Classic F1 Cars – The Ferrari 126-C2; Glory and Tragedy

Ferrari had basically been using the same car since 1975, the 312T, so when the new 126C was tested in 1980 it was immediately putting in quicker laps than the old car but as with most new race cars there were some issues. Going into the 1981 season lead driver Gilles Villeneuve also had reservations about the handling of the 126-CK version however it was the reliability that proved to be a major issue. These were the early days of the screaming 1.5 litre V6 Twin Turbo charged formula producing 600bhp, whilst some of the opposition remained loyal to the normally aspirated power-plants with twice the cubic capacity. The CK was great on the faster circuits but the poor handling caused the car to become something of a mobile chicane on the slower ones, using its superior power on the straights to hold back the competition. Villeneuve was still able to secure 2 wins in 1981 with another podium and the team ended 5in the constructors championship on 34 points. Harvey Postlethwaite was brought in to work his magic; so for 1982 the 126-C2 was ready with more power (650BHP), 20kg lighter and a more nimble package overall. Ferrari retained the same drivers from the previous season with Didier Peroni backing up team leader Villeneuve; both performed well and the car should have been the machine to beat in 1982 but it became a season of accidents. This was also the year of drivers’ strikes over the new ‘super licences’ that some believed tied them to the teams unfairly. The arguments between the turbo and non-turbo teams meant resultsbeing changed weeks after the event took place; all round this was not a good year for Formula 1. The on-going disputes came to a head at the San Marino GP as many teams were to boycott the 4round of the season and only 14 cars started; worse still for Ferrari their two drivers were to ‘fall out’ in a big way. As the race was in its final quarter the two Ferrari drivers were one and two with a safe lead, therefore the team pit boards instructed the drivers to slow and cruise to victory. After swopping places a couple of times Pironi waited for the last lap and took the race victory from his team leader. Villeneuve was furious and declared he would never speak to Pironi again; the French driver told waiting press, the sign means ‘be sensible’ not stop racing. The rift between the two may well have been a contributing factor in the tragedy that ensued at the next round in Belgium. The final qualifying session saw the worst of accidents as Villeneuve caught Jochan Mass who was going much slower. The Ferrari driver moved to over-take at the same time Mass moved over to allow the pass, the two collided and such was the destruction Villeneuve was thrown from the car and the world lost one of the all-time great drivers. Speculation that the Canadian driver was desperate to beat his team mates time after their public bust up continues to this day; Ferrari said no, ‘he had set his time’ we will never know. The team withdrew from the race. Pironi was made team leader and Patrick Tambay was drafted in to the team but this would not be the last personnel adjustment this season. The image supplied by Mick Hallam is of Didier Pironi on his way to a 2place at the Brands Hatch round, his new team mate Tambay followed him in 3and the race victory was taken by Niki Lauda in his McLaren. Germany and Pironi was already fastest when another qualifying lap in the wet saw a massive impact as he hit the back of Alan Prosts Renault. Those that witnessed this career finishing crash reported that the Ferrari was seen nose skyward at a height of twenty feet. Team mate Tambay drove his 126-C2 to victory but there was no celebration, Pironi was lucky to be alive but his injuries were horrendous. Mario Andretti was brought into the team for the final two rounds and the season ended with a constructor’s championship for the team; it should have been so much more. Villeneuve and Pironi had both been the drivers to beat at various stages during this unpredictable season but in the end the statistics tell the story. Eleven drivers took race wins in 1982, none won two races. Nine races in a row saw nine different winners. Keke Rosberg became drivers Champion with only one win; we would not see another season like this again. The following year the 126-C3 took the Constructors Championship again but failed to win the drivers prize; the chance had gone, the 126-C series continued until 1985 when the completely new 156 arrived.