ARGENTINIANS RETURN

WHEN the motor racing-mad Argentinians decided late in 1968 to devote their occasional Temporada to Formula Two, they invited two of the European teams over on condition that cars were provided for local drivers. One of the most promising was Carlos Reutemann. His British-prepared Tecno failed to finish the Temporada well-placed for various reasons, but he went on to become Argentinian F2 Champion in 1969, using (of all things) an Italian BWA chassis (ex F3) fitted with a 1,600-c.c. Fiat twin-cam engine.

Reutemann is now back in Europe with sponsorship from the nationalised YPF petrol company and moral support from none other than the great Fangio. The second-placed man in the Argentine Championship, a former motorcyclist named Bertedicto Caldarella (who appeared in Europe with his bike some years ago), is also on the team. They have been provided with two new Brabhams, painted white and yellow, together with a vast quantity of spares and a transporter which has its own workshop. They decided not to run at Thruxton. but Reutemann qualified fairly easily at Hockenheim. He made himself thoroughly unpopular by initiating two separate incidents, one in each heat, but nevertheless finished eighth overall. Both his and Caldarella’s progress will be watched with interest.—M. G.D.