| 1977 French Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 9 of 17 in the1977 Formula One season | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | 3 July 1977 | ||
| Location | Dijon-Prenois,Dijon,France | ||
| Course length | 3.801 km (2.361 miles) | ||
| Distance | 80 laps, 304.08 km (188.88 miles) | ||
| Weather | Dry | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Lotus-Ford | ||
| Time | 1:12.21 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver | Lotus-Ford | ||
| Time | 1:13.75 on lap 76 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Lotus-Ford | ||
| Second | Brabham-Alfa Romeo | ||
| Third | McLaren-Ford | ||
Lap leaders | |||
The1977 French Grand Prix was aFormula One motor race held atDijon-Prenois nearDijon,France on 3 July 1977. It was race 9 of 17 in both the 1977 World Championship of F1 Drivers and the 1977 International Cup for F1 Constructors.
The 80-lap race was won by American driverMario Andretti, driving aLotus-Ford, after he started frompole position. Northern IrishmanJohn Watson led for most of the race in hisBrabham-Alfa Romeo, before Andretti passed him on the final lap. Watson finished 1.55 seconds behind the American, with EnglishmanJames Hunt third in hisMcLaren-Ford.
AustrianNiki Lauda finished fifth in hisFerrari to take the lead of the Drivers' Championship from South AfricanJody Scheckter, who failed to finish in hisWolf-Ford.
Once again it wasMario Andretti on pole withJames Hunt second andGunnar Nilsson third on the grid. Hunt got the best start and led into the first corner fromJohn Watson andJacques Laffite, with Andretti dropping down to fourth. However, Watson passed Hunt on the fifth lap and started to build a gap until Andretti got up to second and began to reel him in. During the final few laps, leader Watson and Andretti were running nose-to-tail but Watson held him off till the last lap when his engine missed a beat and immediately Andretti was past. Andretti thus took the win ahead of a crestfallen Watson and Hunt.
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