Jacques Laffite: My Greatest Race

Argentinian Grand Prix, Buenos Aires, 1979

I’ve always considered Argentina in 1979 to be my first real Grand Prix victory. I’d won in Sweden in 1977, but only because of Mario Andretti’s problems. But Argentina was so good for the Ligier team; we’d stopped working with Matra on our engines, had built a new car, and gone out and won our first race with it. When we came back to France after the race everyone in the country knew that there was at last a very good team in F1, and some very good drivers there, all working for France. It was good for motor racing, and the start of a very successful time for us.

“It was so easy to be fast. All the corners were flat!”

Guy Ligier had made some big changes for the ’79 season. We changed from Matra to Cosworth, and Patrick Depailler came on board as the second driver. It was really difficult for me because I had been on my own in the team for three years. I knew Patrick was a very good driver, but did we have enough money to run two cars at the same level, with good drivers?

Gerard Ducarouge designed the JS11, our first ground-effect car and I was surprised that the car was immediately very competitive. We had a very good test at Paul Ricard in December; the car was quick, I was quick, and Patrick was quick, and I suddenly understood why the Lotus 79 had been so fast the year before. It was so easy to be fast. All the corners were flat!

So I was very happy with the car when we set off for Argentina. We had struggled with one problem in pre-season testing at Paul Ricard; at very high speeds the car was a little bit bumpy, because the underwing was a little bit too short and the car was very hard on the suspension. We modified this in Argentina on the Thursday, and the car was perfect.

It was difficult with those cars to obtain a good balance between high and low-speed handling but we obviously did because I was 1sec faster than the others. In fact I was on pole by a second from Patrick.

After all the hard work to get pole I didn’t help myself by fluffing the start. At this time races were started with a flag. It was difficult when you were on pole, because the Clerk of the Course was always watching you! I dropped down to fourth, and I had to pass Jean-Pierre Jarier and John Watson. It took a little bit of time to catch Patrick who was leading, as he was braking very late, but I overtook him at the end of the straight after 10 laps.

After that it was easy, because the track was not so difficult. I was alone in front, I had no problems, my car was really good. Patrick was behind me but I was able to edge away. Unfortunately he had a misfire at the end and he dropped right back.