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Pick your classic grand prix

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Andrew Benson | 08:00 UK time, Thursday, 17 September 2009

Boy, do we have a treat for you in the latest edition of our classic grand prix series.

As this year's is only the second running of the race, we could hardly follow our usual approach of picking five of the best events from the past history of the race.

So for this one we have decided to add to the list selected classic races from venues that no longer feature on the .

Last year's Singapore Grand Prix was not exactly free of drama, so we had decided to make that one of the choices - especially in the context of the , on which governing body the FIA will rule on Monday.

But Wednesday's events - when team boss Flavio Briatore and engineering director Pat Symonds left the team after Renault decided not to contest the charges that they had conspired with Nelson Piquet Jr for him to crash and cause a safety car to the benefit of team-mate Fernando Alonso - have forced a slight change of plan.

Having already cut highlights of last year's Singapore race for this classic races series, it seemed stupid not to publish them to accompany a news story of such magnitude. You can watch them here:

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We will promote them again next week in the run-up to the Singapore race. But that leaves only four races to choose from this time. But what absolutely cracking grands prix they are - France 1979, Austria 1982, Dallas 1984 and Mexico 1990.

As usual, we are asking you to give us your views on which of those events is your favourite, and why. We will show short highlights (usually between five and nine minutes) of all five races next week.

But for one of the races, we will also show the full 'Grand Prix' programme of the time. There is no need for tactical voting this time, as all of them are from the period when the Ö÷²¥´óÐã last owned the rights to F1 - ie, before 1997. That choice will be informed - but not solely decided - by your responses to this blog.

Choosing the four 'non-Singapore' races for this blog was not easy. Not all of you will agree with our choices and in many ways that is good - we are going to need as many suggestions as possible for similar situations when we continue this series next year. So please do let us know of other great races you think we should pick next time.

But regardless of whether you agree with the final selection, I am confident you will all agree that we have chosen four all-time classic grands prix.

Many of the readers of this blog are ardent, and very well informed, F1 fans and so will already know an awful lot about the events in question. But for those of you who do not, I will give you a quick summary of what makes them special.

France 1979 has gone down in history for two reasons. drove his Renault to the first F1 win for a car powered by a turbocharged engine, the likes of which went on to dominate the sport through the 1980s. But even that momentous event plays second fiddle to the other reason the race is remembered - the quite breathtaking battle for second place between Ferrari's and Jabouille's team-mate Rene Arnoux over the final three laps.

It really has to be seen to be believed. Villeneuve had held second for most of the race, but was passed by Arnoux shortly before the end. The tyres on Villeneuve's car shot, that should have been the end of that. But Villeneuve, in the sort of performance that ensured his legendary status among F1 aficionados, just would not give up and there followed the most extraordinary three laps of racing that is ever likely to be seen in F1.

Time and again the two cars passed and re-passed each other, banging wheels, sliding off the track and back on again until Villeneuve finally crossed the line first.

The great French-Canadian was killed early in the 1982 season, when he would surely have gone on to win the world title. And his loss is still felt keenly today. By then turbocharged cars were starting to dominate F1, but they were still fragile and the Austrian Grand Prix that year proved it.

Held at the much-lamented, breathtaking, high-speed Osterreichring, it was a race that could have been made for the turbo cars.

prostmexico595.jpgProst drove one of his greatest races in Mexico in 1990 to win from 13th on the grid

First the Brabham-BMWs of Riccardo Patrese and Nelson Piquet led, only to retire. Patrick Tambay's Ferrari also dropped out. Then Alain Prost's leading Renault, which appeared to be set for victory, retired with just a handful of laps to go. That meant there were no turbo cars left and the closing laps were fought out by two cars powered by normally-aspirated Cosworth engines - the Lotus of Elio de Angelis and Keke Rosberg's Williams.

The Finn was some way behind when De Angelis inherited the lead, but he was closing fast. As the laps ticked down, he loomed ever larger in the Lotus's mirrors until, starting the last lap, he was practically on the Italian's tail. Coming out of the final corner, the 150mph Rindt curve, Rosberg made his move, darting out of De Angelis's slipstream and lunging for the line.

But it was just too late. They swept across the line side by side, with De Angelis taking the win by just 0.05secs - a margin that had to be established by counting the frames on a high-speed camera sited by the finish line.

Rosberg went on to win the title that year in a last hurrah for the venerable Cosworth engine, and he features strongly in the next race, Dallas in 1984.

One of two US Grands Prix ended up in the Texan city in high summer that year after F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone failed to come to a deal to keep the popular Long Beach race in California. The new Dallas track, in the city's State Fair Park, initially won plaudits, but as the race weekend progressed serious problems emerged.

The stifling heat of the Texan summer, combined with the power of turbocharged F1 cars, ripped the track to shreds, and emergency repairs had to be carried out. Even so, it broke up badly during the race and more and more drivers fell foul of the treacherously slippery surface - among them those paragons of consistency and error-free driving, McLaren drivers Prost and Niki Lauda, who were fighting out the world championship.

Through it all to win came Rosberg, one of few drivers not to make a mistake on the crumbling track - remarkably, considering he was driving a Williams that was renowned for its reluctance to turn corners and a turbocharged Honda engine that delivered its power like a light switch.

Mexico 1990 was another race held in hot temperatures, but this one stands out for one of Prost's most brilliant wins. For some reason, Nigel Mansell's victory from a similar position in Hungary in 1989 is widely talked about, while this one by Prost is barely mentioned. That is a grave injustice, for it was a quite remarkable drive.

Starting 13th on the grid, the Frenchman, then driving for Ferrari, appeared to be out of contention. But he found his car getting better and better as the race went on, and in his silkily smooth way passed all his rivals including his Ferrari team-mate Mansell and Ayrton Senna's McLaren to take a quite stunning victory.

Mansell completed a Ferrari one-two thanks to one of the greatest overtaking manoeuvres in F1 history - passing the McLaren of the notoriously uncompromising Gerhard Berger around the outside of the daunting sixth-gear, 150mph Peraltada corner.

It is, I hope you'll agree, quite a choice. I look forward to reading your views.

Comments

Page 1 of 2

  • First
  • 1
  • Comment number 1.

    Dallas 1984 unquestionably!

    Was there a different way in which the last group of highlights were encoded and played for Italy? It seemed as if the videos had a rough motion, except for 1999 and 2004 Monza which were normal.

  • Comment number 2.

    I think 1979 will be a popular choice but I'd vote for 1984 as I've never seen any of this whereas I have seen clips of the, frankly scary, Jabouille/Villeneuve battle.

  • Comment number 3.

    Tough choice. 1979 was actually a pretty dull race apart from the last few laps and is also probably the most accessed clip on "youtube"

    Mexico 1990 was good but I will vote for Dallas 84. Firstly because it was won by by favorite driver of the era but mainly because I haven't seen the footage since.

    The race was held in blistering heat. The Brabhams were having trouble with cooling and had extra tubling running from the front of the car to the rear. The mechanics called these devices "Donkey Dicks"

  • Comment number 4.


    The 1991 British GP at Silverstone won by Nigel Mansell. The battle with Senna and the lift back to the pits for Senna in Mansells's Williams when he ran out of fuel on the last lap.

    A brilliant day of exciting racing by real sportsmen.

  • Comment number 5.

    1984 Dallas please. I actually think it's a shame that Singapore was said to be removing many of the bumps from last year's track. I would like to see the drivers challenged under braking!

  • Comment number 6.

    dallas 84... let's have it! :)

    @ClassicF1, agree - and sparks at the bottom of the car... just like the old days.

  • Comment number 7.

    My vote will be for Mexico 1990, it is hard to pick one as they all sound good, but i love to see wins by drivers starting further down the grid as it provides excellent entertainment throughout the race, not just the first few battling it out over the last few laps, which is also exciting, but not so much for extended highlights.

  • Comment number 8.

    Would like to see long highlights of all obviously, but I'm guessing that won't happen, so it's Austria '82 for me, a great track ruined. As is Mexico City, at least for single seaters anyway.
    If we get a similar choice next year (I guess we will if South Korea gets a race), Imola '82 would be good, the Long beach one where Watson and Lauda come 1-2 from 22nd and 23rd (1983 is it?) and Portugal 93,

    There's still a few great ones after 1996 too. Imola 2005 springs to mind, the Alonso-Schumacher battle, 2 laps of which went unseen due to an ITV! A lot of the 'new' Austrian ones weren't bad either.

    Last thing- for Brazil, please put the 1980 race in. No idea how good the race was, just want to see the cars blast round the old Interlagos turns 1 and 2- the starts on youtube so you must have it somewhere!

  • Comment number 9.

    I have to go for 1990 - Mansell's move is my favourite of all time. 1979 was a great battle but the exciting bits can be covered by a 6-minute show easily. A full highlights show would show Prost's achievement much more clearly.

    By the way, I think the reason it's "overlooked" is that Hungary is far more difficult to pass at. I don't know much about Mexico but from the layout it doesn't look as tricky for overtaking. Still a great drive though.

    As for future suggestions, the 2005 San Marino Grand Prix? Not as great as some you could pick but it gives a modern option.

  • Comment number 10.

    Wow excellent choices this time Andrew, particularly as two races I wanted to see (Austria 82 and Mexico 90) are both here - and Dallas 84 was highly entertaining too!

    It's taken me a lot longer than usual to think about this one. My thinking is, if the vote is equally split between Austria Dallas and Mexico, the Ö÷²¥´óÐã will show all 3 races as extended highlights ;)

    On the face of it, i'm gonna go for 1990 Mexico as 1982 has had too many races shown already (though Austria was WAY better than Monaco and Germany). I'm not voting 1984 cause more people have voted for it already and I want to keep things interesting

    So 1990 please

    (You see Andrew, you still havn't stopped me from tactically voting ha ha! :) )

  • Comment number 11.

    Dallas 84 please!

  • Comment number 12.

    1979 seems easy to pick, 1982 is up on Youtube.

    I'm going to go for 1990.

    Prost has been regarded as the forgotten man out of the great drivers of that era. Prost winning yet the post-race adulation was on the aggressive racers of Mansell and Senna.

    The Professor coming from nowhere to win the race was a rare sight. A great drive from Prost that is long forgotten as this race is most remembered for Mansell and that stunning move on Berger.

  • Comment number 13.

    Also, as a suggestion 1990 US GP - Senna and Alesi battling out in the opening laps.

    I'd be also interested how Hunt/Walker commented on Pironi overtaking Villeneuve at the 1982 San Marino GP.

  • Comment number 14.

    Austria 1982 please. Great race, majestic race track, popular winner. RIP Elio de Angelis.

    Also, the 1990 Ferrari in the picture further up the article is the most aesthetically pleasing F1 car ever and contained the V12 which made the best engine sound ever.

  • Comment number 15.

    I don't see anything special in 1984 Dallas, it was a boring race to watch. And despite the fact that I consider Mexico 1990 as the best race in last 30 years, I still pick 1979 Dijon. Because of the opportunity to see it in slightly higher quality than we can at the moment.

  • Comment number 16.

    I vote for Dallas 1984 - had a great drive from Martin Brundle, almost his first and only win!

  • Comment number 17.

    Oh wait, that was Detroit 1984.
    In that case, I vote for 1990 Mexico.

  • Comment number 18.

    1st Mexico 1990 2nd France 1979
    Lets have them shown on Freeview this time.

  • Comment number 19.

    Some absolutely brilliant races there. I've seen France 79, which wasn't that good until the final few laps and Mexico 90 which doesn't stick in my mind, except for that manoeuvre by Mansell. So I will vote for Austria 82. I've not seen it and it sounds like an exciting race with cars dropping out left, right, and centre. Haven't seen Dallas 84 either but Austria just sounds better.

  • Comment number 20.

    It has to be Mexico 1990... I have such fond memories of it and Mansell's drive. One of the best last few laps ever - without doubt.

    1979 France is a close second but I have seen the clips so many times I have become bored of it. The shorter highlights will suffice for this.

    So Please 1990 Mexico – it’s simply one of the best races ever!

    Thanks, Stuart.

  • Comment number 21.

    Id choose 1979 Dijon of these simply because its probably the only race we are gonna see from the 70s.
    Other races not listed here: 1979 Holland, 1980 Argentina 1982 Imola, 1983 South Africa 1984 & 1985 Portugal, 1985 Imola & 1986 Detroit

  • Comment number 22.

    Dennis: I think that Portugal 84 and South Africa 83 will be picked for Abu Dhabi (which will have 5 best title deciders, and since a lot of deciders were/will be shown before Australia, Japan and Brazil, then there's a fair chance of having these two for Abu Dhabi...)

  • Comment number 23.

    I'd love to see both Austria '82 and Mexico '90, and I'd be hard pressed to choose. Austria because I'd love to see a race at the old Osterreichring, and Mexico for both the great drive from Prost and the Mansell pass round the outside. I've seen the famous battle at the end of the '79 race many times and you can easily find it on Youtube, while Dallas just doesn't sound as good as the others.

  • Comment number 24.

    Hmm, this is a tough one, my choice is Mexico 1990 though. Thanks Andrew. :)

  • Comment number 25.

    Very difficult Andrew.

    I will pick Mexico 1990. It was a superb circuit (one circuit I would like to see return) and there was superb action throughout.

    Very close between Mexico 1990 and Dallas 1984. If it is a close vote, will both "Grand Prix" Highlights shows be avaliable, like Australia?

  • Comment number 26.

    Well done Andrew, all four choices are good for the full highlights treatment.

    I would probably go for Mexico '90 first, followed by Dallas '84, Austria '82 and France '79.

    I hope Japan 1994 is on the shortlist for the next race. Wet race, brilliant driving by most in hideous conditions and the Alesi-Mansell battle at the end. Brilliant.

  • Comment number 27.

    Austria 1982 please.

    All great choices though.

  • Comment number 28.

    Dallas 84.

    WHY DALLAS 1984?
    I feel that Dallas may be overlooked as it's a less famous race. Can I just say however, that it houses the best racing at the front of all. The battle between the first 3-4 cars becomes intense. One of them even falls off the road in the heat of battle. There is some pretty harsh defensive driving amongst it too
    There's also a lot of attrition, including that one corner that ends up with about 5 cars parked on the road - including the championship front-runners, though I wouldn't want to give away too much.

  • Comment number 29.

    A great selection Andrew. It gave me a grin when I saw two of my selections from our last discussion make the shortlist.

    I'm going with 84 Dallas, this is a race people really do forget, but an absolute gem.

    To follow up Flukielucas' early post - this is an important technical point to raise to you, Andrew. The Ö÷²¥´óÐãi team made a mistake in Hungary. They broadcast the 1989 Italian Grand Prix in the wrong field order. For digital displays on digital connections this made the first run of the highlights unwatchable.

    As a quick fix, they simply deinterlaced everything after the first run, more popularly termed as 'filmising'. It unfortunately degraded the quality and motion.

    This field order issue has infrequently occurred this year on these classic highlights, although beforehand it i has only affected some of the shorter clips.

    Hopefully this is a one off. It is important that care is taken to get this right, please communicate it to your Ö÷²¥´óÐãi colleagues.

    Yes, it's an anorak technical point which many people will not care about. But ultimately this whole service is for us anoraks isn't it?

  • Comment number 30.

    Mexico 1990.

  • Comment number 31.

    For Japan, for a more recent race, I think 2003 would be a good choice. A fantastic title deciding race.

  • Comment number 32.

    The 1984 Dallas race thanks..

    You know what 1990 Mexico brings up for me? Why was Nigel Mansell so comprehensively beaten for pace and all ends up by Alain Prost in 1990. I have read Mansell's bio where he alleges that Prost worked politically behind the scenes at Ferrari to get the team to support him. Granted, yes that's a strong possibility, but he was outpaced so many times by Prost and I just think that's strange because Mansell was meant to be the fastest driver along with Senna, whereas Prost was meant to be the well-rounded driver who got the results.

  • Comment number 33.

    Dallas 1984 please!

  • Comment number 34.

    #32 thesmokingjoe

    I think that all three drivers were probably around the same in out and out race pace (Senna was a cut above in qualifying), but Prost and Senna were much stronger mentally than Mansell. Mansell got ruffled to easily by team mates and struggled when the odds were against him. He also made more silly mistakes than the other two. Prost was a cut above on that front, hardly ever had his car pointing the wrong direction.

  • Comment number 35.

    Mexico 1990 please.

    thesmokingjoe: Mansell was sometimes outpaced by Patrese in early 91. That all changed with the active car the following year though...

  • Comment number 36.

    Can I vote for Austria '82 please Andrew? :-)

    Very appropriate with "Lotus" announcing their F1 return just yesterday! :-)


    HobNob Monster

  • Comment number 37.

    I get fed up with "admiration/praise" given to Michael Schumacher by the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Tv F1 team. Before criticising Nelson Piquet/Renault etc remember his delibrate efforts to ram Jacques Villeneuve off the track could have also killed a driver and or spectors etc. F! is glad to rid of Schumacher!!

  • Comment number 38.

    Dallas 1984 please!
    Keke kept a cool head while others fell by the wayside. Would be good to see a US GP other than the Indy races of the noughties.
    I look forward to seeing if my hightlights choice wins and is shown in full.

    Please Mr. Ö÷²¥´óÐã make sure that the highlights are shown on the Freeview service.
    Please, please be more consistent with highlights and the Red Button.
    The last Italian GP hightlights could have been shown as opposed to rock band Muse and their concert on a loop ALL weekend (yawn).

    NB
    Does anyone else think Keke Rosberg looked more like a 1970's dutch porno star than a very fast racing driver - maybe he worked on films every other weekend when not racing...

    jiggyjaggy1 :o)

  • Comment number 39.

    Dallas 1984 please. Haven't seen any footage of it unlike the rest.

  • Comment number 40.

    Maybe some satellite channel can commission a reality TV series called;

    "At Ö÷²¥´óÐã with the Piquets"

    We could follow the exploits of a half decent wheel merchant who won some drivers championships last century and how his spoilt little boy wanted to emulate daddy but didn't have the right stuff/application to compete with the big boys.

    In a way I feel sorry (!?) for Briatorie & Symonds all because Junior threw his toys out of the pram.

    I am sure that crashes or hydraulics problems have been used in the past to engineer favorable wins for team mates.

    I would have suggested the idea of the TV programme, "At The Race Track with the Piquets" but of course there is no future for the Piquets in motorsport. Seriously damaged goods now.

  • Comment number 41.

    I'll go for 84 Dallas please! It looks like it was a race that had everything!

    (Second choice would be France 79 - everyone says how it's only memorable for the Villeneuve/Arnoux battle but I have absolutely no idea how they got to those positions).

    Of the other two, Mexico 1990 seems really difficult to follow, and I've already seen Austria 82 in full on YouTube, though I don't think it's there any more due to FOM! :-(



  • Comment number 42.

    My vote is for France 1979, though it seems not to be getting many votes overall. The reason for voting for this is that there's a lot more to the extended highlights than the race itself: there's the background info on people and cars. Given the historic significance of the race I'd hope to see some technical insight during the programme. And the cars that year were very distinctive.

    2nd vote is Dallas '84.

    Pleeeease, like the early races, could we have two races given the extended highlights treatment???

    Like flukielucas, I found the initial race jerky, but it was fine second time round. Had assumed it was a bandwidth issue but thanks to Incast I know better now.

  • Comment number 43.

    Is there anyone out there who taped the classic Australian GPs and who might be able to send me them on a disc please? Back in March I didn't get a digital service. I can repay in kind with some races from the ITV years. Please email if you can help: d.i.rob@btinternet.com

  • Comment number 44.

    Its between Dallas 84 or Dijion 79.......

    Lets go for Dijion 79 please

  • Comment number 45.

    In earlier disucssions I suggeseted Mexico 1990 and that is where my vote is going. I will be happy whichever race wins though as they are all 1st class.

    As for alternative suggestions, I would enjoy seeing some old footage from Estoril. Perhaps Senna's 1st win in 1985 or maybe the 1989 race.

    LOL - Post #38 "Does anyone else think Keke Rosberg looked more like a 1970's dutch porno star than a very fast racing driver"

  • Comment number 46.

    Mexico 1990 for me, although I doubt if this'll be shown in full higlights form, as the highlights at the time were shown at a wierd time. As I recall all those years ago, the show started mid way through actual race, and jumped to the live broadcast when Prost caught Senna. There's a bit where Hunt says "jumping live to the race now." and we never saw Prost passing Mansell, and Piquet.

    On a side note, what a beautiful car that Ferrari 641 is, and a great pic to show it's beauty too.

  • Comment number 47.

    Dijon '79 - mainly because I haven't seen a race from that far back yet.

  • Comment number 48.

    1968 German Grand Pix simply because I think it was one of the best drives, even though I'll take Murray's top race.

  • Comment number 49.

    @Gregz0r in #46 that is indeed correct, i have a tape of the highlights and thats exacly what happened. The last 15mins orso of the Grand Prix programme were live. The strange thing is though that i also have the ch9 tape where they showed the race completely but it has different commentary! Its James and Murray but its not the same as on the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Highlights. Therefor one of them cant have been live, im guessing thats ch9 but nobody really knows!

  • Comment number 50.

    a great selection to choose from. I have loved this element of the bbc coverage - worth the licence fee alone in my opinion. this is the first time i have registered and commented, although have watched all highlights from each gp. i just had to add my vote for mexico 1990. sadly prost's victory had slipped from memory but mansell's overtake on berger had not - unbelievable. watching shots from the weekend as cars went through parabolica actually reminded me of this race in 1990.pure guts and bravery from mansell in a beautiful, groundbreaking ferrari at a classic bumpy higher altidute track. the esses section onto the back straight with kerbs in mexico colours was excellent.
    thank you SO much bbc.

  • Comment number 51.

    1979 is the race where your jaw still hits the floor every time you see it - so long as you stick with the last 3 laps; the rest of it was a bit dull; I was too young to have known what it was like when Gilles was driving but watching this for the first time about 15 years ago, I suddenly understood what everyone had been going on about.

    Mexico 1990 was cracking but if I remember it - and by God, I surprise myself with my own anal retentiveness - it was the days when the Beeb spasmodically showed races live, especially ones in countries outside Europe so they ended up cutting to it after Prost had already passed Mansell and I'm fairly sure when I saw the highlights that evening that there's hardly any footage of him passing anybody until he gets up to Berger in 3rd or 4th; but like Dijon the last 3 laps are astonishing. Autocourse had it about right when they suggested not only was Berger not expecting the pass but possibly our Nige wasn't either.

  • Comment number 52.

    I would love to see Dallas 1984!

    It was a truly great race in atrocious conditions, with the track crumbling away through the combination of the extreme heat and the power of the turbo cars. I'm surprised that no-one's mentioned this as the first pole-position for Nigel Mansell, as well as his display of total grit, commitment and energy as he pushed his car to the finish line.

    That's why I want this race - what driver from 2009 would have the sheer guts to push their car until they collapsed from exhaustion? Well, maybe Rubens...

  • Comment number 53.

    Oh yes, so err....Dallas '84 because I've never seen it.

  • Comment number 54.

    Wow these races are so hard to pick from, ideally I would love to see them all! Dallas 84 has to win for me with Mexico 90 in 2nd place as footage of the Dallas race is rare and I've seen the other two races more than the Mexico 90 race. But hell both races are worth watching for classic Mansell moments!

  • Comment number 55.

    DennisF1- I'm amazed at that, you're right! The full GP programme of Mexico 90 is available on an F1-based video sight, and there's a 40 second clip on youtube of the Mansell move- and they're different. The clip (I'm assuming from ch 9 coverage) cuts to a replay of Mansell's move, the GP programme stays on board with Berger right down the straight. What's the deal with that then?
    The mexico highlights really are poor until the live bit kicks in, a lot of things missed out. But well worth a watch after that.

  • Comment number 56.

    I have to pick the Austrian Grand Prix of 1982. I was 13 years old at the time, a Keke Rosberg and Williams fan, but best of all I was actuaslly there (with my parents). It was amazing watching Keke chase down De Angelis in the closing laps only to come second in what must still be the closest finish ever to a Formula 1 race. The whole event was spectacular as it was a very hot day, too hot for the turbo cars anyway. We had a great view of a large section of the track and Rosberg seemed to be defying the laws of physics as he closed the gap. He went on to win the next race (Dijon)having finished 3rd in Germany at Hockenhiem the week before. That was a crazy season!

  • Comment number 57.

    1984 Dallas please. I'd really like to see that cracking race :)

  • Comment number 58.

    I agree, it was a superb battle for the lead, so I'm voting for Dallas 84. If Senna hadn't have spun I'm sure he could have been jostling with the leaders. That would have been the first Senna-Mansell duel ever.

  • Comment number 59.

    I'd have to choose Mexico 1990, to see Mansell pull off that move - similar to what Jacques Villeneuve did to Schumacher at Portugal 1996

    Also, I'd have to agree with Post #1 by flukielukas, please please don't add that effect to the footage like for the Italian races, ClasicF1 on the Italian thread said it was called "Progressive Scan"

    And also please never zoom the 4:3 image to fit 16:9 it's fine with the black bars on the sides!

  • Comment number 60.

    It has to be the 1982 Austrian Grand Prix for me. Aside from the great battle between Keke and Elio to the finish, we also (finally!) saw the Brabham team sucessfully complete a mid-race pit stop which was a new innovation at the time. Sadly Riccardo Patrese wasn't to see the benefit as engine failure saw him pitched off in rather dramatic fashion soon afterwards.

    It was a great race at a magnificent circuit, and the last Colin Chapman was to oversee for his Lotus team.

  • Comment number 61.

    Woah! those races sound amazing, I'm finding it really hard to chose between them.

    I would love to see the full highlights of 79 because that race features one of the classic racing battles and I definately haven't seen no where near enough of Villeneuves racing.

    I would love to see the Austrian race because it sounds like an action packed race with lots of unexpected retirements.

    The Mexican GP also sounds great with alot of overtaking but...

    I GONNA VOTE FOR DALLAS 1984 :)

    The reason is apart from the fact that it sounds like a great race, it also sticks with the street racing theme of Singapore. I've never seen any footage from american GPs except for highlights of Idianapolis, so I look forward to watching it.

  • Comment number 62.

    As great as 1979 was it's been shown quite a lot of times and is easily accessible on Youtube. Between 1982 and 1990 for me. Think I'll go for 1990, simply because I didn't know as much about it as the others.

  • Comment number 63.

    One of my all time favourite races 1982 Austria where Elio de Angelis held of Keke Rosberg by the slimmest of margin's. Unfortunately for my second choice you have the right country and right year but wrong city, it would be Martin Brundle's amazing finish in Detroit 1984 if that would be possible instead of Dallas, Detroit being a much more exciting race and as Martin features as one of the team we have seem quite a few clips of DC so if possible could this one be added.
    Thanks Andrew

  • Comment number 64.

    I'd love to see tha the Austrian race, as I've never seen the old Osteriechring in action. But all these are good choices!

  • Comment number 65.

    The Villeneuve/Arnoux battle was the only highlight from a very dull race at Dijon and it has been seen many times.

    So for me the choice has to be Austria 1982. I can still remember sitting in my living room watching the race unfold on Ö÷²¥´óÐã TV. One of the most remarkable and exciting finishes I have ever seen!

    Forget Keke's last ditch effort at the Rindt Kurve. This race is worth watching just to see him charging through the Bosch Kurve on the last lap. He takes a HUGE amount of speed through the corner and gains yards on the Lotus. This is why he was right up with Elio on the last corner.

    1982 was such a tragic season that Keke's amazing driving is often overlooked. He was a charger of immense proportions and was well worthy of a world title. Elio de Angelis also did a great job of keeping Keke back and, in the process, won his first GP. Sadly he is no longer with us.

    This amazing race at Austria prompted me to go to Dijon two weeks later where I watched Keke win his first Grand Prix. I even watched at the corner where he overtook Prost, one of the the same corners that Villeneuve and Arnoux had bumped wheels three years earlier!

    AUSTRIA 82!

  • Comment number 66.

    Good choices for this race Andrew, I'll have to choose Austria '82 and Dallas '84. It's good your showing last years Singapore race as well. For the next classic Grand Prix for Japan and Brazil you have to include '94 when Damon Hill won in appalling conditions at Suzuka (and on aggregate timing too) and '89 when Mansell won for Ferrari believing the car would not make the finish as it had a semi-automatic gearbox (and a fine 4th place for Johnny Herbert in the Benetton after his accident at Brands Hatch)

  • Comment number 67.

    1st Choice: Mexico 1990 - This was a very entertaining and exciting Grand Prix and I think people would appreciate the extended version of the race. Prost drove an amazing race to win but also was one of the few races that season where got to see Ferrari and McLaren really duelling against each other. Prost and Senna had a great battle as did Mansell and Berger.

    2nd Choice: France 1979 - The last few laps were fantastic but not sure if the extended version should be shown.

  • Comment number 68.

    France 1979 has a fantastic last 3 laps, but seeing as your 5 minute highlights will probably catch the last 3 laps in total, it doesn't get my vote.

    I vote for 1982 at the Osterreichring. This vote is purely because this was a stunning track with a fantastic background, whilst being fast and dangerous. I know i've watched the odd Austrian GP from the early 80's as a kid, but can't remember it, so would love to see it again.

    Another reason would be that the Osterreichring is yet another circuit to get the Herrman Tilke treatment so it would be good to see it in its original form, though the A1 Ring is Ok compared to his later efforts (Turkey apart).

    ANDREW - it would be great if you could get these onto freeview. Last time at Monza, though you stated that they wouldn't be shown on Freeview, the program guide stated they would be shown on the Saturday morning (This scenario has happened before, so took a chance that they might be shown after all), instead, it was repeats of Inside F1 (which merely skims over stories that are covered in more depth on the Qually and Race shows). Its a shame as although this footage can be found on various video websites, the quality is never as good as when the Ö÷²¥´óÐã are transmitting the original footage for us to watch, or record and keep. Those Monza races have been and gone in their original transmitted quality now - never to be shown again on freeview.

    I accept this feature appeals to a small minority of the overall F1 viewing figures so the powers that be won't be too bothered about putting it on Freeview - your efforts are appreciated.

    As always, keep on with this feature. I love it. Many Thanks.

  • Comment number 69.

    Well, you've definitely got 2 out 4 of my favourites. Mexico 1990 just beats France 1979.

  • Comment number 70.

    I vote for Austria 1982 - I am suprised more people havent voted for this great race! Apart from the Nordschleife, The original layout of Austria was by far the greatest layout of a circuit that F1 has ever been to. It always produced great races and 1982 was no exception. If only we could see Hamilton and the like going round Rindt & Bosch curves now in the modern cars it would be a sight to behold!!

    Put it this way....do you want to see the amazing turbo cars "stop-starting" round the concrete jungle that was Dallas or flying at top speed round the beautiful Austrian mountains??? NO BRAINER!!!

  • Comment number 71.

    #46 - Gregz0r

    Ö÷²¥´óÐã used to show F1 on at funny schedules. I remember the 1994 Canadian GP. The start time was about 7pm because I watched it on Eurosport, but it was on Ö÷²¥´óÐã2 about an hour later - full race on tape delay!

  • Comment number 72.

    mexico 1990 please/-.

  • Comment number 73.

    The USGP in 2005. Schumacher at his best, no doubt about it.

  • Comment number 74.

    I am as ever the hopeful lobbyist, but if the top two are separated by a dozen votes or so can we consider showing both in full bbc highlights?

    As I have it right now, the top two have the same amount of votes. Get voting for Dallas 84 if you want to see it and haven't already voted.

  • Comment number 75.

    #73 "At 2:17pm on 18 Sep 2009, 0ggers wrote:
    The USGP in 2005. Schumacher at his best, no doubt about it."

    Don't mean to be rude but, is this sarcasm?

    I know that earlier I voted for Mexico, but having read a few of the comments, i'm beginning to wonder if i made the right choice (from the sense that the Ö÷²¥´óÐã's coverage of that particular race at that time was rather disjointed) - i'm sticking to my original choice but i'm gonna put my preferences in order

    1st Mexico 1990
    2nd Austria 1982
    3rd Dallas 1984
    4th Dijon 1979

    Let's hope there's a tie at the top so we can get to see TWO full highlights :)


  • Comment number 76.

    Going to leave out voting on this one as I know nothing on any of them...except that epic battle between Villeneuve and Arnoux. If we could get cars to be able to follow that closely again we are on to a winner!

  • Comment number 77.

    In the spirit of race-fixing this month, we'll fix it to make it a tie!

  • Comment number 78.

    Austria 1982 please.

  • Comment number 79.

    Was hoping France 2000 would be on the list or perhaps a race from Montreal or Buenos Aries but hey, it's still a very good selection.

    I'm gonna plump for Austria 1982

  • Comment number 80.

    #75, maybe we could get a four-way tie at the top :p

    Evils at anyone who goes for Singapore and to the guy who said US2005, to not identify that was the worst grand prix in F1 history... shame on you.

  • Comment number 81.

    Going to have to go with Mexico 1990. Although Dallas 84 is a very close 2nd.

  • Comment number 82.

    I'm going for Mexico 1990. Have seen some highlights on other channels but would like to see extended highlights of this one. Although '84 sounds like a good one. Nope, 1990!

  • Comment number 83.

    I would love to see long highlights for all these races as all of them were before I was even born! But I'll use my knowledge on the two races that I know the best.

    France 1979 - If this was the best on-track battles, then this would be an easy winner, but as for the overall race, I don't think so.

    Austria 1982 and Dallas 1984 are the two I don't know too well.

    Mexico 1990 - This was a corker of a race. There some great battles throughout the race. Berger was just one who livened up the race with an early pit-stop and some daring moves, but Mansell's move on him round the outside of Peraltada was just... EPIC!! This race will get my vote

  • Comment number 84.

    Gosh, what a choice! Oooooooh - let's have France 1979 and the stunning performance by Villeneuve please. (By the way - any chance of it being with the radio commentary instead of The Old Bore?)

  • Comment number 85.

    @#66 Scott_Thomson_1980

    I agree that those two races will and should be on classic F1.

    I think Japan and Brazil will probably the toughest selections for Andrew to pick because Japan and Brazil produce some of the greatest races in F1.

  • Comment number 86.

    You have really spoilt us for choice.... Each would be a worthy winner and as I can't decide I had asked my 8 year old niece and she wants to see Dallas (because thats what she wants to call her 1st child).

  • Comment number 87.

    Dallas, great great race and you get to see Mansell collapse as he attempts to push his car over the line. Fantastic!

  • Comment number 88.

    Gotta be Mexico 1990, mainly because i miss the circuit, lots of curves switching right to left, and one hellofa big pit straight. Watching the cars go through the Eses was brilliant. Have great (but hazy)memories of 92, with mansell just getting fastest lap after fastest lap. And Jonny Herbert making some classic overtaking.

    Would love to see the original Interlagos circuit before it was shortened to todays form. Maybe hope for brazil's classic race?


  • Comment number 89.

    How about last years brazil a real classic as lewis battled for the title how we thought he had lost it when vettel overtook him and how he overtook glock on the final corner what a final race.

  • Comment number 90.

    Swerve1, can tell you're gutted about missing the Italian classics. Drop me an email (see post 43) and I'll help out.

  • Comment number 91.

    Great idea having races from circuits that are no longer on the calendar. If Mexico '90 is as good a drive from Prost as you say (I believe you!) i'll vote for that for extended highlights. It's true you don't hear about that or many great races from Prost come to that. I guess he isn't seen as entertaining as people like Senna or Mansell, even though he was more successful. Having seen most of the last few laps of France '79 before, good though it is, second place for me would be Austria '82.

    Mexico '90 please!

  • Comment number 92.

    Talk about a kid in a sweet shop...

    I;ll vote from the heart. Dijon '79. Then probably ... the O-ring.

    Honestly though, no problem with these. ALthough, if I'm honest, Dallas almost didn't happen. Not too sure (maybe would have preferred Imola 82, perhaps).

    Re:Pitflaps 51: You're right as regard Mexico 90 as they jumped live to the race. (Won't spoil it for the rest...)

    Thanks again, this one is something I'm really looking forward to.

  • Comment number 93.

    Out of these.....? Mexico 90 for sure, but as a suggestion..... come on it has to be Donington 93 surely?

  • Comment number 94.

    93. At 10:25pm on 18 Sep 2009, louise2512 wrote:

    Out of these.....? Mexico 90 for sure, but as a suggestion..... come on it has to be Donington 93 surely?

    -----------------------------------------------------------------

    I think that was included in the European GP selection. So although it was on a track that's not used any more, they classed it as the European GP which is still a race in the Championship.

  • Comment number 95.

    I dont care which races you choose as long as they are shown on freeview.
    I hate watching tv in horrible quality on a pc screen.
    The Ö÷²¥´óÐã archive has excellent quality tv coverage of the races (and I like the way you show the ITV ones using the Radio 5 Live commentary) which we tv licence owners paid for so is it really too much to ask for you to play them on the red button channels.
    I waited and waited for days to watch the classics before the Italian GP and as far as I know they were never shown (even though the EPG listed them at one point).
    Otherwise the Ö÷²¥´óÐã coverage of F1 is great... thanks Ö÷²¥´óÐã

  • Comment number 96.

    Mexico 1990 please. Hope you will do a similar thing ahead of the last race in Abu Dhabi.

  • Comment number 97.

    Anything but '90 would do.

  • Comment number 98.

    If there isn't room on 301 or 302 on freeview, surely some time could be spared on the waste of space that is Ö÷²¥´óÐã parliament? F1 definitely passes for a politcal topic!

  • Comment number 99.

    It would be great if the top 2 favourites were shown this time round and the other 2 races shown before Abu Dhabi :p

  • Comment number 100.

    Re #84 HugoZinnie

    Three races in a row now having a pop at Murray. I still think this is James Allen in disguise.

    I said it in a previous blog - If you don't like what you hear, turn the volume down.

    I can't make up my mind whether you are being insulting or just plain ignorant. Either way, I think you will find yourself in a very small minority.

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