Williams team triumphs again

Press, 31 March 1981, Page 32

Williams team triumphs again

NZPA-Reuter Rio de Janeiro With just two races gone, the British Williams Formula One motor racing team already seems on course for a repeat of its 1980 constructors’ and drivers’ world title double. The Saudi-backed team not only took first and second places in yesterday’s Brazilian Grand Prix — its fourth successive one-two championship finish — blit did so in a manner which showed the cars are as reliable as ever.

The winner, Carlos Reutemann, of Argentina, and the defending champion, Alan Jones, of Australia, led throughout and appeared completely untroubled by the steady rain which affected many of their rivals.

They underlined their superiority by finishing a minute ahead of the Arrows of the third-placed Ricardo Patrese, of Italy. The success makes the team favourite for the Argentine Grand Prix in, two weeks time, although Reutemann has never yet won before his. home crowd.: crowd.

The only driver able to stand up to the Williams? team seems to be the Bra-' zilian, Nelson Piquet, who drives a Brabham and gave Jones a close battle for last year’s world title. But he flopped yesterday, let down by an unsuccessful gamble on the weather, and disappointed his home crowd with his twelfth place. The immediate question for Argentina is whether the Lotus 88 fiasco will repeat itself for the third time. The 88, which has. a revolutionary double; suspension system, was, ban- ; ned from both the United States (West) and the Brazilian events after protests from other teams., . On both occasions it was allowed to take part, in unofficial practice and then ordered out of the first official practice session on the decision of the local course stewards. The Lotus chief, Colin Chapman, designer of. the, 88, wants the sport’s governing body, Fisa, to issue a ruling on the legality of the new car which would apply for all races. He said he would - take the car to Argentina and present it for scrutiny..