©DR
We're looking back here at the 1981 South African Grand Prix which was not officially an F1 race, but which was run on this day fifteen years ago. So what happened? In an nutshell, a huge power struggle between FISA and FOCA (and Jean-Marie Balestre and Bernie Ecclestone ) led the governing body to postpone to a later date the South African race. But the Kyalami organisers, with sponsors secured and tickets sold for the original date, would have none of it. FISA told them they could go ahead but the event would be labeled a 'Formula Libre' race and would not count for any championship. Only FOCA's teams showed up, with those pledging their allegiance to FISA - Ferrari, Renault, Talbot-Ligier, Alfa Romeo and Osella - staying home. In the end, it was a full sliding-skirts and Cosworth grid from which Carlos Reutemann's Williams emerged the victor.
