More opposition for McLaren cars likely

Press, 4 April 1985, Page 30

More opposition for McLaren cars likely

By

GEORGE TANNER

The world drivers champion, Niki Lauda (Austria), begins the third defence of his title at the Rio Centro Audodromo in Brazil this week-end. Recent testing sessions by several of the championship contenders indicate that the Marlboro McLaren team will not have things all its own way, as was the case last season. The new Lotus recruit, Ayrton Senna (Brazil), and the Ferrari duo, Michele Alboreto (Italy) and Rene Arnoux (France), have been the pacesetters during recent tyre tests at the Brazilian circuit. Lauda’s team-mate, Alain Prost (France), could be thwarted in his bid to become the first French champion by a resurgence of the Ferrari cars and if his compatriot, Arnoux, finds his old form, then Prost could find himself playing second fiddle yet again. Many teams have made driver changes for this season, including Brabham which has a new No. 2 driver in the Frenchman, Francois Hesnault. Nelson Piquet (Brazil) will lead the

Brabham team for a seventh consecutive season. The Williams Honda team has an Anglo-Finnish combination of Nigel Mansell and the former champion, Keke Rosberg. Rosberg’s former team-mate, Jacques Laffite, has returned to Ligier to partner Andrea de Cesaris. Ferrari, McLaren, Re-

nault and Euro-racing - Alfa Romeo have retained their drivers from last season. When the Brazilian Grand Prix gets under way in the early hours of Monday morning (N.Z. time), Lauda will be contesting his 158th Grand Prix and with 24 wins to his credit, he needs only four more victories to become the sports most successful driver. Only the Scotsmen, Jackie Stewart (27) and the late Jim Clark (25), are ahead of Lauda who shares 24 wins with the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio (Argentina). The stage is thus set for a season that hopefully will not be a repeat of last year’s single-team domination that may have delighted McLaren, but left the average enthusiast yawning at the monotony of it all. The Formula One teams and drivers for 1985 are: McLaren TAG: Niki Lauda (Austria), Alain Prost (France). Brabham BMW: Nelson Piquet (Brazil), Francois

Hesnault (France). Lotus Renault: Elio de Angelis (Italy), Ayrton Senna (Brazil).

Ferrari: Michele Alboreto (Italy), Rene Arnoux (France).

Alfa Romeo: Eddie Cheever (USA), Riccardo Patrese (Italy).

Renault: Derek Warwick (Great Britain), Patrick Tambay (France). Arrows BMW: Thierry Boutson (Belgium), Gerhard Berger (Austria). Ram Hart: Manfred Winklehock (West Germany), Philippe Alliot (France). Osella Alfa Romeo: Piercarlo Ghinzani (Italy). Ligier Renault: Jacques Laffite (France), Andrea de Cesaris (Italy). Spirit Hart: Mauro Baldi (Italy). Tyrrell Cosworth: Martin Brundle (Great Britain), Stefan Bellof (West Germany). Minardi; Pierliugi Martini (Italy). Williams Honda: Keke Rosberg (Finland), Nigel Mansell (Great Britain): Zakspeed: Jonathon Palmer (Great Britain). Lola Hart: Alan Jones (Australia).