Italy to fore in Formula One contest

Press, 31 March 1989, Page 30

Italy to fore in Formula One contest

By

GEORGE TANNER

The Formula One world drivers’ champion* ship, the most prestigious series in international motor-sport, has this year attracted 21 teams and 40 drivers, all aspiring to capture the coveted drivers’ and constructors’ titles.

Of the 12 nations participating, Italy has the largest driver repre-

sentation with 12 vying for the top honours. Heading the impressive list of Italian hopefuls is Riccardo Patrese, a veteran of 12 grand prix seasons.

The other Italians competing are Ivan Capelli (March), Alessandro Nannini (Benetton), Michele Alboreto (Tyrrell), Pier Luigi Martini (Minardi), Alex Coffi and Andrea de Cesaris (Scuderia Italia), Stefano Modena (Brabham), Piercarlo Ghlnzani and Nicola Larini (Osella), Roberto Moreno (Colon!),

and Gabriele Tarquini (First). France, regarded as the birthplace of grand prix racing, is represented by six drivers. The most successful of these is the McLaren Honda driver, Alain Prost. The former double world champion, who has a record 35 wins to his credit, will spearhead the tricolour assault on this year’s championship.

Prost will be accompanied by Rene Arnoux and Olivier Grouillard (Ligier), Philippe Alliot and Yannick Dalmas

(Larrousse), and Pierre Henri Raphanel (Colon!). Britain, a long-term rival of France, will rest its hopes on the shoulders of Nigel Mansell (Ferrari), Derek Warwick (Arrows), Johnny Herbert (Benetton), Jonathan Palmer (Tyrrell), and Martin Brundle (Brabham). West Germany has its strongest line-up for many years, with four drivers. The most" experienced driver, Christian Danner, will lead the Rial team partnered by a compatriot, Volker Wei-

dler. The remaining Germans are Bernd Schneider (Zakspeed) and Joachim Winkelhock (AGS). The world champion, Ayrton Senna, heads the list of three Brazilians endeavouring to win the championship. The McLaren Honda ace should not find it too difficult to fend off the challenge of his countrymen, Nelson Piquet (Lotus) and Mauricio -

Gugelmin (March). It is questionable whether the Belgian driver, Thierry Boutsen

(Williams Renault) will be joined on the grid by his compatriot, Bertrand Gachot, on a regular basis. Gachot, in his first season of Formula One, may find it difficult to pre-qualify. The only other country with two entries is Japan. Once again Satoru Nakajima will partner Piquet in the Lotus team and the novice, Aguri Suzuki, will drive for Zakspeed.

Five countries have a single driver. They are Spain (Luis Perez Sala — Minardi), Austria (Gerhard Berger — Ferrari), Sweden (Stefan Johansson — Onyx), Switzerland (Gregor Foitek — Euro Brun) and the United States (Eddie Cheever — Arrows).