1985 Portuguese Grand Prix

This is the complete race as broadcast on LIVE TV.

At the second race of the season in Portugal, Ayrton Senna once again captures pole position. His
future rival and nemesis Alain Prost was second on the grid in the McLaren, third was Keke Rosberg in
the Williams, followed by Senna’s teammate Elio de Angelis in the other Lotus, then Michele Alboreto
in the Ferrari. The other Ferrari was driven by Stefan Johansson, who was just hired by Ferrari to
replace the recently fired Rene Arnoux. Derek Warwick was sixth on the grid, followed by Niki
Lauda, Andrea de Cesaris, Nigel Mansell, and Nelson Piquet.

On race day it was pouring rain. During warm-up laps several drivers went off the track, including
Nigel Mansell and Eddie Cheever (they had to start from the pitlane in spares). At the start, Ayrton
Senna took the lead with his teammate Elio de Angelis getting a great jump to move from 4th to 2nd.
Keke Rosberg stalled on the grid. Everyone avoided him, except for Jonathan Palmer, who clipped the
rear of Rosberg’s car. Palmer would hobble around the track, but had to retire. Keke Rosberg finally
managed to get his car started, but he spun out on the first lap. Meanwhile, up front it was Senna, de
Angelis, Prost, Alboreto, Warwick, Lauda and de Cesaris. In a masterful example of driving, Ayrton
Senna began pulling away from the rest of the field. Alain Prost pushed too hard and spun on lap 30,
allowing Michele Alboreto to move into third. On lap 43, Alboreto overtook de Angelis for second. In
the closing laps de Angelis dropped behind Patrick Tambay, ending the day fourth.

This is the original BBC broadacst with Murray Walker and James Hunt on commentary, both of whom
are extremely impressed with Ayrton Senna’s ability to pull away from the field in terrible weather
conditions. There are some gaps in their commentary due to broadcast problems, but their silence
allows you to hear the cars screaming away. This DVD also includes pre-race coverage, and a great
post-race interview with Ayrton Senna talking about his very first victory in Formula 1.