1979 Grand Prix of South Africa
3 March - Kyalami: 320.112km (4.104km x 78 laps)


Pole Position: Jean-Pierre Jabouille, Renault RS01, 1:11.80


Result
 1. Gilles Villeneuve        Ferrari 312T4                1:41:49.96 (188.611 km/h)
 2. Jody Scheckter           Ferrari 312T4               -      3.42
 3. Jean-Pierre Jarier       Tyrrell-Ford 009            -     22.11
 4. Mario Andretti           Lotus-Ford 79               -     27.88
 5. Carlos Reutemann         Lotus-Ford 79               -   1:06.97
 6. Niki Lauda               Brabham-Alfa Romeo BT48     -  1 lap
 7. Nelson Piquet            Brabham-Alfa Romeo BT48     -  1 lap
 8. James Hunt               Wolf-Ford WR7               -  1 lap
 9. Clay Regazzoni           Williams-Ford FW06          -  2 laps
10. Patrick Tambay           McLaren-Ford M28            -  3 laps
11. Riccardo Patrese         Arrows-Ford A1B             -  3 laps
12. Jochen Mass              Arrows-Ford A1B             -  4 laps
13. Emerson Fittipaldi       Copersucar-Ford F6          -  4 laps
    
Fastest lap: Gilles Villeneuve, 1:14.412 (198.549 km/h on lap 23)
    

Retirements    
    Hector Rebaque           Lotus-Ford 79               -  7 laps (Engine)
    Rene Arnoux              Renault RS01                - 11 laps (Puncture)
    Alan Jones               Williams-Ford FW06          - 15 laps (Suspension)
    John Watson              McLaren-Ford M28            - 17 laps (Ignition)
    Hans-Joachim Stuck       ATS-Ford D2                 - 21 laps (Accident)
    Jean-Pierre Jabouille    Renault RS01                - 31 laps (Engine)
    Jacques Laffite          Ligier-Ford JS11            - 33 laps (Accident)
    Didier Pironi            Tyrrell-Ford 009            - 53 laps (Throttle)
    Elio de Angelis          Shadow-Ford DN9             - 62 laps (Accident)
    Patrick Depailler        Ligier-Ford JS11            - 74 laps (Accident)
    Jan Lammers              Shadow-Ford DN9             - 76 laps (Accident)
    
Did Not Qualify    
    Derek Daly               Ensign-Ford N179
    Arturo Merzario          Merzario-Ford A1B


    Race leaders:
    Jean-Pierre Jabouille     1     (1 lap  =   4.104 km)
    Gilles Villeneuve         2-14 (13 laps =  53.352 km)
    Jody Scheckter           15-52 (38 laps = 155.952 km)
    Gilles Villeneuve        53-78 (26 laps = 106.704 km)
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                                Starting Grid

 1. Jean-Pierre Jabouille    Renault RS01                 1:11.80 (205.772 km/h)
 2. Jody Scheckter           Ferrari 312T4               -   0.24
 3. Gilles Villeneuve        Ferrari 312T4               -   0.27
 4. Niki Lauda               Brabham-Alfa Romeo BT48     -   0.32
 5. Patrick Depailler        Ligier-Ford JS11            -   0.35
 6. Jacques Laffite          Ligier-Ford JS11            -   0.46
 7. Didier Pironi            Tyrrell-Ford 009            -   0.53
 8. Mario Andretti           Lotus-Ford 79               -   0.56
 9. Jean-Pierre Jarier       Tyrrell-Ford 009            -   0.75
10. Rene Arnoux              Renault RS01                -   0.89
11. Carlos Reutemann         Lotus-Ford 79               -   0.95
12. Nelson Piquet            Brabham-Alfa Romeo BT48     -   1.27
13. James Hunt               Wolf-Ford WR7               -   2.41
14. John Watson              McLaren-Ford M28            -   2.64
15. Elio de Angelis          Shadow-Ford DN9             -   2.64
16. Riccardo Patrese         Arrows-Ford A1B             -   2.74
17. Patrick Tambay           McLaren-Ford M28            -   2.78
18. Emerson Fittipaldi       Copersucar-Ford F6          -   2.81
19. Alan Jones               Williams-Ford FW06          -   2.84
20. Jochen Mass              Arrows-Ford A1B             -   3.20
21. Jan Lammers              Shadow-Ford DN9             -   3.55
22. Clay Regazzoni           Williams-Ford FW06          -   3.88
23. Hector Rebaque           Lotus-Ford 79               -   4.35
24. Hans-Joachim Stuck       ATS-Ford D2                 -   4.51
    
Did Not Qualify    
25. Derek Daly               Ensign-Ford N179            -   4.84
26. Arturo Merzario          Merzario-Ford A1B           -   6.34