During the 1979 grand prix season, the SEFAC Ferrari team developed a successful Formula 1 car, the 312 T4, and signed two of the quickest drivers of the era to drive it. Arguably the faster of the two over a single lap was the mercurial Canadian Gilles Villeneuve but his South African team-mate, Jody Scheckter, who was ostensibly the team leader, proved equally competitive over the course of a grand prix.
1979 Belgian GP Ferari Scheckter
Seen here in action during the 1979 Belgian grand prix, the sixth round of the season held at Zolder, Jody Scheckter was given a new T4 to race in the hope that he might improve on his previous two second place finishes. Their faith was justified despite Scheckter qualifying in a lowly seventh place on the grid, one hundredth of a second slower than Villeneuve. The two Ferraris appeared to be off the pace as the Liger’s of Laffite and Depailler locked out the front row. Things didn’t improve when, on lap 2, Scheckter collided with the Williams of Clay Regazzoni but escaped without damage, unlike Villeneuve who ran into to accident and damaged a wheel and the front wing. His pitstop saw him rejoin in last place but that merely inspired him to set a series of fastest laps; a potential third place was denied when his Ferrari ran out of fuel on the last lap. Scheckter, however, continued and gradually made up a few places but when the Ligiers began to slow due to front tyre problems, he realised that an unlikely win was possible. He upped the pace and took the lead with four laps left, winning his first of three races during the 15-race season and, thanks to a further three second places, Scheckter went on to win the 1979 drivers’ championship.
