1978 South African Grand Prix

The 1978 South African Grand Prix (formally the XXIV Citizen and Asseng Grand Prix of South Africa) was a Formula One motor race held on 4 March 1978 at Kyalami. It was the third round of the 1978 Formula One season and the 300th World Championship Grand Prix held since the championship began in 1950. This was the debut race of the future world champion Keke Rosberg.

1978 South African Grand Prix
Race 3 of 16 in the 1978 Formula One season
Race details
Date	4 March 1978
Official name	XXIV Citizen and Asseng Grand Prix of South Africa
Location	Kyalami Transvaal Province, South Africa
Course	Permanent racing facility
Course length	4.104 km (2.550 mi)
Distance	78 laps, 320.112 km (198.908 mi)
Weather	Dry
Pole position
Driver	Niki Lauda	Brabham-Alfa Romeo
Time	1:14.65
Fastest lap
Driver	Mario Andretti	Lotus-Ford
Time	1:17.09 on lap 2
Podium
First	Ronnie Peterson	Lotus-Ford
Second	Patrick Depailler	Tyrrell-Ford
Third	John Watson	Brabham-Alfa Romeo
Lap leaders

Both the Ferrari (312T3) and Brabham (BT46) teams had new cars in Kyalami for the race. The event also saw the return of Renault with their unique turbocharged car.

Ronnie Peterson, in the Lotus 78 with its Colin Chapman-inspired ground effect aerodynamics, battled Patrick Depailler in his Tyrrell on the last lap to take a dramatic victory. John Watson finished third for Brabham. Young Italian, Riccardo Patrese got his Arrows into the lead before retiring with a blown engine. Pole sitter and reigning world champion Niki Lauda, in his first season with Brabham, retired with engine failure and the Ferraris of Carlos Reutemann and Gilles Villeneuve exited on lap 55. James Hunt, who had qualified third on the grid in his McLaren M26, only lasted five laps when his engine failed, whilst his new teammate Patrick Tambay, who qualified fourth, crashed out mid race.