Date July 2, 1978 Course length 5.809 km (3.61 mi) | Location Paul Ricard Circuit Weather Dry | |
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Course Permanent racing facility Distance 54 laps, 313.686 km (194.94 mi) | ||
The 1978 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 2 July 1978 at Paul Ricard.
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Report
Following the voluntary withdrawal of the "fan car", Brabham had to revert to their previous car again, but it did not deter them, with John Watson on pole and Niki Lauda starting third behind Mario Andretti's Lotus. At the start, Watson led into the first corner, with Andretti following, and Patrick Tambay putting his McLaren in third, but that order did not remain for long as Andretti took the lead from Watson on the first lap. Lauda and Ronnie Peterson were on the move as well, as they passed Watson and Tambay to jump into second and third, but Lauda suffered another engine failure. This left the two Lotus cars running 1-2 and they finished like that with Andretti taking his third win in four races, and the podium was completed by James Hunt who passed Watson mid-race.