1994 F1RGP2C Portuguese Grand Prix

The 1994 F1RGP2C Portuguese Grand Prix was the thirteenth race of the 1994 F1RGP2C season. Jack Christopherson emerged victorious for Williams after an untimely suspension failure robbed John Zimmer of a sure victory.

Race Report

Qualifying

Jack Christopherson took pole by three tenths over his Williams teammate Daniel Moreno. Christopherson's closest championship rival, John Zimmer, was third and Rory McAllister qualified fourth. Kazuhiko Takagi and Tom Douglas both qualified eight places behind their respective teammates.

Race

At the start, Rory McAllister leapfrogged both Williams cars and took the lead after the first corner. Zimmer got past Moreno and Christopherson and immediately chased after the Ferrari driver. Zimmer took the lead at the beginning of Lap 6 and Christopherson passed McAllister two laps later. Pieter Kickert retired on Lap 3 with a transmission problem. Damon Cannon failed to avoid the slowing Tyrrell and lost his front wing. Gio van Dycke suffered a puncture on Lap 5. By lap seven, the Williams team told Christopherson that his suspension had taken minor damage after hitting debris from Cannon's collision with Kickert. Christopherson elected to continue to keep his championship hopes alive and stayed in the race. Zimmer continued to build his lead and he would not relinquish the lead until his only pit stop on Lap 25.

Kazuyoshi Hoshino and Poppy Whitehchapel both retired from the race, continuing their recent poor form. James Davies' transmission failed on Lap 16 while he was running in sixth place. Samael Meerwick collided with Pippa Mann after the Lotus picked up a puncture. Mann was able to continue but Meerwick retired. Christopherson briefly assumed the lead after Zimmer's stop but he pitted two laps later, handing the lead back to Zimmer. On Lap 35, Pablo da Silva's Sauber started spewing flame due to an oil leak. The next major retirement had a devastating effect on the championship battle. John Zimmer's suspension suddenly broke on Lap 43, leaving Christopherson with the race win and a nine-point in the Drivers' Championship. Christopherson won the race by fifty-six seconds over Zimmer's teammate Takagi. Éadbhard Ó'Caoimhín battled with Takagi for the entire race and finished third. Daniel Moreno finished in fourth. Leonhard von Gottorp was fifth, capping off a brilliant result for Jordan. Dennis Mignolet survived and picked up a point for Ligier.