The 21st Gran Premio Lotteria di Monza, made up the eighth round of the 1979 FIA European Championship, saw the series move to Autodromo Nazionale Monza, on 24 June. This race was also round eight of the Campionato Italian.
Contents
Entry
A grand total of 72 F3 cars were entered for the event. These were split into three groups.
Qualifying
The Italian Championship front runners took pole position for Heats 1 and 2; Piercarlo Ghinzani took pole for the Euroracin Srl team, in his March-Toyota 793., for the Heat 1, while team-mate, Michele Alboreto headed the grid for Heat 2. Mike Thackwell from the British F3 series took pole for the third heat in his works entered March-Toyota 793.
Heats
Each heat was held over 8 laps, of the historic Monza circuit. The victor of Heat 1, was Piercarlo Ghinzani, from Guido Cappellotto. The second Heat, went to another Italian, Mauro Baldi, followed home by Michele Alboreto. The final Heat saw Mike Thackwell take the chequered flag ahead of Carlo Rossi. The Championship leader, Alain Prost only finished 13th in Heat 1, and did not progress into the final.
Final
The final was held over 17 laps of Monza circuit. Mike Thackwell took the winner spoils for the March Engineering Ltd. team, driving their March-Toyota 793. The kiwi won in a time of 32:13.33mins., averaging a speed of 114.086 mph. Second place went to Mauro Baldi in his privately entered March-Toyota 793, who was exactly 1.1 seconds behind. Michele Alboreto was third in the Euroracing Srl-entered March.
Final
Heat 1
Roberto Campominosi (Pavesi Racing Ralt-Alfa Romeo) was disqualified from Heat 1, due to a leaking airbox.