French Grand Prix 1979 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Jean-Pierre Jabouille made Formula 1 history at the French Grand Prix by claiming the first victory for a turbocharged engine, with Renault's revolutionary 1.5-liter V6 turbo finally delivering on its enormous potential at the team's home race at Dijon-Prenois. Jabouille controlled the race from pole position, demonstrating that turbo technology had matured sufficiently to challenge the naturally aspirated Cosworth DFV that had dominated the previous decade. The victory marked a watershed moment in Formula 1's technical evolution, previewing the turbo era that would dominate the 1980s.

The race's lasting legacy came from the spectacular battle for second place between Gilles Villeneuve and René Arnoux, producing one of the most thrilling sequences in motorsport history. The two drivers exchanged positions repeatedly in the closing laps, banging wheels and diving up the inside at every corner with barely a paint scrape between them. Villeneuve ultimately prevailed in the wheel-to-wheel combat, but both drivers won admirers for their fearless, respectful racing. The battle exemplified everything great about motor racing - two supremely talented drivers at the absolute limit, trusting each other implicitly while fighting for every inch.

Jabouille's historic victory demonstrated Renault's persistence was paying dividends after years of development and reliability struggles. The turbo engine's superior power output, once harnessed reliably, provided a significant advantage that would eventually force every team to adopt turbo technology. The French Grand Prix at Dijon became legendary not just for the first turbo victory, but for the Villeneuve-Arnoux duel that reminded everyone why they loved racing. The combination of technical revolution and sporting brilliance made Dijon 1979 one of Formula 1's most memorable races.