1975 Swiss Grand Prix

1975 Swiss Grand Prix
Non-championship race in the 1975 Formula One season
Dijon-Prenois Circuit
Race details
Date	24 August 1975
Official name	Swiss Grand Prix
Location	Dijon-Prenois, Dijon, France
Course	Permanent racing facility
Course length	3.289 km (2.044 miles)
Distance	60 laps, 197.34 km (122.64 miles)
Weather	Dry
Pole position
Driver	Jean-Pierre Jarier	Shadow-Ford
Time	0:59.25
Fastest lap
Driver	Jean-Pierre Jarier	Shadow-Ford
Time	1:00.44
Podium
First	Clay Regazzoni	Ferrari
Second	Patrick Depailler	Tyrrell-Ford
Third	Jochen Mass	McLaren-Ford

The 1975 Swiss Grand Prix was a non-championship Formula One race held on 24 August 1975 at the Dijon-Prenois racetrack near Dijon, France. Circuit racing in Switzerland had been banned after the 1955 Le Mans disaster, whereas the 1975 French Grand Prix was held at Circuit Paul Ricard.

Jean-Pierre Jarier took pole from Emerson Fittipaldi, with home favourite Clay Regazzoni third and Jochen Mass in fourth. Patrick Depailler qualified fifth and rounded out the drivers to lap the circuit in under a minute. ^[1]

Fittipaldi's clutch slipped on the line and after 2 laps he retired completely. Jarier led from home favourite Clay Regazzoni, Depailler, Mass and John Watson. James Hunt was maintaining 6th place, despite suffering dreadful handling problems. Losing power on the corners, he soon lost position to Carlos Pace and Ronnie Peterson.

Jarier's lead had built up and he looked certain to obtain his first Formula One victory. Gearbox drive problems thwarted him though and a bitterly disappointed Jarier retired on lap 34.

Peterson also passed Watson to take 5th before the close, leaving the order at the end as Regazzoni, Depailler, Mass, Peterson, Watson, Pace. It was the only time in the history of the Swiss Grand Prix that a Swiss driver won the race.