On this day in 1973, reigning world champion Emerson Fittipaldi kicked off his title defence in style by winning the season-opening Argentine Grand Prix in Buenos Aires.
After an early salvo from BRM's Clay Regazzoni fizzled, fans were treated to a thrilling three-way scrap between Fittipaldi and Tyrrell boys Jackie Stewart and François Cevert.
The Frenchman, very much the man of the day, led for the bulk of the 96-lap race while Stewart was forced to contend with a slow puncture that put him in the clutches of Fittipaldi.
The Brazilian eventually passed the Scot and then gained the upper hand over Cevert with ten laps to go, sealing his seventh Grand Prix win.
But Cevert's display wasn't lost on his mentor.
"He drove the race of his life … it was remarkable," said Stewart. "He really is the great young driver everyone has been saying he is going to be. In my opinion, he has already arrived."
©TheCahierArchive
