Classic Australian GPs on Sky

Posted by: in Sports March 8, 2014 207 Views

Classic F1 returns on Monday night with five memorable races in Australia to put you in the mood for the new season.

First up on Monday at 9pm is Australia’s debut on the Formula 1 calendar with the 1985 race from the streets of Adelaide. Ayrton Senna started from pole, but with just three drivers finishing on the lead lap and eight classified finishers, it certainly was a race of attrition.

On Tuesday you will be treated to a three-way title fight at the final round of the 1986 season as Nigel Mansell, Nelson Piquet and Alain Prost all headed to Adelaide with a chance of the Drivers’ Championship. Mansell qualified on pole for Williams, but who would be leading at the chequered flag and take the title?

The championship may have been decided heading to Australia in 1987, but Adelaide served up another storming race, with just seven drivers classified as finishers! You see that race a 9pm on Wednesday.

Nelson Piquet in action at a wet Adelaide in 1989

Next up on Thursday at 9pm is the 1989 Australian GP where a dark cloud was hanging over McLaren following Senna and Prost’s collision at the preceding Japanese Grand Prix and the Brazilian’s subsequent disqualification. That wasn’t the only cloud hanging over the circuit, however, as heavy rain ahead of the race lead to some drivers questioning whether the race should go ahead, with Prost withdrawing from the race after just one lap. The race went ahead though and you’ll have to tune in to see who was leading as the race reached its two hour limit.

Finally on Friday night we move to Melbourne for the 1996 grand prix and the first on the Albert Park Circuit. Williams locked-out the front row in qualifying, but it was Martin Brundle who made the headlines with a spectacular crash after just three corners.

Martin Brundle’s Jordan breaks in half in 1996