1978 season/ Round 3
South African Grand Prix
Kyalami, Midrand, South Africa. Sat, 4 Mar 1978. 78 laps.
South Africa- Winner
- LOPETTeam Lotus
- Pole
- BRLAUBrabham
- Fastest lap
- LOAND1:17.090
Weekend
Race
- Patrick DepaillerTYTyrrell+0.4662
- Ronnie PetersonLOTeam Lotus1:42:15.7671
- John WatsonBRBrabham+4.4423
Overtakes
–
No overtake data
Biggest mover
JON
+14 places, P18 to P4
Beat our forecast
–
No forecast for this race
Fastest Pit Stop
–
No pit stop data
Fastest lap
LOAND
1:17.090, lap 2
DNFs
14
PAT, SCH, TAM, VIL, REU, LAU, KEE, MAS, MER, JAB, ROS, FIT, CHE, HUN
| Pos | Driver | Team | Grid | Time / status | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LOPET | LOTeam Lotus | 12+11 | 1:42:15.767 | 9 |
| 2 | TYDEP | TYTyrrell | 11+9 | +0.466 | 6 |
| 3 | BRWAT | BRBrabham | 10+7 | +4.442 | 4 |
| 4 | JON | Williams | 18+14 | +30.986 | 3 |
| 5 | LILAF | LILigier | 13+8 | +1:09.218 | 2 |
| 6 | TYPIR | TYTyrrell | 14+8 | +1 Lap | 1 |
| 7 | LOAND | LOTeam Lotus | 2-5 | +1 Lap | |
| 8 | ATJAR | ATATS | 17+9 | +1 Lap | |
| 9 | ARSTO | ARArrows | 22+13 | +1 Lap | |
| 10 | LOREB | LOTeam Lotus | 21+11 | +1 Lap | |
| 11 |  LUN | McLaren | 20+9 | +2 Laps | |
| 12 | SUBRA | SUSurtees | 19+7 | +2 Laps | |
| DNF | ARPAT | ARArrows | 7 | Engine | |
| DNF | WOSCH | WOWolf | 5 | Spun off | |
| DNF | TAM | McLaren | 4 | Accident | |
| DNF |  VIL | Ferrari | 8 | Oil leak | |
| DNF | REU | Ferrari | 9 | Spun off | |
| DNF | BRLAU | BRBrabham | 1 | Engine | |
| DNF | SUKEE | SUSurtees | 23 | Engine | |
| DNF | ATMAS | ATATS | 15 | Engine | |
| DNF | MEMER | MEMerzario | 26 | Suspension | |
| DNF | REJAB | RERenault | 6 | Engine | |
| DNF | THROS | THTheodore | 24 | Clutch | |
| DNF | FIFIT | FIFittipaldi | 16 | Transmission | |
| DNF | HECHE | HEHesketh | 25 | Oil leak | |
| DNF | HUN | McLaren | 3 | Engine |
Fastest laps
| Rank | Driver | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LOMario Andretti | 1:17.090 |