Jackie Stewart's F1 1979 Preview - Part 2 (sorry it's late)
Shadow – Ford
# 17 John Watson (GBR)
After a year with Brabham, Watson has decided to move to the critically under funded Shadow team. Watson looks to have the advantage over rookie team mate Rosberg, a frustrating year lies ahead for Watson littered with DNQs
#18 Keke Rosberg (FIN)
Rookie Rosberg has showed some promise in the Shadow, but I am a t a loss to think of any major achievements that can be achieved by the Finn this year. A trying first year lies ahead.
Another poor year for Shadow lies ahead. The American/English team has produced an overweight and largely slow car, and while it is not the worst car on the grid, it is a far cry from they heyday of this once competitive team.
Wolf-Ford
#20 James Hunt (GBR)
1976 champion Hunt has moved to Wolf after a few frustrating years with McLaren. James looks comfortable with the car, and points finishes are definitely achievable.
#21 Davey Clarke
American rookie Davey has showed talent turning left, but how well he will do in a team with a clear number 1 driver remains to be seen. Points may fall into Davey’s hands should retirements take front-runners out of the running.
Wolf have produced a reasonable car this year, and while it is far from their1977 effort, points are achievable =.
Ensign –Ford
#22 Ladislav Sedlak (CZE)
Czech Ladislav will be looking to impress established teams in his rookie year. While the Ensign looks to be safe from regular DNQs, points will be a tall order from the man behind the ron curtain.
#23 Martin Rossler (GER)
Rooke Martin will, like his team mate, be looking to impress, but Rossler appears to have the upper hand with the car. Should the red car stay in one piece, a lucky point or two might be presented to the German.
Ensign have produced a car that looks capable of regularly escaping DNQs, which will eb a comfort to the team that expected to be further off the pace. Rookie errors might ruin their chances of competitive finishes though.
Merzario –Ford.
#24 Elio de Angelis (ITA)
Rookie Elio would feel more comfortable sitting in a ditch next to the A40 in the rain than in this Merzario. Elio has shown he has talent, but just getting the car onto the grid will be hard.
#25 Simone Guidetti (ITA)
Rookie drivers and horrifically off the pace cars down bode well for careers. Young Simone will struggle to haul the white and blue machine onto the grid this year.
Merzario, clobbering together a car made from several Italian washing machines and a lump of shite sold to him by eccentric German Willie Kausehn, will be disappointed with the pace of his cars this year. But, a bright future is just around the corner. The team ahve received backing from conglomerate Il Barone Rampante, and rumours of a Lancia works effort are floating round the paddock. 79 will be a trying year for the squad, but if they can get those Lancia engines before the end of the year the car might make it onto the grid.
Ligier – Ford
#25 Jacques Laffitte (FRA)
Frenchman Jacques seems very at home in this most French of teams. Expect good performances from him, and maybe Ligier’s breakthrough win in his capable hands. The question is can he keep the pace up for the whole season?
#26 Edward Kevin (ROI)
Rookie Edward has impressed me very much so far. Being less than a tenth of his team mate in the test bodes well for Ed in a car that is definitely capable of winning. A breakthrough win is definitely possible in his rookie year.
Ligier look in contention for the title this year. Le drivers look to be promising and the chassis is good. Wins might be the order of the day for this French squad. Allez les blues!
Williams – Ford
#27 Callum McAllister
The Spanish rookie appears to have all the luck. Thw Williams looks very good, and he appears to have a handle on his more experienced team-mate Scheckter. He could be a strong challenger for the title.
#28 Jody Scheckter
Jody has landed himself with winning team. He’ll be disappointed with his pace in testing though, but he can be buoyed by the fact that he is favourite to win the title.
Williams have gone from a steady 78 to being title favourites in 79. Wins will be the order of the day here for Frank William’s squad, the FW07 is looking good, and the extra cash made from an extremely dodgy deal will be a benefit to the team.
Arrows – Fordhttp://img209.imageshack.us/img209/3998/arrowsj.jpg#29 Riccardo Patrese
The Italian looks fast this year, and the chassis looks good too. I expect some points from him this year
#30 Keiran Sutherland
The Scotch rookie would be pleased to keep up with his team mate, but that might be hard in the A2.
Arrows look to have a good car, while it is not a reguilar points scorer, the A2 does look promising with its futuristic design. Expect pace from them once the teething problems have been ironed out.
Rebaque-Ford
#31 Hector Rebaque
The Mexican may have a trying year ahead. The chassis isn’t oo bad; oit’s whether the driver can produce the goods on Saturday to haul the brown menace on the grid. I’m expecting a few starts from Hector this year.
#33 Marc Surer
There’s only one thing I’m sure of; and that’s that Marc will want out at the end of a struggling year. Expect DNQs to litter his scorecard.
The team appears to be set up quite well. The chassis, while a hookie clone of the Lotus 79, is somehow slow and overweight, and a hideous brown paintjob the makes the thing look like a turd on wheels won’t help either. If the mechanics can succeed in their bid to knock weight off the Brown Peril then things may be looking good.
Alfa Romeo
#35 Roberto Horford
Another rookie with a knack for turning left for 3 hours on a Sunday afternoon, Horford looks to be comfortable in the Alfa and points are to be expected. He’s proved he’s no slouch
#36 Alain Prost
Now here’sa youngster to watch Alain looks to be incredibly at hone with the car, and his meticulous attention to detail in everything he does can only be a good thing.
Alfa look to have a solid car in their debut year, and good points are to be expected from them. Tehy have talented drivers and a reliable engine; let’s see if they cn keep it together. With a turbo in development, things are looking good for the Italians.
Jenkins – Ford.
#37 Marshal Jenkins
Team owner and driver Marshal has shown some speed in the junior category, however racing in F3 a few times isn’t the best way to prepare yourself for F1
#38 Beppe Gabbiani
Beppe did not shine last year in his one outing, but a dismal DNQ is far away from what he could achieve here. The car is solid, and although he’s only here because of Parmalat sponsorship money, he seems to be able to keep up with his team mate.
A porn empire, a few races in F3 and an F2 attempt gone down the swanny are all that preceeded this laughable team’s entrance onto the F1 scene. But, the venerable FW06 chassis looks to ahve an edge over some of the teams, and I expect them to do better than some this year, albeit with the threat of DNQs and jail for indency behind one shoulder.
