VILLENEUVE VS ARNOUX

Jean-Pierre Jabouille celebrated his first F1 victory at Dijon on this day in 1979, which was also the first F1 victory for Renault and turbo engines, but the race was remembered for the legendary battle between Gilles Villeneuve and Rene Arnoux for the second place. Renault started its F1 adventure in 1977 as a constructor and engine manufacturer, and in their first F1 car was RS01 in 1977 when they first used a turbo engine. This was the 1,5-litre V6 engine tested for the first time in 1976, and the first race they used it was the British GP in 1977.

Renault has prepared its version of its turbocharged twin turbo V6 engine for Monaco GP in 1979 making a big step forward in solving turbo lag, and in the next race at French Dijon Jabouille won from pole position and gave French manufacturer their first victory in Formula 1, which is also the first victory for a turbo engine. Frenchman Jabouille won the French GP on the French track Dijon with a French engine using French tyres (Michelin) and French fuel and lubricants (Elf).

Gilles Villeneuve in Ferrari and Rene Arnoux in Renault had one of the greatest battles in Formula 1 history for the runner-up spot in the final laps of the race when they touched with their wheels several times, Villeneuve eventually finishing 0.24 seconds ahead of Arnoux. Villeneuve later described this battle as ‘one of the greatest memories in his Grand Prix racing career’.