1988 Spanish Grand Prix

Infobox Grand Prix race report
Type = F1
Grand Prix = Spanish
Country = Spain
Official name = XXX Gran Premio Tio Pepe de España
Date = October 2
Year = 1988
Race_No = 14
Season_No = 16
Location = Circuito Permanente de Jerez, Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
Course = Permanent racing facility
Course_mi = 2.620
Course_km = 4.218
Distance_laps = 72
Distance_mi = 188.708
Distance_km = 303.696
Weather = Sunny and hot
Pole_Driver = Ayrton Senna
Pole_Country = Brazil
Pole_Team = McLaren-Honda
Pole_Time = 1:24.067
Fast_Driver = Alain Prost
Fast_Country = France
Fast_Team = McLaren-Honda
Fast_Time = 1:27.845
Fast_L

First_Driver = Alain Prost
First_Country = France
First_Team = McLaren-Honda
Second_Driver = Nigel Mansell
Second_Country= UK
Second_Team = Williams-Judd
Third_Driver = Alessandro Nannini
Third_Country = Italy
Third_Team = Benetton-FordThe 1988 Spanish Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on October 2, 1988 at the Circuito Permanente de Jerez, Jerez de la Frontera. It was the fourteenth race of the 1988 Formula One season.

Race summary

From the 10th all-McLaren front row of the year, Alain Prost made a good start, with the Williams of Nigel Mansell drafting past Ayrton Senna into 2nd. Ivan Capelli and Thierry Boutsen tangled, damaging the Benetton's nosecone. On lap 2, Senna passed Mansell but ran wide, allowing the Englishman to retake the lead. On lap 16, Michele Alboreto retired with engine problems on his Ferrari. For the first 28 laps there was no change amongst the top 7: Prost (cautiously conserving tyres and fuel, after the problems experienced in Portugal) led Mansell by a mere half second. Senna had to defend his 3rd place from Riccardo Patrese and Capelli, who in turn was being challenged by Alessandro Nannini and Gerhard Berger.

Around lap 30, Nannini, Berger and Piquet all pitted for new tyres. Finally Capelli managed to pass Patrese to gain 4th place on lap 36 and then three laps later at exactly the same corner he passed Senna's McLaren. Sadly on lap 46 his engine starting smoking and the March driver retired after another outstanding drive.

On lap 47 Mansell pitted but a sticking wheel nut delayed him and enabled Prost to pull ahead. Meanwhile, Nannini was going fast on his new tyres, passing both Patrese and Senna in one lap. On lap 51 Senna pitted for new tyres and dropped out of the points. He passed Gugelmin and Berger before finally overtaking Patrese on lap 65, who drove the entire race on one set of tyres.

Prost sealed his 34th career victory with a fastest lap record and Mansell gaining his 2nd second-place of the year from just two finishes. Nannini collected another podium finish ahead of Senna (troubled with fuel readout problems again), Patrese and Berger (almost out of fuel) in 6th.

Classification

References

* "Unless otherwise indicated, all race results are taken from cite web |title=The Official Formula 1 website |url=http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1988/276/ |accessdate=2007-07-12

F1 race report
Name_of_race = Spanish Grand Prix
Year_of_race = 1988
Previous_race_in_season = 1988 Portuguese Grand Prix
Next_race_in_season = 1988 Japanese Grand Prix
Previous_year's_race = 1987 Spanish Grand Prix
Next_year's_race = 1989 Spanish Grand Prix