View source for 1979 Race of Champions

{{Infobox Grand Prix race report
|Type           = NC
|Country        = United Kingdom
|Grand Prix     = Race of Champions
|GP_Suffix      = <!--left blank intentionally-->
|Details ref    = 
|Fulldate       = {{Start date|1979|4|15|df=yes}}
|Year           = 1979
|Image          = File:Brands Hatch 1976-1987.svg
|Official name  = 
|Location       = [[Brands Hatch|Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit]], [[Fawkham]], [[Kent]], [[England]]
|Course         = Permanent racing facility
|Course_mi      = 2.6136
|Course_km      = 4.206
|Distance_laps  = 40
|Distance_mi    = 104.544
|Distance_km    = 168.24
|Weather        = Warm, dry
|Pole_Driver    = [[Mario Andretti]]
|Pole_Country   = United States
|Pole_Team      = [[Team Lotus|Lotus]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
|Pole_Time      = 1:17.52
|Fast_Driver    = [[Nelson Piquet]]
|Fast_Team      = [[Brabham]]-[[Alfa Romeo in Formula One|Alfa Romeo]]
|Fast_Time      = 1:17.46
|Fast_Lap       = 
|Fast_Country   = Brazil
|Fast_flag_suffix = 1968
|First_Driver   = [[Gilles Villeneuve]]
|First_Country  = Canada
|First_Team     = [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]
|Second_Driver  = [[Nelson Piquet]]
|Second_Country = Brazil
|Second_flag_suffix = 1968
|Second_Team    = [[Brabham]]-[[Alfa Romeo in Formula One|Alfa Romeo]]
|Third_Driver   = [[Mario Andretti]]
|Third_Country  = United States
|Third_Team     = [[Team Lotus|Lotus]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
}}

The '''1979 Race of Champions''' was a [[Formula One]] non-championship motor race held at [[Brands Hatch]], United Kingdom on 15 April 1979. The field was made up of seven [[Formula One car]]s that competed in the [[1979 Formula One season|World championship]] while the rest of the field usually competed in the [[British Formula One Championship|Aurora series]].

==Race summary==
[[Brabham]] had brought two brand new BT48s onto the circuit. Another new car introduced was the [[Lotus 80]], but [[Mario Andretti]] only used it in qualifying. [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]'s [[Gilles Villeneuve]] drove a slightly modified 1978 Ferrari 312 T3 instead of the new 312 T4.

At the start [[Niki Lauda]] got away well from the front row and quickly pulled a lead of a few seconds, while the pole sitter Mario Andretti was dropped down to third. Gilles Villeneuve was second, followed closely by Andretti and [[Nelson Piquet]]. By lap eight the chasing three drivers had caught Lauda and they were going nose to tail. But that didn't last for long, as Lauda had to pit at the end of the eight lap, but he was able to rejoin rather quickly. Villeneuve took over the lead, only to lose it a few laps later as he ran wide at the exit of Hawthorn corner. Andretti moved into the lead in his Lotus 79. On lap 11 Piquet was also forced to pit in, so the leading battle was between Andretti and Villeneuve, while [[Jochen Mass]] in the [[Arrows Grand Prix International|Arrows]] had taken advantage of the pitstops and moved up to third place.

The positions in the front of the field remained the same for the next 12 laps. Andretti's lead was up to four seconds after Villeneuve's mistake, but the Canadian closed the gap slowly but surely. By lap 26 Villeneuve was all over the back of Andretti and a few laps later took the inside line into Paddock Hill bend and retook the lead. Andretti had no answer to Villeneuve's pace and the gap increased rapidly. Piquet had moved ahead of Mass into third and his team mate Lauda, who had pitted twice, was fifth. A few laps from the end Piquet overtook the slowing Andretti as well. But in the end it was Villeneuve who crossed the line first, lapping everyone up to the fourth place man.

==Classification==

===Qualifying===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! Pos. !! No. !! Driver !! Constructor !! Time !! Gap
|-
! 1
| 1
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mario Andretti]]
| [[Team Lotus|Lotus]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 1:17.52
| style="text-align: center" |&nbsp;—
|-
! 2
| 5
| {{flagicon|Austria}} [[Niki Lauda]]
| [[Brabham]]-[[Alfa Romeo in Formula One|Alfa Romeo]]
| 1:17.76
| +0.24
|-
! 3
| 12
| {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Gilles Villeneuve]]
| [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]
| 1:17.85
| +0.33
|-
! 4
| 6
| {{flagicon|Brazil|1968}} [[Nelson Piquet]]
| [[Brabham]]-[[Alfa Romeo in Formula One|Alfa Romeo]]
| 1:17.98
| +0.46
|-
! 5
| 30
| {{flagicon|FRG}} [[Jochen Mass]]
| [[Arrows Grand Prix International|Arrows]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 1:18.93
| +1.41
|-
! 6
| 18
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Elio de Angelis]]
| [[Shadow Racing Cars|Shadow]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 1:19.57
| +2.05
|-
! 7
| 7
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[John Watson (racing driver)|John Watson]]
| [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 1:20.30
| +2.78
|-
! 8
| 56
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Rupert Keegan]]
| [[Arrows Grand Prix International|Arrows]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 1:20.65
| +3.13
|-
! 9
| 41
| {{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} [[Desiré Wilson]]
| [[Tyrrell Racing|Tyrrell]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 1:20.80
| +3.28
|-
! 10
| 44
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Guy Edwards]]
| [[Fittipaldi Automotive|Fittipaldi]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 1:20.90
| +3.38
|-
! 11
| 43
| {{flagicon|Spain|1977}} [[Emilio de Villota]]
| [[Team Lotus|Lotus]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 1:21.67
| +4.15
|-
! 12
| 51
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[David Kennedy (racing driver)|David Kennedy]]
| [[Walter Wolf Racing|Wolf]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 1:22.35
| +4.83
|-
! 13
| 52
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Philip Bullman]]
| [[Surtees Racing Organisation|Surtees]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 1:22.41
| +4.89
|-
! 14
| 46
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Tiff Needell]]
| [[Chevron Cars Ltd|Chevron]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 1:22.50
| +4.98
|-
! 15
| 49
| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Giacomo Agostini]]
| [[WilliamsF1|Williams]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 1:22.60
| +5.08
|-
! 16
| 42
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Gordon Smiley]]
| [[Tyrrell Racing|Tyrrell]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 1:23.20
| +5.68
|-
! 17
| 45
| {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Bernard de Dryver]]
| [[Fittipaldi Automotive|Fittipaldi]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 1:23.44
| +5.92
|-
! 18
| 47
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Val Musetti]]
| [[March Engineering|March]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 1:25.61
| +8.09
|-
! 19
| 63
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Robin Smith (racing driver)|Robin Smith]]
| [[Ensign (racing team)|Ensign]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 1:26.37
| +8.85
|-
! DNQ
| 62
| {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Gerd Biechteler]]
| [[March Engineering|March]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| -
| -
|-
! colspan="7" |Source:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gparchive.com/formula-1/1979-race-of-champions/|title=1979 Race of Champions - Race Results & History - GP Archive|website=GPArchive.com|date=15 April 1979 |access-date=14 February 2021}}</ref>
|}

==Race==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! {{Abbr|Pos.|Position}} !! Driver !! Constructor !! Laps !! Time/Retired !! Grid
|-
! 1
| {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Gilles Villeneuve]]
| [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]
| 40
| 53:17.12
| 3
|-
! 2
| {{flagicon|Brazil|1968}} [[Nelson Piquet]]
| [[Brabham]]-[[Alfa Romeo in Formula One|Alfa Romeo]]
| 40
| + 14.07
| 4
|-
! 3
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Mario Andretti]]
| [[Team Lotus|Lotus]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 40
| + 23.17
| 1
|-
! 4
| {{flagicon|FRG}} [[Jochen Mass]]
| [[Arrows Grand Prix International|Arrows]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 40
| + 40.76
| 5
|-
! 5
| {{flagicon|Austria}} [[Niki Lauda]]
| [[Brabham]]-[[Alfa Romeo in Formula One|Alfa Romeo]]
| 39
| + 1 Lap
| 2
|-
! 6
| {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Elio de Angelis]]
| [[Shadow Racing Cars|Shadow]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 39
| + 1 Lap
| 6
|-
! 7
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Guy Edwards]]
| [[Fittipaldi Automotive|Fittipaldi]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 39
| + 1 Lap
| 11
|-
! 8
| {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Bernard de Dryver]]
| [[Fittipaldi Automotive|Fittipaldi]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 38
| + 2 Laps
| 18
|-
! 9
| {{flagicon|South Africa|1928}} [[Desiré Wilson]]
| [[Tyrrell Racing|Tyrrell]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 38
| + 2 Laps
| 10
|-
! 10
| {{flagicon|USA}} [[Gordon Smiley]]
| [[Tyrrell Racing|Tyrrell]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 38
| + 2 Laps
| 17
|-
! 11
| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Giacomo Agostini]]
| [[WilliamsF1|Williams]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 38
| + 2 Laps
| 16
|-
! 12
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Val Musetti]]
| [[March Engineering|March]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 36
| + 4 Laps
| 19
|-
! 13
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Robin Smith (racing driver)|Robin Smith]]
| [[Ensign (racing team)|Ensign]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 36
| + 4 Laps
| 20
|-
! Ret
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Rupert Keegan]]
| [[Arrows Grand Prix International|Arrows]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 35
| Engine
| 9
|-
! Ret
| {{flagicon|Spain|1977}} [[Emilio de Villota]]
| [[Team Lotus|Lotus]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 34
| Engine
| 12
|-
! Ret
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Philip Bullman]]
| [[Surtees Racing Organisation|Surtees]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 24
| Spun off
| 14
|-
! Ret
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[John Watson (racing driver)|John Watson]]
| [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 18
| Gearbox
| 7
|-
! Ret
| {{flagicon|UK}} [[Tiff Needell]]
| [[Chevron Cars Ltd|Chevron]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 16
| Accident
| 15
|-
! DNS
| {{flagicon|IRL}} [[David Kennedy (racing driver)|David Kennedy]]
| [[Walter Wolf Racing|Wolf]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 
| Gearbox
| 13
|-
! DNQ
| {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Gerd Biechteler]]
| [[March Engineering|March]]-[[Ford Motor Company|Ford]]
| 
|
|
|}

== Notes ==
* Pole position: Mario Andretti – 1:17.52
* Fastest lap: Nelson Piquet – 1:17.46

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
*{{cite web |title=Formula One World |url=http://www.motorsport-stats.com/f1/history/1979/roc.html |accessdate=1 February 2008}}

{{F1 NC race report
| Name_of_race            = [[Race of Champions (Brands Hatch)|Race of Champions]] 
| Year_of_race            = 1979
| Previous_race_in_season = [[1978 BRDC International Trophy]]
| Next_race_in_season     = [[1979 Dino Ferrari Grand Prix]]
| Previous_year's_race    = [[1977 Race of Champions]]
| Next_year's_race        = [[1983 Race of Champions]]
}}

{{Race of Champions (Brands Hatch)}}
{{F1 Non Championship Races (1970-1979)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1979 Race Of Champions}}
[[Category:Race of Champions (Brands Hatch)]]
[[Category:1979 Formula One races|Race of Champions]]
[[Category:1979 in British motorsport|Race of Champions]]
[[Category:April 1979 sports events in the United Kingdom|Race of Champions]]