Fine finish at Monza

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32705, 7 September 1971, Page 28

Fine finish at Monza

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

MONZA (Italy).

P. Gethin (Britain) in a B.R.M. snatched a spectacular victory in the Italian Formula One Grand Prix yesterday, passing R. Peterson (Sweden) in a March, only yards before the finish.

As the drivers went into the last of the 55 laps, Peterson was leading, hard-pressed by F. Cevert (France) in a Tyrrell-Ford, and M. Hailwood (Britain) in a Surtees. Gethin, who first made his name in Formula three races, was lying fourth after being in the lead earlier. Fifth was the New Zealander H. Ganley, also in a BRM.

The group of five came round the final curve with Peterson in the lead. But suddenly Gethin leapt forward and was first across the line, one-hundredth of a second ahead of Peterson.

Gethin covered the 55 laps, a total of 196.5 miles in Ihr 18min. 12.605ec., an average speed of 151.31 m.pJi. Peterson’s second place was enough to put him into second place in the world drivers’ championship, ahead of J. Ickx (Belgium), who also dropped out in his Ferrari on the sixteenth lap. The other Ferrari driven by O. Regazzoni (Switzerland) dropped out two laps later. Both Ferraris suffered from suspension failure, a complaint which has dogged Ferrari this year. J. Stewart (Britain) in a

Tyrrell-Ford was forced out of the race when his engine failed.

C. Amon (New Zealand), who set a lap record in his Matra-Simca in practice, was sixth. His lap of Imin. 22.45ec, at an average speed of 251.213 k.p.h. (156.09 m.p.h.), was the fastest ever driven at Monza.

J. Oliver (Britain) brought his McLaren-Ford home in seventh place. Eighth was E. Fittipaldi (Brazil) in the revolutionary Lotus turbine car, one lap behind. Fittipaldi’s Lotus gave a remarkably regular performance. It burbled round the circuit almost silently, but did not seem to have the necessary thrust to make a serious challenge.