1979 Mediterranean Grand Prix
The 18th Gran Premio del Mediterraneo (Grand Prix of the Mediterranean), was the Round Ten of the 1979 European Championship for F2 Drivers. This was held on the Isle of Sicily, at the Autodromo di Pergusa, Enna, on 29 July.[1]
Report
Entry
A total of 25 F2 cars were entered for the event, however just 22 took part in qualifying.[1]
Qualifying
Brian Henton took pole position for the Toleman Group Motorsport, in their Ralt-Hart RT2, averaging a speed of 121.15 mph.[1]
Race
The race was held over 45 laps of the Enna-Pergusa circuit. After a furious battle, Henton took the chequered flag, ahead of Eje Elgh. However, Elgh’s team, Marlboro Team Tiga successfully appealed against Henton using an escape road on the first lap to avoid an accident. Despite being delayed by the first corner incident, Derek Daly followed Elgh home, with his team-mate Stephen South next home. Elgh won in a time of 1hr 11:02.09mins., averaging a speed of 117.564 mph.[1]
Classification
Race Result
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Entrant | Car - Engine | Time, Laps | Reason Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 |  Eje Elgh |
Marlboro Team Tiga | March-BMW 792 | 1hr 11:02.09 | |
| 2 | 7 |  Derek Daly |
Project Four Racing – ICI Racing Team | March-BMW 792 | 1hr 11:18.8 | |
| 3 | 8 |  Stephen South |
Project Four Racing – ICI Racing Team | March-BMW 792 | 1hr 11:23.2 | |
| 4 | 4 |  Teo Fabi |
March Racing Ltd | March-BMW 792 | 1hr 11:38.6 | |
| 5 | 9 |  Eddie Cheever |
Osella Squadra Corse SH | Osella-BMW FA2/79 | 1hr 11:56.2 | |
| 6 | 15 | .svg.png){kind=small} Rad Dougall |
Toleman Group Motorsport | Ralt-Hart RT2 | 1hr 12:04.7 | |
| 7 | 18 | Gianfranco Brancatelli |
Racing Team Everest | March-BMW 792 | 1hr 12:07.3 | |
| 8 | 23 |  Huub Rothengatter |
Docking Spitzley Racing / Racing Team Holland | Chevron-Hart B48 | 1hr 12:07.9 | |
| 9 | 3 | Beppe Gabbiani |
Polifac BMW Junior Team | March-BMW 792 | 1hr 12:32.2 | |
| 10 | 5 |  Juan Traverso |
March Racing Team (Bob Salisbury Racing) | March-Hart 792 | 44 | |
| 11 | 12 | Ariel Bakst |
Sanremo Racing Srl | March-BMW 792 | 44 | |
| DNF | 43 | Oscar Pedersoli |
Sanremo Racing Srl | March-BMW 792 | 22 | Suspension |
| DNF | 77 | Derek Warwick |
Team BP with Theodore Racing | March-Hart 792 | 18 | Accident |
| DNF | 6 | Bobby Rahal |
Ampex Chevron Racing Team | Chevron-Hart B48 | 16 | Puncture |
| DNF | 19 | Siegfried Stohr |
Trivellato Racing Team | March-BMW 792 | 10 | Gear Selector |
| DNF | 11 | Alberto Colombo |
Sanremo Racing Srl | March-BMW 782 | 5 | Suspension |
| DNF | 16 | Miguel Ángel Guerra |
Racing Team Everest | March-BMW 792 | 2 | Accident damage |
| DNF | 1 |  Marc Surer |
Polifac BMW Junior Team | March-BMW 792 | 2 | Engine |
| DNF | 25 | Choco López |
BFO Racing Team | March-BMW 792 | 1 | Accident |
| DNF | 39 | Pasquale Barbiero |
Pasquale Barbiero | March-BMW 782 | 1 | Engine |
| DQ | 14 | Brian Henton |
Toleman Group Motorsport | Ralt-Hart RT2 | 1st on track | Disobeyed marshal |
| DNQ | 31 | Carlo Giorgio |
RR Racing Team/Scuderia Jolly Club Milano | March-Hart 742 | ||
- Fastest lap: Stephen South, 1:33.20secs. (118.81 mph) [2][3]
References
- 1 2 3 4 http://www.formula2.net/F279_19.htm
- ↑ http://www.formula2.net/F279_14.htm
- ↑ Tristan Wood, "Drive It! The Complete Book of Formula 2 Motor Racing" (Foulis/Haynes, ASIN B009UWU1BW, 1984)