“From race to race. PROCAR: De Angelis Saves His Honour” — Grand Prix international n.6/1979

Il testo riportato qui sotto, pubblicato dalla rivista Grand Prix international, inerisce alla gara inaugurale della serie Procar, disputatasi a Zolder, nel 1979. Segue una traduzione in lingua italiana a cura del presente sito.

There were seven Formula One drivers who raced in the Procar event, despite the proximity of the Belgian Grand Prix. The race took place on the Saturday afternoon after the last Formula One qualifying session.

The series is organised by BMW with FOCA’s agreement, and is intended to allow Formula One drivers to race against other professional racing drivers. The first five drivers after Friday afternoon practice were given the chance of driving one of the BMW M1s, and they were allowed to start at the front of the Procar grid, whatever happened during the second qualifying session which immediately preceded the Procar event.’Villeneuve, Jabouille, Laffite, Regazzoni and Andretti set the five best times on Friday afternoon. However, they didn’t all drive M1s. Jabouille and Villeneuve werent’ allowed to race. Renault and Ferrari are commercial rivals of BMW and the drivers were forbidden to take part in the M1 event. Their cars were handed over to Lauda and Piquet, the next two drivers on the grid. Piquet also decided not to race.’Villeneuve, Jabouille, Laffite, Regazzoni and Andretti set the five best times on Friday afternoon. However, they didn’t all drive M1s. Jabouille and Villeneuve weren’t allowed to race. Renault and Ferrari are commercial rivals of BMW and the drivers were forbidden to take part in the M1 event. Their cars were handed over to Lauda and Piquet, the next two drivers on the grid. Piquet also decided not to race.

While these five cars will have various drivers throughout the season, various other Formula One drivers are going to participate in the series regularly. The include Hans Stuck and Bruno Giacomelli, who have regular BMW contracts and will race in all eight events. And a seventh Formula One driver was also involved in Belgium. Elio De Angelis who will drive Eddie Cheever’s car when the later is not racing in Formula Two.