1978 Grand Prix of South Africa
4 March - Kyalami: 320.112km (4.104km x 78 laps)
Pole Position:
Results
1. Ronnie Peterson Lotus-Ford 78 1:42:15.767 (187.817 km/h)
2. Patrick Depailler Tyrrell-Ford 008 - 0.466
3. John Watson Brabham-Alfa Romeo BT46 - 4.442
4. Alan Jones Williams-Ford FW06 - 38.986
5. Jacques Laffite Ligier-Matra JS7 - 1:09.218
6. Didier Pironi Tyrrell-Ford 008 - 1 lap
7. Mario Andretti Lotus-Ford 78 - 1 lap
8. Jean-Pierre Jarier ATS-Ford HS1 - 1 lap
9. Rolf Stommelen Arrows-Ford FA1 - 1 lap
10. Hector Rebaque Lotus-Ford 78 - 1 lap
11. Brett Lunger McLaren-Ford M23 - 2 laps
12. Vittorio Brambilla Surtees-Ford TS19 - 2 laps
Fastest lap: Mario Andretti, 1:17.09 (191.651 km/h on lap 2)
Retirements
Riccardo Patrese Arrows-Ford FA1 - 15 laps (Engine)
Jody Scheckter Wolf-Ford WR1 - 19 laps (Spin)
Patrick Tambay McLaren-Ford M26 - 22 laps (Accident)
Gilles Villeneuve Ferrari 312T3 - 23 laps (Oil leak)
Carlos Reutemann Ferrari 312T3 - 23 laps (Spin)
Rupert Keegan Surtees-Ford TS19 - 26 laps (Oil line)
Niki Lauda Brabham-Alfa Romeo BT46 - 26 laps (Engine)
Jochen Mass ATS-Ford HS1 - 35 laps (Engine)
Arturo Merzario Merzario-Ford A1 - 39 laps (Suspension)
Jean-Pierre Jabouille Renault RS01 - 40 laps (Engine)
Keke Rosberg Theodore-Ford TR1 - 63 laps (Clutch)
Emerson Fittipaldi Copersucar-Ford F5A - 69 laps (Transmission)
Eddie Cheever Hesketh-Ford 308E - 70 laps (Oil leak)
James Hunt McLaren-Ford M26 - 73 laps (Engine)
Did Not Qualify
Rene Arnoux Martini-Ford Mk23
Clay Regazzoni Shadow-Ford DN8
Lamberto Leoni Ensign-Ford N177
Hans-Joachim Stuck Shadow-Ford DN8
Race leaders:
Mario Andretti 1-20 (20 laps = 82.080 km)
Jody Scheckter 21-26 (6 laps = 24.624 km)
Riccardo Patrese 27-63 (37 laps = 151.848 km)
Patrick Depailler 64-77 (14 laps = 57.456 km)
Ronnie Peterson 78 (1 lap = 4.104 km)
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Starting Grid
1. Niki Lauda Brabham-Alfa Romeo BT46 1:14.65 (197.916 km/h)
2. Mario Andretti Lotus-Ford 78 - 0.25
3. James Hunt McLaren-Ford M26 - 0.49
4. Patrick Tambay McLaren-Ford M26 - 0.65
5. Jody Scheckter Wolf-Ford WR1 - 0.67
6. Jean-Pierre Jabouille Renault RS01 - 0.71
7. Riccardo Patrese Arrows-Ford FA1 - 0.83
8. Gilles Villeneuve Ferrari 312T3 - 0.85
9. Carlos Reutemann Ferrari 312T3 - 0.87
10. John Watson Brabham-Alfa Romeo BT46 - 0.97
11. Ronnie Peterson Lotus-Ford 78 - 1.29*
12. Patrick Depailler Tyrrell-Ford 008 - 1.32*
13. Didier Pironi Tyrrell-Ford 008 - 1.73*
14. Jacques Laffite Ligier-Matra JS7 - 1.75*
15. Emerson Fittipaldi Copersucar-Ford F5A - 1.82*
16. Jochen Mass ATS-Ford HS1 - 1.95*
17. Jean-Pierre Jarier ATS-Ford HS1 - 2.47
18. Alan Jones Williams-Ford FW06 - 2.51
19. Brett Lunger McLaren-Ford M23 - 2.65*
20. Vittorio Brambilla Surtees-Ford TS19 - 2.67*
21. Rolf Stommelen Arrows-Ford FA1 - 2.84*
22. Hector Rebaque Lotus-Ford 78 - 2.85*
23. Rupert Keegan Surtees-Ford TS19 - 2.92
24. Keke Rosberg Theodore-Ford TR1 - 2.97
25. Eddie Cheever Hesketh-Ford 308E - 3.18
26. Arturo Merzario Merzario-Ford A1 - 3.50
Did Not Qualify
27. Rene Arnoux Martini-Ford Mk23 - 3.56
28. Clay Regazzoni Shadow-Ford DN8 - 3.65
29. Lamberto Leoni Ensign-Ford N177 - 3.73
30. Hans-Joachim Stuck Shadow-Ford DN8 - 3.80
* Niki Lauda caused confusion when he decided to line up on the other
side of the grid and the cars in rows 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11 started in reversed
order.