Rene Arnoux learned his trade the hard way, as he fought for the European Formula Two Championship against tough nuts like future Formula One World Champion Keke Rosberg, double Can-Am Champion Patrick Tambay, Indy 500 winners Danny Sullivan and Eddie Cheever, and FIA-GT Champion Klaus Ludwig. He got to within one point of his objective in Tico Martini’s MK19-Renault in 1976, winning at Pau, Enna, and Estoril, but lost the title by a single point to Jean-Pierre Jabouille.
But the little ex-mechanic from Grenoble, France, nailed the championship a year later in a Martini MK22-Renault with victories at Silverstone, Pau again and Nogaro, and taking three 2nds to win the title with 52 points to Cheever’s 40.
