HistoryData
general1976

1976 Italian Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1976

September 12, 1976

Marked Niki Lauda's return to racing after his near-fatal 1976 German Grand Prix crash, while Ronnie Peterson scored March's final Formula One victory.

Quick Facts

Year
1976
Category
general

Key Facts

Race distance
52 laps at Autodromo Nazionale di Monza
Season round
13th round of the 1976 Formula One season
Italian Grand Prix edition
45th running; 23rd as World Championship round
Race winner
Ronnie Peterson (March)
Polesitter
Jacques Laffite (Ligier)
Ferrari cars entered
Last race Ferrari entered more than two cars

By the Numbers

52
Race distance
13
Season round
45
Italian Grand Prix edition

Location

Map of Monza, ItalyMap of Monza, ItalyMonza, Italy

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

The 1976 Formula One season reached its thirteenth round with championship leader Niki Lauda making a dramatic comeback just weeks after suffering severe burns and lung damage in his crash at the Nürburgring during the German Grand Prix, a recovery widely considered extraordinary given the gravity of his injuries.

Event

Held on 12 September 1976 at Monza, the race was won by Ronnie Peterson driving for March, giving the team its final Formula One victory. Clay Regazzoni finished second for Ferrari, and polesitter Jacques Laffite took third for Ligier. Niki Lauda, in his return to competition, finished fourth.

Consequence

Peterson's win stood as March's last Formula One victory, while Lauda's fourth-place finish on his comeback demonstrated his resilience and kept his championship hopes alive. The race also marked the last occasion Ferrari fielded more than two cars in a Formula One grand prix.

Result

Ronnie Peterson (March)

at Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza, Italy

March's final Formula One victory; last race Ferrari entered more than two cars

Timeline Context

Timeline around 197619761973197419751977197819791976–77 UEFA Cup — 6th season of Europe's secondary club football tournament organised by UEFAHandball at the 1976 Summer Olympics — overview of handball practiced at the 1976 Olympic Summer GamesBasketball at the 1976 Summer Olympics — international basketball tournament1976 AFC Asian Cup — football tournament1976 Summer Olympics medal tableEurovision Song Contest 1976 — 21st edition of the Eurovision Song Contest1976 Formula One season — sports season1976 Summer Olympics — Games of the XXI Olympiad, in Montréal, Canada1976-italian-grand-prix-formula-one-motor-race-held-in-197-1976