1978 BRDC International Trophy

1978 BRDC International Trophy
Non-championship race in the 1978 Formula One season
The Silverstone circuit in 1978.
Race details
Date	19 March 1978
Official name	XXX BRDC International Trophy
Location	Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire
Course	Permanent racing facility
Course length	4.724 km (2.935 miles)
Distance	40 laps, 188.95 km (117.41 miles)
Weather	Heavy rain.
Pole position
Driver	Ronnie Peterson	Lotus-Cosworth
Time	1:16.07
Fastest lap
Driver	Emerson Fittipaldi	Fittipaldi-Cosworth
Time	1:38.63
Podium
First	Keke Rosberg	Theodore-Cosworth
Second	Emerson Fittipaldi	Fittipaldi-Cosworth
Third	Tony Trimmer	McLaren-Cosworth

The XXX BRDC International Trophy was a non-championship motor race for Formula One cars held on 19 March 1978 at the Silverstone Circuit, England. It was the 30th running of the International Trophy, and the last to non-Championship Formula One regulations. The race was held over 40 laps of the Silverstone circuit, for a total distance of around 189 kilometres (117 miles).

Although qualifying sessions had been dry, the race was run in torrential rain, resulting in multiple accidents and drivers spinning off. The race was eventually won by Keke Rosberg, his first victory in a Formula One car in only his second ever Formula One race.

Classification

Qualifying

Pos.	No.	Driver	Constructor	Q1	Q2	Gap
1	6	Ronnie Peterson	Lotus-Ford	1:16.85	1:16.07	—
2	1	Niki Lauda	Brabham-Alfa Romeo	1:17.47	1:16.43	+0.36
3	5	Mario Andretti	Lotus-Ford	1:16.60	1:17.19	+0.53
4	7	James Hunt	McLaren-Ford	1:16.85	1:17.18	+0.78
5	30	Brett Lunger	McLaren-Ford	1:19.13	1:17.77	+1.70
6	3	Patrick Depailler	Tyrrell-Ford	1:18.64	1:17.98	+1.91
7	16	Hans Stuck Jr.	Shadow-Ford	1:21.48	1:18.15	+2.08
8	14	Emerson Fittipaldi	Fittipaldi-Ford	1:18.44	1:18.92	+2.37
9	38	Derek Daly	Hesketh-Ford	1:19.57	1:18.88	+2.81
10	18	Rupert Keegan	Surtees-Ford	1:18.96	1:19.10	+2.89
11	32	Keke Rosberg	Theodore-Ford	1:19.03	1:19.54	+2.96
12	28	Emilio de Villota	McLaren-Ford	1:19.85	1:19.36	+3.29
13	22	Jacky Ickx	Ensign-Ford	1:21.18	1:20.00	+3.93
14	31	René Arnoux	Martini-Ford	1:20.34	1:20.09	+4.02
15	40	Tony Trimmer	McLaren-Ford	1:20.51	1:20.43	+4.36
16	17	Clay Regazzoni	Shadow-Ford	1:20.63	1:21.26	+4.56
DNQ	24	Divina Galica	Hesketh-Ford	1:28.45	1:23.07	+7.00
Source:

Race

Pos	Driver	Entrant	Constructor	Time/Retired	Qual
1	Keke Rosberg	Theodore Racing	Theodore-Cosworth	1:12:49.02	11
2	Emerson Fittipaldi	Copersucar Fittipaldi	Fittipaldi-Cosworth	+ 1.88	8
3	Tony Trimmer	Melchester Racing	McLaren-Cosworth	+ 3 Laps	15
4	Brett Lunger	BS Fabrications	McLaren-Cosworth	+ 3 Laps	7
5	Rupert Keegan	Durex Team Surtees	Surtees-Cosworth	+ 9 Laps	10
NC	Hans Stuck Jr.	Villiger Kiel Team Shadow	Shadow-Cosworth	+ 15 Laps	5
Ret	Derek Daly	Olympus Hesketh	Hesketh-Cosworth	Accident	9
Ret	Divina Galica	Olympus Hesketh	Hesketh-Cosworth	Accident	DNQ*
Ret	Emilio de Villota	private	McLaren-Cosworth	Clutch	12
Ret	Patrick Depailler	Team Tyrrell	Tyrrell-Cosworth	Accident	6
Ret	Mario Andretti	John Player Team Lotus	Lotus-Cosworth	Accident	3
Ret	Ronnie Peterson	John Player Team Lotus	Lotus-Cosworth	Handling	1**
Ret	Jacky Ickx	Tissot Ensign	Ensign-Cosworth	Spun Off	13
Ret	Clay Regazzoni	Villiger Kiel Team Shadow	Shadow-Cosworth	Spun Off	16
Ret	James Hunt	Marlboro Team McLaren	McLaren-Cosworth	Spun Off	4
DNS	Niki Lauda	Parmalat Brabham	Brabham-Alfa Romeo	Spun off	2
DNS	René Arnoux	Automobiles Martini	Martini-Cosworth	Withdrew	14
DNA	Jochen Mass	ATS Wheels Racing	ATS-Cosworth
DNA	Lamberto Leoni	Tissot Ensign	Ensign-Cosworth
DNA	Arturo Merzario	Merzario Racing	Merzario-Cosworth
DNA	Guy Edwards	private	March-Cosworth

* Failed to qualify, but started as first reserve driver after Lauda and Arnoux withdrew.

** Started from the pit lane.

Sources

• BRDC International Trophy www.silhouet.com