabham team had made no changes to thei three cars, apart from rear aerofoil alteration: and Ferrari had 031, 029 and 027 of their 312T series cars. Ian Schecktees Rothmans Intel national Racing March 76111 had a new coat c paint in the bright blue and yellow colours of th cigarette company. Shadow had built a net DN8, number 5A in the series, for Riccard Patrese, to replace the original DN8 he has bee using, and Hesketh produced 308E/4 for Rupet Keegan, to replace the original 308E/i. Tear Surtees completed another TS19, number 07 i the series to the same specification as TSI9/of and the new car was for the Durex side of th team, while Beta Tools and Brambilla retaine o6. Nunn’s Ensign team still had MNo6 an MNo7 for Regazzoni, both cars now having di revised oil radiator layout seen at Dijon and th air deflectors in front of the rear tyres, whil MNo6 was back to the wide front track layot tried at Dijon, and that was the car they wet concentrating on. A third 1977 car had bee completed, MNo8, and was driven by Tamba: The Wolf team were racing WR1, with WR2 the spare, and Ligier had their usual pair of JS cars. -D.S. J.

It was nice to see the British Grand Prix title return officially, after selling our national event to John Player. You could take your choice the year from the British GP, the John Player British GP, the John Player Grand Prix and also the Grand Prix of Europe. The last is a fatuous title bestowed by the FIA which is quite meaningless.

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With supporting races for Formula Three, Saloon cars and Historic cars a formidable number of racing miles were covered by a formidable number of drivers. It is remarkable that there were only two bad accidents throughout the four days: Purley’s crash on the Wednesday as Stephen South in the Formula Three final Saturday.

making a total increase of t 1 inches, was built cx to Depailler’s car, which still had the fron mounted oil radiators. It also had a lighter bod shell, the rear track brought out to the maximur and fibre brushes under the nose and the leadin edges of the side sponsons to prevent air from gc ing under the car, unlike the Lotus 78 theor which welcomes air under the car providing it i orderly and well-controlled air. P34/6 in “star dard” 1977 form was the team spare. Th Brabham team had made no changes to thei three cars, apart from rear aerofoil alteration: and Ferrari had 031, 029 and 027 of their 312T series cars. Ian Schecktees Rothmans Intel national Racing March 76111 had a new coat c paint in the bright blue and yellow colours of th cigarette company. Shadow had built a net DN8, number 5A in the series, for Riccard Patrese, to replace the original DN8 he has bee using, and Hesketh produced 308E/4 for Rupet Keegan, to replace the original 308E/i. Tear Surtees completed another TS19, number 07 i the series to the same specification as TSI9/of and the new car was for the Durex side of th team, while Beta Tools and Brambilla retaine o6. Nunn’s Ensign team still had MNo6 an MNo7 for Regazzoni, both cars now having di revised oil radiator layout seen at Dijon and th air deflectors in front of the rear tyres, whil MNo6 was back to the wide front track layot tried at Dijon, and that was the car they wet concentrating on. A third 1977 car had bee completed, MNo8, and was driven by Tamba: The Wolf team were racing WR1, with WR2 the spare, and Ligier had their usual pair of JS cars. -D.S. J.

making a total increase of t 1 inches, was built cx to Depailler’s car, which still had the fron mounted oil radiators. It also had a lighter bod shell, the rear track brought out to the maximur and fibre brushes under the nose and the leadin edges of the side sponsons to prevent air from gc ing under the car, unlike the Lotus 78 theor which welcomes air under the car providing it i orderly and well-controlled air. P34/6 in “star dard” 1977 form was the team spare. Th Brabham team had made no changes to thei three cars, apart from rear aerofoil alteration: and Ferrari had 031, 029 and 027 of their 312T series cars. Ian Schecktees Rothmans Intel national Racing March 76111 had a new coat c paint in the bright blue and yellow colours of th cigarette company. Shadow had built a net DN8, number 5A in the series, for Riccard Patrese, to replace the original DN8 he has bee using, and Hesketh produced 308E/4 for Rupet Keegan, to replace the original 308E/i. Tear Surtees completed another TS19, number 07 i the series to the same specification as TSI9/of and the new car was for the Durex side of th team, while Beta Tools and Brambilla retaine o6. Nunn’s Ensign team still had MNo6 an MNo7 for Regazzoni, both cars now having di revised oil radiator layout seen at Dijon and th air deflectors in front of the rear tyres, whil MNo6 was back to the wide front track layot tried at Dijon, and that was the car they wet concentrating on. A third 1977 car had bee completed, MNo8, and was driven by Tamba: The Wolf team were racing WR1, with WR2 the spare, and Ligier had their usual pair of JS cars. -D.S. J.

The story of “the race before the race” appears on page 956