Berger Wins First Race in Adelaide

Qualifying:

http://formularejects.com/uploader/repository/Klon/Alternate%20Formula%20One/1987%20Alt-F1%20Result%20Tables/f1australia87_q.csv

Report:

Many, many rule changes were on the plate for the 1987 season. Whilst pre-season testing and free practice at Adelaide had given a general idea of the performance we can expect from each of the 14 teams entered for this season, anything was considered possible. Williams-Honda proved supreme in qualifying, locking out the front row with Cassidy ahead of Senna.

However, the well-paid driver duo ruined Sir Frank Williams’ day for most of the race. It began with Cassidy making a mess of the start, dropping down the order. Then Ayrton Senna ran into Gauthier, turning towards the pitlane at the very last second, forcing a front wing change for the reigning champion. Both Cassidy and Senna had driver errors later in the race, ruling them out for victory in Australia.

The battle for the win was between Gerhard Berger, driving his first race for McLaren and Alain Prost, driving for Ferrari. Prost and his strategist tried a daring three-stop strategy to overcome the McLaren MP4/3 with raw speed. Regrettably, traffic and a general lack of speed worked against Alain, putting him on the backfoot, even forcing him behind Cassidy.

This enabled the Austrian to take his first win on his first day with the British team and become the first leader of the 1987 world championship. Further down the road we have Jeremy-Etienne Voeckler in fourth and Derek Warwick scoring two points for Lotus-Honda. An impressive start to his F1 career for Nicola Larini, surviving against all odds to give 13th to Coloni-Ford.

Race:

http://formularejects.com/uploader/repository/Klon/Alternate%20Formula%20One/1987%20Alt-F1%20Result%20Tables/f1australia87_r.csv

Fastest Lap:

Brendon Cassidy – 1:20.040

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

Nicola Larini – Italian youngster impresses on debut with Coloni.

Reject Of The Race:

Ayrton Senna – He is known for daring driving, but today was less daring and more amateurish.