The Power and the Glory by David Sedgwick

Author:David Sedgwick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pitch Publishing
Published: 2018-03-13T04:00:00+00:00

Fifteen

French Grand Prix

Paul Ricard, 6 July 1988

When the circus arrives in the land of temples, Alain Prost, still smarting from Monaco, is utterly determined that the Mexican Grand Prix shall be his. The Frenchman must come out fighting. There is only one thing that appeases the gods of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez situated some 7,000 feet above sea level: brute speed. Thanks to their turbo engine, even perennial German no-hopers Zakspeed are threatening the top ten here. It is all about the start. At Imola, Prost had fluffed his; Senna won. At Mexico, the positions are reversed: it is the Brazilian who fluffs his start and Prost who streaks away into a lead he will never surrender. A little over six seconds separate the gladiators after 200 miles of sheer blood and guts F1 racing. ‘Psychologically, this was an important win for me,’ grins Prost afterwards.

At the next race in Canada, the McLaren pit watches heart-in-mouth as the two gladiators slug it out on one of F1’s thirstiest circuits. At the third gear L’Epinge hairpin bend Senna dives inside his team-mate. Side by side, they round the corner, close enough to have exchanged pleasantries if they had a mind to. There is just room for the Brazilian to complete the manoeuvre. Game over.

A week later, on the deserted streets of a post-apocalyptic Detroit, it’s as you were: Senna leads Prost home for a crushing McLaren-Honda clean sweep. As some cars break, unable to cope with the many potholes, and others wilt in temperatures that nudge 90°F, Senna marches on, imperturbable, immune. But where are all the people? Answer: sitting on their sofas. The Detroit Pistons are hosting the LA Lakers in the NBA. They just don’t get F1 in the US, never have and probably never will.

Six races down, three wins apiece.

Notwithstanding his defeats in North America, two second places have helped Alain Prost maintain his championship lead: 45 points to his team-mate’s 32 points. From a purely psychological perspective, the pendulum seems to have swung firmly towards Senna. It will be the story of 1988: defeat in one race is followed by extreme pressure to make amends in the next. Therefore, when the circus arrives in the south-west of France at Le Castellet, it is Prost’s turn to feel the heat.

Brainchild of the drinks magnate of the same name, Circuit Paul Ricard sits on a rocky plateau where the notorious mistral winds are feared and respected in equal measure. Ricard built his circuit in 1970 as an experiment. Painter, scientist, entrepreneur and ex-mayor of Signes, Monsieur Ricard wanted to show the government how a public project could be completed, on time, on budget and free of Gallic bureaucracy. He did it too. Paul Ricard is now home to the French Grand Prix. Hot, dusty and humming with the sound of cicadas, this place could easily double up as the backdrop to a spaghetti western.

As the venue of Alain’s Pilot Elf triumph, Ricard has always had a special place in the Frenchman’s heart.

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