Formula 1 - 1978 - Round 2 - Brazilian GP

Brazil was the country where the drivers traveled to for the second round of the season, and Formula One made its first visit to the new Jacarepagua Autodrome in Rio de Janeiro, after 6 years at the very bumpy and demanding Interlagos circuit in São Paulo – the Jacarepagua circuit was one that was to be visited by Formula One for the rest of the next decade.

The typically extreme weather during January in Rio meant that this race was run in oppressively hot and humid conditions.

Peterson took pole with James Hunt driving for McLaren beating Andretti to second.

At the start, it was Reutemann who beat the trio into the first corner, with Hunt and Andretti following, as Peterson got a bad start.

Hunt ran second until he had to pit for tyres, as a result Andretti took the place until late in the race when he suffered gearbox issues, which handed second to Fittipaldi and third to Lauda.

Hunt eventually spun out of the race after being caught out by the hot and humid conditions on lap 26, as did Tambay on lap 35 and Villeneuve one lap later.

Reutemann was never headed at the front and went to win comfortably, with double world champion Emerson Fittipaldi in his brother's team finishing second, and Lauda third, with both overhauling an ailing Andretti towards the end, who eventually finished 4th ahead of Regazzoni and Pironi who rounded out the top 6.