FRENCH GP

Top: Alan Jones, hopefully heading for the World Championship, after a well deserved win at Paul Ricard, where he drove a planned and very determined race.

Right: The Williams FW078 of Alan Jones leads the Ligier of second place man Didier Pironi. The Williams’ perfect handling more than made up for any speed advantage the Ligier may have had on the straight and Jones made full use of this to keep his position ahead of Pironi.

Bottom Rene Arnoux (Renault) drove a brilliant race under difficult conditions, battling hard throughout the event to keep ahead of Carlos Reutemann’s Williams.

top: After a tremendous start, Laffite exploited Ns advantage by driving really hard until his front tyres started to wear, by which time Alan Jones was not behind. Laffite was passed by on lap 35, finishing the race in third place behind Pironi, who past on lap 43.

A consistent drive by Nelson in his new Brabham BT 49 him to fourth place.

Mario Andretti finds the filling in an Arrow during the early part of race. Mass leads, Pattern and John Watson (who passed the others) up the rear.