Piquet, Prost battle for supremacy

Press, 27 September 1983, Page 32

Piquet, Prost battle for supremacy

NZPA-Reuter Brands Hatch The fate of the world drivers’ title remains in the balance until the last race of the grand prix season. A one-two finish by the Brazilian, Nelson Piquet, and the Frenchman, Alain Prost, in the battle for supremacy at the European Grand Prix at Brands Hatch yesterday meant the pair must renew their rivalry in South Africa on October 15. Rarely has the championship gone the distance. Only two points separate the title leader, Prost from Piquet, who badly wants to become the first driver to claim a second crown since Niki Lauda, of Austria, in 1975 and 1977. Piquet took the honours for the first time two years ago. .< Should Prost retail his V ■

slender advantage in the rarefied atmosphere of Kyalami — he won there in his Renault last year — he will become the first Frenchman to take the championship since the ' series began in 1950. His compatriot, Rene Arnoux, also has an outside chance of victory, despite finishing a lap behind in his Ferrari yesterday, but Arnoux must win wljile the two leading challengers fail to show. Prost and Piquet have won half the 14 races already decided this season, but the Frenchman has led the championship since the Belgian Grand Prix in May. Piquet has rocketed into contention by winning the last two races and France apart, seems to be every-

one’s favourite to regain the championship. The 31-year-old Brazilian took the lead on the eleventh lap yesterday and remained ahead until the finish beating Prost by six and a half seconds. Both men remained equally confident of over-all success. Prost, aged 28, said: “I am still the man in front and I intend to stay there.” But Piquet countered: “My win was a tremendous help in my attempt to take the championship. Believe me, I shall be trying just as hard at Kyalami.” Results (race distance: 76 laps, 320km).— Nelson Piquet (Brazil), Brabham, 1 hour 36min 45.635, 1; Alain Prost (France), Re2. Nigel Man-

sell (Britain), Lotus, 1:37:16.18, 3; Andrea de Cesaris (Italy), Alfa Romeo, 1:37:20.26, 4; Derek Warwick (Britain), Toleman, 1:37:30.78, 5; Bruno Giacomelli (Italy), Alfa Romeo, 1:37:38.05, 6; Riccardo Patrese (Italy), Brabham, 1:37:58.54, 7; Manfred Winkelhock (West Germany), Ats (one lap behind), 8; Rene Arnoux (France) Ferrari (one), 9; Eddie Cheever (U.S.) Renault (one), 10. World championship standings: Alain Prost (France), 57, 1; Nelson Piquet (Brazil), 55, 2; Rene Arnoux (France), 49, 4; Patrick Tambay (France), 40, 4: Keke Rosberg (Finland), 25, 5; John Watson (Britain), 22, 6; Eddie Cheever (U.S.), 21, 7; Niki Lauda (Austria), 12, 8; Jacques Laffite (France), 11, 9; Michele Alboreto (Italy) and Nigel Mansell (Britain), (0, 10.