The 1978 European Formula Two season was contested over 12 rounds. Italian driver Bruno Giacomelli, driving the works March car, won the season in dominant fashion.

Calendar

Race NoCircuitDateLapsDistanceTimeSpeedPole positionFastest lapWinner
1United Kingdom Thruxton27 March553.792=208.560 km1'06:13.77188.943 km/hItaly Bruno GiacomelliItaly Bruno GiacomelliItaly Bruno Giacomelli
2West Germany Hockenheim9 April20+206.789=271.56 km1'20:22.0202.741 km/hItaly Bruno GiacomelliItaly Bruno Giacomelli Switzerland Marc SurerItaly Bruno Giacomelli
3West Germany Nürburgring (Eifelrennen)30 April922.835=205,515 km1'06:34.2185.232 km/hItaly Bruno GiacomelliFinland Keke RosbergBrazil Alex Ribeiro
4France Pau15 May732.76=201.48 km1'33:11.73129.714 km/hUnited Kingdom Brian HentonItaly Bruno GiacomelliItaly Bruno Giacomelli
5Italy Mugello28 May425.245=220.290 km1'15:39.7174.691 km/hItaly Bruno GiacomelliUnited States Eddie CheeverRepublic of Ireland Derek Daly
6Italy Vallelunga4 June653.2=208.0 km1'17:12.2161.651 km/hItaly Bruno GiacomelliItaly Bruno GiacomelliRepublic of Ireland Derek Daly
7France Rouen18 June385.543=210.634 km1'08:43.2183.906 km/hItaly Bruno GiacomelliBrazil Ingo HoffmannItaly Bruno Giacomelli
8United Kingdom Donington Park25 June40+403.149=251.92 km1'29:51.43168.214 km/hItaly Bruno GiacomelliUnited Kingdom Brian HentonFinland Keke Rosberg
9France Nogaro9 July653.12=202.80 km1'19:12.23153.629 km/hItaly Bruno GiacomelliItaly Bruno GiacomelliItaly Bruno Giacomelli
10Italy Pergusa-Enna23 July414.95=202.95 km1'04:05.6189.989 km/hRepublic of Ireland Derek DalyRepublic of Ireland Derek DalyItaly Bruno Giacomelli
11Italy Misano6 August603.488=209.28 km1'13:45.09170.258 km/hUnited Kingdom Brian HentonItaly Bruno GiacomelliItaly Bruno Giacomelli
12West Germany Hockenheim24 September20+206.789=271.56 km1'20:20.02202.824 km/hSwitzerland Marc SurerRepublic of Ireland Derek DalyItaly Bruno Giacomelli

Note:

Race 2, 8 and 12 were held in two heats, with results shown in aggregate.

Final point standings

Points were awarded to the top six classified non-graded finishers. Only the best nine results were counted.

Numbers without parentheses are championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored. Points were awarded in the following system:

Position1st2nd3rd4th5th6th
Race964321
PosDriverTHR United KingdomHOC1 West GermanyNÜR West GermanyPAU FranceMUG ItalyVLL ItalyROU FranceDON United KingdomNOG FranceENN ItalyMIS ItalyHOC2 West GermanyPts
Pos Driver THR United Kingdom HOC1 West Germany NÜR West Germany PAU France MUG Italy VLL Italy ROU France DON United Kingdom NOG France ENN Italy MIS Italy HOC2 West Germany Pts 1 Italy Bruno Giacomelli 1PF 1PF RetP 1F (3)P 2PF 1P RetP 1PF 1 1F 1 78 (82) 2 Switzerland Marc Surer 2 2F (4) 3 2 9 3 3 2 Ret 2 2P 48 (51) 3 Republic of Ireland Derek Daly 6 9 Ret 9† 1 1 11† Ret 3 3PF 9† RetF 27 4 United States Eddie Cheever 4 Ret 3 5 7F Ret 2 Ret 9 2 6 Ret 24 5 Finland Keke Rosberg Ret 8 2F DNS Ret Ret 1 17† 16 6 Italy Piero Necchi Ret Ret Ret 4 Ret 3 DNQ 2 10 Ret DNQ Ret 13 = Brazil Ingo Hoffmann Ret 4 6 Ret 4 Ret RetF 4 5 Ret 10 14 13 8 Brazil Alex Ribeiro 15 6 1 NC 10 NC 10 Ret Ret 7 13 11 = West Germany Manfred Winkelhock 5 12 Ret 8 9 4 12† 5 7 9 Ret 3 11 = Italy Alberto Colombo 8 5 7 NC 5 4 Ret 4 Ret 8 15 11 11 Sweden Eje Elgh DNQ DNQ 9 2 13 DNQ 6 Ret 13 Ret DNQ 6 8 = Argentina Ricardo Zunino 14 Ret 13 Ret 18 6 5 9 DNS 5 7 5 8 13 South Africa Rad Dougall 3 10 Ret 12 Ret DNQ 6 DNQ Ret Ret Ret 5 14 Italy Elio de Angelis Ret Ret 10 14 10 Ret 13† 12 Ret 3 DNS 4 = United Kingdom Geoff Lees Ret 6 DNQ 4 Ret 4 16 Italy Piercarlo Ghinzani 10 Ret Ret Ret 8 7 Ret Ret 8 4 Ret 10 3 = United Kingdom Stephen South Ret 4 3 = United Kingdom Brian Henton Ret 17 5 RetP 15 8 14† 11F Ret 6 11P Ret 3 19 Italy Beppe Gabbiani 7 11 Ret Ret 5 DNQ DNQ 15 Ret 12 DNQ 2 20 Italy Roberto Marazzi DNQ 18 12 7 11 Ret DNQ DNQ 1 — Netherlands Boy Hayje 11 16 14 23 DNQ 7 Ret DNQ 7 0 — Argentina Miguel Ángel Guerra 16 13 DNQ 7 Ret 8 DNQ 12 0 — Italy Gianfranco Brancatelli DNQ DNQ 8 Ret Ret 0 — Netherlands Michael Bleekemolen DNQ Ret 8 0 — Austria Peter Scharmann 14 11 DNQ 10 15 9 0 — West Germany Axel Plankenhorn 15 Ret 9 DNQ 0 — Australia Larry Perkins 9 0 — United States John David Briggs 13 DNQ Ret DNQ 19 11 DNQ 10 DNQ Ret DNQ Ret 0 — United States Don Breidenbach Ret DNQ Ret 10† 20 12 DNQ 12 16 DNS DNQ DNQ 0 — Italy Sandro Cinotti Ret Ret DNQ Ret Ret 14 12 17 11 0 — France Richard Dallest NC DNQ 11 Ret 16 DNQ 0 — Argentina Ariel Bakst 17 Ret Ret DNQ DNQ 11 DNQ 0 — Belgium Bernard de Dryver Ret 13 Ret DNQ Ret DNQ Ret DNQ Ret DNQ 0 — France Jean-Pierre Jaussaud 13 Ret 0 — Switzerland Markus Hotz 13 0 — United Kingdom Norman Dickson 16 DNQ 14 0 — West Germany Wolfgang Locher 17 DNQ NC 14 Ret 0 — West Germany Michael Korten DNQ 15 DNQ 0 — Italy Giacomo Agostini 18 DNQ 18 17 DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 16 0 — Switzerland Romeo Camathias 16 DNQ 0 — Italy Giancarlo Martini 19 DNQ 0 — Italy Gianfranco Trombetti 21 DNQ 0 — Austria Walter Raus DNQ DNQ 22 DNQ DNQ DNQ 0 — France José Dolhem Ret Ret DNQ 0 — Japan Kazuyoshi Hoshino Ret Ret 0 — France Alain Couderc Ret DNS DNQ 0 — Italy Carlo Giorgio DNQ DNQ Ret DNQ DNQ DNQ 0 — Italy Sergio Mingotti DNQ DSQ DNQ 0 — West Germany Dieter Kern DNQ Ret DNQ 0 — Austria Harald Ertl Ret DNQ 0 — Austria Hans Meier Ret 0 — Belgium Patrick Nève Ret 0 — United States James King Ret 0 — Italy Riccardo Patrese Ret 0 — West Germany Rudolf Dötsch Ret 0 — France Alain Prost Ret 0 — United Kingdom Tiff Needell Ret 0 — France Marc Sourd Ret 0 — Italy Giancarlo Naddeo DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ 0 — Switzerland Gérard Pillon DNQ DNQ DNQ 0 — France Pierre Maublanc DNQ DNQ 0 — Italy Gaudenzio Mantova DNQ DNQ 0 — West Germany Helmut Bross DNQ DNQ 0 — Austria Gerd Biechteler DNQ 0 — West Germany Kurt Lotterschmid DNQ 0 — West Germany Peter Dienemann DNQ 0 — France Michel Leclère DNQ 0 — United Kingdom Nigel Mansell DNQ 0 — United Kingdom Tony Trimmer DNQ 0 — Italy Luciano Pavesi DNQ 0 — Italy Gimax DNQ 0 — Austria Herbert Jerich DNQ 0 — United Kingdom Divina Galica DNQ 0 — Italy Alessandro Pesenti-Rossi DNQ 0 — West Germany Henning Hagenbauer DNQ 0 — Italy Marco Micangeli DNQ 0 — West Germany Klaus Walz DNQ 0 — West Germany Eugen Grupp DNQ 0 Graded drivers ineligible for points — France Jean-Pierre Jarier Ret 3 Ret 8 0 — Italy Arturo Merzario 6 5 0 — France Patrick Tambay 6† 0 — West Germany Jochen Mass 12 7 8 0 — France Jacques Laffite 11† Ret 0 — Switzerland Clay Regazzoni Ret 0 Pos Driver THR United Kingdom HOC1 West Germany NÜR West Germany PAU France MUG Italy VLL Italy ROU France DON United Kingdom NOG France ENN Italy MIS Italy HOC2 West Germany Pts Source:Key Colour Result Gold Winner Silver Second place Bronze Third place Green Other points position Blue Other classified position Not classified, finished (NC) Purple Not classified, retired (Ret) Red Did not qualify (DNQ) Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) Black Disqualified (DSQ) White Did not start (DNS) Race cancelled (C) Blank Did not practice (DNP) Excluded (EX) Did not arrive (DNA) Withdrawn (WD) Did not enter (empty cell) Annotation Meaning P Pole position F Fastest lap
1Italy Bruno Giacomelli1PF1PFRetP1F(3)P2PF1PRetP1PF11F178 (82)
2Switzerland Marc Surer22F(4)329332Ret22P48 (51)
3Republic of Ireland Derek Daly69Ret9†1111†Ret33PF9†RetF27
4United States Eddie Cheever4Ret357FRet2Ret926Ret24
5Finland Keke RosbergRet82FDNSRetRet117†16
6Italy Piero NecchiRetRetRet4Ret3DNQ210RetDNQRet13
=Brazil Ingo HoffmannRet46Ret4RetRetF45Ret101413
8Brazil Alex Ribeiro1561NC10NC10RetRet71311
=West Germany Manfred Winkelhock512Ret89412†579Ret311
=Italy Alberto Colombo857NC54Ret4Ret81511
11Sweden Eje ElghDNQDNQ9213DNQ6Ret13RetDNQ68
=Argentina Ricardo Zunino14Ret13Ret18659DNS5758
13South Africa Rad Dougall310Ret12RetDNQ6DNQRetRetRet5
14Italy Elio de AngelisRetRet101410Ret13†12Ret3DNS4
=United Kingdom Geoff LeesRet6DNQ4Ret4
16Italy Piercarlo Ghinzani10RetRetRet87RetRet84Ret103
=United Kingdom Stephen SouthRet43
=United Kingdom Brian HentonRet175RetP15814†11FRet611PRet3
19Italy Beppe Gabbiani711RetRet5DNQDNQ15Ret12DNQ2
20Italy Roberto MarazziDNQ1812711RetDNQDNQ1
—Netherlands Boy Hayje11161423DNQ7RetDNQ70
—Argentina Miguel Ángel Guerra1613DNQ7Ret8DNQ120
—Italy Gianfranco BrancatelliDNQDNQ8RetRet0
—Netherlands Michael BleekemolenDNQRet80
—Austria Peter Scharmann1411DNQ101590
—West Germany Axel Plankenhorn15Ret9DNQ0
—Australia Larry Perkins90
—United States John David Briggs13DNQRetDNQ1911DNQ10DNQRetDNQRet0
—United States Don BreidenbachRetDNQRet10†2012DNQ1216DNSDNQDNQ0
—Italy Sandro CinottiRetRetDNQRetRet141217110
—France Richard DallestNCDNQ11Ret16DNQ0
—Argentina Ariel Bakst17RetRetDNQDNQ11DNQ0
—Belgium Bernard de DryverRet13RetDNQRetDNQRetDNQRetDNQ0
—France Jean-Pierre Jaussaud13Ret0
—Switzerland Markus Hotz130
—United Kingdom Norman Dickson16DNQ140
—West Germany Wolfgang Locher17DNQNC14Ret0
—West Germany Michael KortenDNQ15DNQ0
—Italy Giacomo Agostini18DNQ1817DNQDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ160
—Switzerland Romeo Camathias16DNQ0
—Italy Giancarlo Martini19DNQ0
—Italy Gianfranco Trombetti21DNQ0
—Austria Walter RausDNQDNQ22DNQDNQDNQ0
—France José DolhemRetRetDNQ0
—Japan Kazuyoshi HoshinoRetRet0
—France Alain CoudercRetDNSDNQ0
—Italy Carlo GiorgioDNQDNQRetDNQDNQDNQ0
—Italy Sergio MingottiDNQDSQDNQ0
—West Germany Dieter KernDNQRetDNQ0
—Austria Harald ErtlRetDNQ0
—Austria Hans MeierRet0
—Belgium Patrick NèveRet0
—United States James KingRet0
—Italy Riccardo PatreseRet0
—West Germany Rudolf DötschRet0
—France Alain ProstRet0
—United Kingdom Tiff NeedellRet0
—France Marc SourdRet0
—Italy Giancarlo NaddeoDNQDNQDNQDNQDNQ0
—Switzerland Gérard PillonDNQDNQDNQ0
—France Pierre MaublancDNQDNQ0
—Italy Gaudenzio MantovaDNQDNQ0
—West Germany Helmut BrossDNQDNQ0
—Austria Gerd BiechtelerDNQ0
—West Germany Kurt LotterschmidDNQ0
—West Germany Peter DienemannDNQ0
—France Michel LeclèreDNQ0
—United Kingdom Nigel MansellDNQ0
—United Kingdom Tony TrimmerDNQ0
—Italy Luciano PavesiDNQ0
—Italy GimaxDNQ0
—Austria Herbert JerichDNQ0
—United Kingdom Divina GalicaDNQ0
—Italy Alessandro Pesenti-RossiDNQ0
—West Germany Henning HagenbauerDNQ0
—Italy Marco MicangeliDNQ0
—West Germany Klaus WalzDNQ0
—West Germany Eugen GruppDNQ0
Graded drivers ineligible for points
—France Jean-Pierre JarierRet3Ret80
—Italy Arturo Merzario650
—France Patrick Tambay6†0
—West Germany Jochen Mass12780
—France Jacques Laffite11†Ret0
—Switzerland Clay RegazzoniRet0
PosDriverTHR United KingdomHOC1 West GermanyNÜR West GermanyPAU FranceMUG ItalyVLL ItalyROU FranceDON United KingdomNOG FranceENN ItalyMIS ItalyHOC2 West GermanyPts
Source:
Key
ColourResult
GoldWinner
SilverSecond place
BronzeThird place
GreenOther points position
BlueOther classified position
Not classified, finished (NC)
PurpleNot classified, retired (Ret)
RedDid not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Race cancelled (C)
BlankDid not practice (DNP)
Excluded (EX)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Withdrawn (WD)
Did not enter (empty cell)
AnnotationMeaning
PPole position
FFastest lap