Williams will lead
the procession in a date with the ghost of Peron
It was the Dictator
President Juan Peron who pushed Argentina onto
the international stage in the late 1940’s and
early 50’s by lending his name and the name of
his wife, Eva to the winners’ cups. The so
called Peron Cup races were dominated by one
Argentinean by the name of Gigi Villoresi and it was
due to his consistency for winning races that the
first International racing circuit was built at Buenos
Aires.
Originally built on
swampland on the outskirts of the city in 1952, the Autodromo
17 Octobre as it was then called, has now been
engulfed by the sprawling mass of Buenos Aires. The
first Argentinean Grand Prix in 1953 was won by Albert
Ascari and dominated in the following 4 years by Juan
Manuel Fangio. It was also the first time
a World Championship had been held outside Europe.
Argentina, has since become synonymous with the
greatest racing legends of all time. Past winners
have included, Stirling Moss (in the first
rear/mid-engined car, the Cooper Climax) in 1958, Bruce
McLaren in 1960 and, Emerson Fittipaldi in
1973, after a 10 year absence of Grand Prix
activities. Nelson Piquet, then Brazils’
most favourite home boy, won in 1981 on a badly
deteriorating track and the Grand Prix was shelved
until three years ago.
The Grand Prix
returned in 1995 to a drastically modified circuit,
shortened to just 4.259 kms (2.646 miles) and
consisting of most of the Southern
‘infield’ end. The two extremely long fast
straights, joined by a sweeping horseshoe at its most
Northerly point, having been excluded from the rather
more ‘intimate’ recent configuration. Given
a new name after the great Argentinean driver, the Autodromo
de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Oscar Alfredo Galvez,
basks amid a thriving and attractive city with wide
Parisian style boulevards and Grand Napoleonic parks.
The most memorable
moment last year was when Pedro Diniz’ Ligier
erupted in flames on his outlap after a sloppy
refueling stop, prompting one English
newspaper’s now famous headline: ‘Diniz
in the oven!’.
Current World Champion
Damon Hill and top British qualifier at
Interlagos, has dominated the race since its return,
in the Williams, but the chance of a hat trick is but
a distant fantasy for the now Arrows-bound
driver. However, with the prospect of sudden rain
storms as in Brazil, and the proneness of the track
to retain isolated pockets of standing water even as
the track dries, the much vaunted Bridgestone
tyres may make a difference in capturing a point or
two. He has shown true determination and style in
putting his wayward car on the grid, mere hundreds of
a second slower than the driver that replaced him at
Williams, Heinz Harald Frentzen, who, by all
accounts is having a miserable time of it with his
new bosses. (See latest News update).
Prost Driver Olivier
Panis who did so brilliantly at Interlagos in the
dry, to finish third, may score some major points
again and possibly a win if the weather proves foul.
Goodyear in
retaliation, are taking over 2300 tyres to the race
of which slightly over half are choices of dry
compounds. The 1997 Argentine Grand Prix will also
mark the 100th appearance of the Jordan Team who
debuted in Phoenix USA in March 1991. Team Manager, Eddie
Jordan has fond memories of the team's first
Grand Prix. "Our first Formula One race
nearly took place on St Patrick's Day, and I had
fantastic visions of our green car driving through
the streets in America." He added, "
For me, our 100th Grand Prix marks the beginning of
this new era where we will see the Grand Prix
victories we have craved for so long."
Benetton are
back on form having finally learned how to set up
their new car. Gerhard Berger especially could
be in line for another podium finish. Technical
Director Pat Symonds said after a successful
practice session with Jean Alesi at
Silverstone last week, "Following better
results in Brazil, we have progressed through planned
a development programme and are very satisfied with
the results." PR-speak of course, but not
without credence it would appear.
Driver Michael
Schumacher has been putting his Ferrari
through its paces and creating fresh lap records at
their home circuit at Mugello, but he doesn’t
realistically expect to get to the podium. There
could however, be a remote possibility that Eddie
Irvine in the second Ferrari might, just might
get through the first lap without hitting something.
This would indeed be a small victory for the team in
itself.
One should expect
great things from the recently rejuvenated West
McLaren Mercedes team. Yet after winning the race
in Melbourne David Coulthard has been backward
in coming forward, whilst team mate Mika Hakkinen
has been forward in standing still maintaining an
even 3rd and 4th to date.
With some good
performances now expected from a fast up and coming Jarno
Trulli in the Minardi and Brazilian Rubens
Barichello desperate to finish a race for Stewart,
the chequered flag will surely fall on the Williams
of Jacques Villeneuve, pipped at the post by a
little over 12 seconds last year, partly due to his
lack of track experience. "It was only my
third Grand Prix," Villeneuve said, "I’m
looking forward to returning with prior knowledge and
experience of the circuit. The car is very strong,
the team is working really well, the tyres and engine
are fine, so I’m pretty confident."
That’s enough to make most drivers head straight
for the ‘parc ferme’ without passing
go and it’s a statement that even the most
ardent pessimist could not dispute.
A creative gambling
man however, may like to weigh up the odds, add some
rain, a change of rubber, check out ‘between
race’ testing times and the determination of
several drivers to do well, to see that Villeneuve in
different circumstances, would not necessarily be the
odds on favourite. It could also depend on where
Irvine qualifies.
The Argentinean Grand
Prix takes place over 72 laps on a slippery and
narrow track which has scarcely any overtaking
opportunities. As in Monaco a good grid position and
the ability to capitalise on it is vitally important.
In the long
Grandstand, amid the vociferous and animated Latin aficionados
sits the ghost of Eva Peron and her Dictator
Husband, once guarded by heavily armed soldiers
who’s proliferation at strategic parts of the
circuit always cast a shadow over the events. The
last great Argentinean Carlos Reutemann never
won his home Grand Prix and there is little to look
forward to in the near future. But Argentina will not
cry for the fans this weekend. No one has won more
times than their God, Fangio and as Peron presides,
Fangio’s spirit will be down on the track
somewhere urging on the gallant and bravehearted to
taste the spoils of victory.
Chris Richardson
