Monza, September 8th
The tail-end of the Formula One scene is going through a bad time at the moment, first with the death of Manfred Winkelhock in Canada, then the injuries to Jonathan Palmer during practice at Spa Francorchamps and then the death of Stefan Bellof during the Spa 1,000 kms race, all these incidents being in Group C sports cars, but robbing Formula One of three of its regular runners. Ken Tyrrell withdrew his number four entry in respect for his lamented driver and Zakspeed withdrew its entry as well. The entry list for the 56th I!alian Grand Prix was brought up to 26 by the entry of Alan Jones making another return to Formula One, this time with a new team financed by an American group of companies using a chassis designed and built in England and powered by a Hart 415T engine. There was a change in the normal scene in the replacement of Andrea de Cesaris in the Ligier-Renault team by Frenchman Philippe Streiff.
With the end of the season in sight there was a slight feeling of “end of term” about the paddock as everyone got ready for the Friday morning test-session, with nothing really new mechanically to be seen, though just as much progress going in detail terms of engine power and efficiency and chassis and suspension mods to utilise the power, while tyre development is continuous. Ferrari had resurrected the two new monocoques it built for the French GP and added suspension improvements and re-thinking in terms of radiators and inter-coolers in each side pod, while it built a brand new car to this revised specification for Alboreto’s use. The Tyrrell team had completed a third 014 model with Renault power for Brundle, his original 014/1 becoming the T-car.
