1977 Race of Champions

The XII Race of Champions was a non-championship Formula One race held at Brands Hatch on 20 March 1977. The 40-lap race was won by Englishman James Hunt, driving a McLaren-Cosworth, who also set the fastest lap. South African Jody Scheckter finished second in a Wolf-Cosworth, while Northern Irishman John Watson finished third in a Brabham-Alfa Romeo, having started from pole position.

1977 Race of Champions
Non-championship race in the 1977 Formula One season
Race details
Date	20 March 1977 (1977-03-20)
Official name	XII Race of Champions
Location	Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit, Fawkham, Kent, England
Course	Permanent racing facility
Course length	4.206 km (2.6136 miles)
Distance	40 laps, 168.24 km (104.544 miles)
Pole position
Driver	John Watson	Brabham-Alfa Romeo
Time	1:19.05
Fastest lap
Driver	James Hunt	McLaren-Cosworth
Time	1:19.48
Podium
First	James Hunt	McLaren-Cosworth
Second	Jody Scheckter	Wolf-Cosworth
Third	John Watson	Brabham-Alfa Romeo

Qualifying classification

Pos.	No.	Driver	Constructor	Car	Time	Gap
1	7	John Watson	Brabham-Alfa Romeo	Brabham BT45	1:19.05
2	5	Mario Andretti	Lotus-Cosworth	Lotus 78	1:19.39	+0.34
3	1	James Hunt	McLaren-Cosworth	McLaren M23	1:19.60	+0.55
4	20	Jody Scheckter	Wolf-Cosworth	Wolf WR3	1:20.18	+1.13
5	3	Ronnie Peterson	Tyrrell-Cosworth	Tyrrell P34	1:20.33	+1.28
6	22	Clay Regazzoni	Ensign-Cosworth	Ensign N177	1:21.82	+2.77
7	16	Jackie Oliver	Shadow-Cosworth	Shadow DN8	1:21.88	+2.83
8	36	Tony Trimmer	Surtees-Cosworth	Surtees TS19	1:22.51	+3.46
9	24	Rupert Keegan	Hesketh-Cosworth	Hesketh 308E	1:22.58	+3.53
10	38	Brian Henton	March-Cosworth	March 761	1:22.90	+3.85
11	37	Bob Evans	Penske-Cosworth	Penske PC3	1:23.17	+4.12
12	33	Boy Hayje	March-Cosworth	March 761	1:23.71	+4.66
13	31	David Purley	LEC-Cosworth	LEC CRP/1	1:24.64	+5.59
14	14	Larry Perkins	BRM	BRM P207	1:25.14	+6.09
15	13	Divina Galica	Surtees-Cosworth	Surtees TS19	1:26.09	+7.04
16	9	Alex Ribeiro	March-Cosworth	March 761B	1:27.47	+8.42
17	18	Vittorio Brambilla	Surtees-Cosworth	Surtees TS19	1:29.15	+10.10
Sources:

Race classification

Pos.	No.	Driver	Entrant	Constructor	Laps	Time/Retired	Grid
1	1	James Hunt	Marlboro Team McLaren	McLaren-Cosworth	40	53:54.35	3
2	20	Jody Scheckter	Walter Wolf Racing	Wolf-Cosworth	40	+ 23.50	4
3	7	John Watson	Martini Racing	Brabham-Alfa Romeo	40	+ 1:18.60	1
4	38	Brian Henton	British Formula One Racing Team	March-Cosworth	39	+ 1 lap	10
5	16	Jackie Oliver	Shadow Racing Team	Shadow-Cosworth	39	+ 1 lap	7
6	31	David Purley	LEC Refrigeration Racing	LEC-Cosworth	39	+ 1 lap	13
7	33	Boy Hayje	F&S Properties/RAM Racing	March-Cosworth	39	+ 1 lap	12
8	24	Rupert Keegan	Penthouse Rizla Racing	Hesketh-Cosworth	39	+ 1 lap	9
9	36	Tony Trimmer	Melchester Racing	Surtees-Cosworth	38	+ 2 laps	8
10	3	Ronnie Peterson	Elf Team Tyrrell	Tyrrell-Cosworth	37	Engine	5
11	37	Bob Evans	Hexagon Racing	Penske-Cosworth	37	+ 3 laps	11
12	13	Divina Galica	Shell Sport	Surtees-Cosworth	37	+ 3 laps	15
13	22	Clay Regazzoni	Team Tissot Ensign with Castrol	Ensign-Cosworth	36	+ 4 laps	6
Ret	5	Mario Andretti	John Player Team Lotus	Lotus-Cosworth	34	Electrical	2
Ret	9	Alex Ribeiro	Hollywood March Racing	March-Cosworth	18	Ignition	16
Ret	18	Vittorio Brambilla	Durex Team Surtees	Surtees-Cosworth	12	Electrical	17
DNS	14	Larry Perkins	Rotary Watches/Stanley BRM	BRM		Concerns over car's safety	14
Sources: