Practice For Grand Prix

Mario Andretti drives for the Lotus-Ford Formula One team during practice for the 1977 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

A report by Tim Child focusing upon American Formula 1 driver Mario Andretti, driving the Lotus 78 car during practice for the 1977 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Andretti is interviewed about his career and making the move to Formula 1 from stock car racing in the USA. The film also features shots of Andretti and other drivers on track, cars being serviced in the pit lane, and an interview with Lotus team founder Colin Chapman. The report opens to mechanics working on the Lotus 78 car of Mario Andretti (car 5) in the pit lane at Silverstone during practice for the 1977 British Grand Prix. Lotus team founder Colin Chapman, wearing a radio headset, stands near the car observing the work. Other cars can be heard in the background as they make their way around the track at racing speed. Andretti exits the pits and makes his way onto the circuit. Other cars are shown racing around the track before Andretti returns to the pit lane and gets out of the car to speak with Chapman. In an interview with Tim Child, Andretti talks about how he raced in Formula 1 part time to gain experience before joining a team full time. He also talks of how he progressed from stock cars to single seaters in the USA, eventually winning the Indianapolis 500, and now has ambitions of becoming Formula 1 World Champion. Cars are once again shown making their way around the track. Andretti’s car returns to the pits and is worked on by mechanics as Chapman looks on. The car is push-started and returns to the circuit. In an interview, Chapman talks about how the team were affected by mechanical problems that morning but still hopes that Andretti will qualify in pole position for the race. Andretti is shown leaving the pits once again and then on track at full speed. Mechanics are seen working on another car in the pits (no 22), fitting tyres and checking the rear of the car. Andretti describes in an interview how he had been forced to veer off track to avoid a collision with Vittorio Brambilla, and his car had become stuck in a corn field. Having changed to the spare car, it was then found that the spare had a gearbox problem. The team decided to dig the original car out of the corn field, managing to do so in time for the end of the session. When questioned by Tim Child about his final lap time – relatively slow compared to the front runners – Andretti blames the used tyres on his car which had been fitted throughout the session. Child asks if it will be important to gain pole position ahead of the race, to which Andretti replies that it is always important to get pole position.

Featured Events

1977 British Grand Prix

Keywords

Motor Racing; Motor Sport; Formula One; Grand Prix; Silverstone; British Grand Prix

Background Information

Other drivers seen on track during this report include: Alan Jones (car 28) Emerson Fittipaldi (car 17) Patrick Nève (car 27) Jody Scheckter (car 20) Jochen Mass (car 2) Hans-Joachim Stuck (car 8) Clay Regazzoni (car 22)