Kumschick leads F1 desert storm

Fredy Kumschick beat Michael Schumacher by some five hours to become the first man to win a Formula One race at the new Bahrain grand prix circuit

The Swiss led Richard Eyre to a Williams 1-2 in the opening round of the Thoroughbred Grand Prix Series, giving original team sponsors Saudia Airlines and TAG a regional home win.

Hubertus Bahlsen put his Arrows A4 on pole position, but Eyre got the better start and slotted his FW08 into the lead. Joaquin Folch’s FW08 challenged Kumschick for third on the first lap, but the driver in the FWO7C didn’t see his rival, tapping the Spaniard into a spin.

Bahlsen passed Eyre for the lead on lap five, but then came under attack from Kumschick. When the latter got by on lap seven Bahlsen ran a little wide and spun. Eyre then pushed Kumschick to the flag, while a frustrated Bahlsen salvaged third.

Mike Wrigley had a good run to fourth and won Class D in his Tyrrell 012, while David Abbott took fifth in his Ensign N180.

Nick May was sixth in a Lotus 91, while Folch recovered to take seventh. Mauro Pane’s Tyrrell P34 retired on the last lap, leaving Rodrigo Gallego to claim Class B in his March 761B, which had survived being flipped by a marshal’s tow truck in practice!

John Wilson qualified a strong third in his Tyrrell 011, but did not start because his engine failed. Also missing was Tony Hancock, who had a practice crash after the brakes failed on the Lotus 88B. The tub of the unique twin chassis car was badly damaged. AC