F3 History

The XII Grand Prix de Nogaro was the first race in Europe for engines fitted with the larger 21.5mm air restrictor but it made no difference to the status quo. The two 15-lap heats and the 40 lap final saw another triumph for the Alpine-Renaults of Jabouille and Depailler. This time it was Jabouille’s turn to taste victory, he beat teammate Depailler by 4.4 seconds with François Migault (Martini-Novamotor) a further 7.0 seconds down the road in third. From the start the Alpines led with only Patrice Compain (Martini-Novamotor) able to stay with them until he had to retire on lap 15 with a puncture. Depailler sat close to Jabouille until a grassy moment on lap 27 caused him to fall away, his air intake partially blocked with some of the French countryside. Behind Migault were Jacques Coulon in another Martini-Novamotor and Italian visitor Vittorio Brambilla with his Birel-Alfa Romeo until the Wainer tuned Alfa engine let Brambilla down.