4 replies to this topic

[Puntataco]

Dear all, I am working on a research about Interlagos and currently working on the 1980 F-1 race won by Rene Arnoux, his first victory.

1. Two weeks prior to the race, GPDA voted in Buenos Aires if they would or would not race in Interlagos and finally admitted they would GPDA was led at that time by Jody Scheckter and it seems an interview of a brazilian driver in a french newspaper played a key role in this "imbroglio", as this driver seems to have said that it was not safe to drive in Interlagos. Does anybody know something on this?

2. Is here someone that attended this race live and could give some comments/memories?

best regards and it is still time, so Happy New Year to all!!

[midgrid]

Regarding your first point, Autocourse 1980-1981 states that the 1980 Brazilian Grand Prix was originally scheduled to be held at Jacarepaguá, as the track conditions of the Interlagos circuit were deemed to be unsuitable by the FISA, but in December 1979, Interlagos was given a provisional licence to hold the 1980 event, much to the chagrin of Jody Scheckter and several other GPDA members. The GPDA held a vote on the Wednesday before the race at the Sao Paulo Hilton: of the 26 present, 13 voted in favour of a boycott, with 13 against, so the drivers raced (a boycott required a 60 per cent supermajority). There was a dispute over whether the inexperienced drivers such as Bruno Giacomelli, David Kennedy and Stefan Johansson should be allowed to vote, as they had little or no experience of racing a wing car over such a bumpy track, but Mario Andretti was strongly in favour of allowing everyone to vote (perhaps because he wanted the race to go ahead, and knew that the younger drivers were more likely to vote against a boycott). Unfortunately, there is no mention of a newspaper interview.

Edited by midgrid, 03 January 2011 - 15:10.

[Tim Murray]

Autosport magazine says that the GPDA vote was taken at Buenos Aires. The Brazilian driver was Alfonso Giaffone, who was quoted in L'Equipe as saying that: 'The works which have been carried out are plainly insufficient, and the drivers will be taking risks at certain sections. The resurfacing work has created undulations which will be very awkward at 180 mph. The changes to the circuit at the first corner do not solve anything, because it is the second corner - a continuation of the first - which presents the real danger. The lack of space at certain points and the deterioration of the surface are other serious problems.'

[Puntataco]

Autosport probably means Affonso Giaffone (uncle of Felipe Giaffone, father of Affonso Giaffone Jr.)
Interestingly that Autosport/Autocourse say different things, so I guess will need to find a living witness of that event and ask him/her.
Thank you both for your answers, they are really helpful.

[Tim Murray]

Interestingly that Autosport/Autocourse say different things, so I guess will need to find a living witness of that event and ask him/her.

They could possibly both be right. The Autosport issue mentioning the GPDA meeting was the same one containing their Argentine GP report (17-Jan-80) so their info was published long before the drivers got to Sao Paulo. I'd guess that the GPDA might have got together again in Sao Paulo just to reassess the situation and confirm the decision they had made in Buenos Aires.

Edited by Tim Murray, 05 January 2011 - 00:43.