Brazilian Grand Prix

THE opening round of the 1986 World Championship was an all•Brazilian affair at the Autodromo Riocentro just along the coast from Rio de Janeiro where Nelson Piquet (right) stormed to a convincing first time win for the new Williams-Honda FW11, the twice World Champion also having his maiden outing for the Didcot-based team. Piquet, who previously won the Brazilian GP for Brabham in 1983, was initially led by pole position qualifier Ayrton Senna’s Lotus 981 (top left), but the Williams newcorner soon asserted himself at the head of the field. Raising Pirelli hopes, the Ligier JS27s of Rene Arnoux and Jacques Laffite (above right) finished third and fourth, though in reverse order to that depicted in our photograph. The striking new Brabharn BT55s had a miserable time at Rio, Elio de Angel. (below) losing a wheel after his first pit stop. but the Italian coaxed his car back to the pit lane for attention and eventually struggled home eighth.