1971 Watkins Glen 6 Hours

Alfa Romeo makes it three

Watkins Glen, NY, July 24th.
The might of Stuttgart bowed to the dogged persistence of Alfa Romeo in the final round of the 1971 International Championship for Makes at the Watkins Glen race circuit when Andrea de Adamich and Ronnie Peterson handed Ing. Carlo Chiti's Autodelta Racing Team their third victory of the year in the last event to be run under the 5- and 3-litre Groups 5 and 6 rules. Though it was de Adamich's second trip to the winner's circle this season, after having partnered Henri Pescarolo in the BOAC 1,000 Km. on April 4th when Alfa recorded its first international triumph in 20 years, the race marked the first such win for Sweden's Ronnie Peterson to add to his 1971 tally of Formula Two victories and high placings in Formula One races.

Though there was little at stake in the season-closing endurance race, since Porsche had already taken the title by virtue of eight wins in the ten preceding races, the outcome doubtless provided much in the way of encouragement for Milan to get on with it for 1972, when their pretensions to the crown will be contested by a renewed effort from Ferrari, possibly a strong challenge from Matra-Simca, plus the various Cosworth DFV-powered machines.