EPISODE · Mar 3, 2026 · 18 MIN
3rd March 1979: The South African Grand Prix That Became Two Races
from Chequered Past · host Martin Elliot
On March 3rd, Formula One delivered Grands Prix that refused to follow the script.In 1979 at Kyalami, a rain-hit race was stopped after just two laps and restarted nearly an hour later — setting up a fascinating tyre gamble between Ferrari teammates Gilles Villeneuve and Jody Scheckter. As the circuit dried and strategies diverged, the race effectively became two separate contests, ending with Ferrari’s new T4 announcing itself in style with a commanding one-two finish.Six years earlier, the 1973 South African Grand Prix combined brilliance and bravery. Jackie Stewart climbed from deep on the grid to win amid controversy, while Mike Hailwood’s courageous rescue of Clay Regazzoni from a burning car earned him the George Medal and became one of the defining acts of sportsmanship in Formula One history.And in 2002, the Australian Grand Prix exploded at Turn 1 in a dramatic season opener that reshaped the order within seconds — yet still produced one of the most unlikely top-six finishes of the modern era, including points on debut for both Toyota and Australia’s Mark Webber.Three races. Three decades. One lesson: in Formula One, the shape of a Grand Prix can change in a moment — and what follows depends on who adapts fastest.Cover image: GrandPrixMotorRacing, '#081284541', deviantart.com, CC BY-SA 3.0Send us Fan MailMusic by #Mubert Music Rendering
What this episode covers
On March 3rd, Formula One delivered Grands Prix that refused to follow the script. In 1979 at Kyalami, a rain-hit race was stopped after just two laps and restarted nearly an hour later — setting up a fascinating tyre gamble between Ferrari teammates Gilles Villeneuve and Jody Scheckter. As the circuit dried and strategies diverged, the race effectively became two separate contests, ending with Ferrari’s new T4 announcing itself in style with a commanding one-two finish. Six years earlier, th...
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3rd March 1979: The South African Grand Prix That Became Two Races
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