1980 Montreal - Formula Atlantic

Before a partisan crowd, Jacques Villeneuve won convincingly in the Doug Shierson Racing entered March 80A. Although he qualified on the pole and lead from start to finish there was some drama with back-makers during the race. The win was significant as it gave Villeneuve a four-point lead over defending champion Tom Gloy heading into the season finale at Mexico City.

The No. 43 Ralt America RT-4 was driven by Danny Sullivan. Sullivan qualified fifth and benefited from the last lap incident between Steve Saleen and Jeff Wood to capture third at the checkered flag.

Jeff Wood's Ralt RT-4 without the body work. Ralt introduced the RT-2 in 1979 for Formula 2 competition. This car formed the basis for the RT-3 used almost exclusively for Formula 3 and the RT-4 which was a popular choice for the Atlantic series. The competitiveness of the RT-4 soon made other brands obsolete. It remained the dominant car until the Swift DB-4 was introduced.

Bob Earl qualified his Ralt RT-1 in sixth. By the mid-point of the race he had moved to third behind Villeneuve and Gloy. When Gloy pitted with a slowly deflating left rear tire, he inherited second. Unfortunately, he retired on the lap-33 after a collision with the Ralt RT-1 of Kent Combs.

Jeff Wood qualified fourth but an early pit stop dropped him back several places. On the last lap he found himself in a tight battle with Steve Saleen. Going into the north hairpin they tried to out-brake each other and collided. Saleen recovered first to take fourth and Wood crossed finish line in fifth.

Local racer Jean-Pierre Alamy was one of six Canadians entered in the event - also from Quebec, there was Jacques Villeneuve, Mauro Lanaro and Michel Provost. Representing western Canada was Colin Tuckey and Bob McGregor. Alamy started twentieth and finished thirteenth.

Price Cobb in the No. 22 March 80A duels with Danny Sullivan in a Ralt RT-4. Cobb who qualified third jumped into second at the start of the race but was passed on the fifth lap by second place starter Tom Gloy. Cobb later pitted and his day ended when he tangled with John Fowler on lap-19.

FINISH	START	CAR NO.	DRIVER	CAR	LAPS
1	2	6	Jacques Villeneuve	March 80A	37
2	1	1	Tom Gloy	Ralt RT-1	37
3	5	43	Danny Sullivan	Ralt RT-4	37
4	15	69	Steve Saleen	Ralt RT-1	37
5	4	2	Jeff Wood	Ralt RT-4	37
6	10	11	Rogelio Rodriguez	Ralt RT-1	37
7	7	89	John Mortensen	March 80A	37
8	17	97	John Milledge	Ralt RT-1	37
9	9	7	Dan Marvin	March 80A	37
10	18	78	Rick Bell	Ralt RT-1	36
11	16	40	Ed Midgley	March 79B	36
12	DNQ	53	Tommy Grunnah	March 80A	36
13	14	8	Charlie Cass	March 80A	36
14	20	13	Jean-Pierre Alamy	Ralt RT-1	36
15	12	83	Bertil Ross	Chevron B27	35
16	DNQ	24	Charles Crotts	March 79B	35
17	DNQ	98	John Fowler	Ralt RT-1	34
18	DNQ	26	Colin Tuckey	Chevron B45	33
19	6	19	Bob Earl	Ralt RT-1	32
20	DNQ	45	Mauro Lanaro	Lanaro Special	32
21	DNQ	64	Kent Combs	Ralt RT-1	30
22	13	28	Joe Sposato	March 78B	28
23	3	22	Price Cobb	March 80A	22
24	8	39	Witney Ganz	Ralt RT-1	22
25	11	67	R.J. Nelkin	March 80A	11
26	DNQ	20	Michel Provost	-	10
27	19	71	Bob McGregor	March 78B	9

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