1976 Austrian Grand Prix

{{Infobox Grand Prix race report

|Type = F1

|Country = Austria

|Grand Prix = Austrian

|Previous_round = 1976 German Grand Prix

|Next_round = 1976 Dutch Grand Prix

|Official name = XIV Raiffeisen Großer Preis von Österreich{{Cite web|title=1976 Austrian GP|url=http://www.chicanef1.com/racetit.pl?year=1976&gp=Austrian%20GP&r=1|access-date=2020-08-02|website=www.chicanef1.com}}

|Date = 15 August

|Year = 1976

|Image = Österreichring 1969-1976.svg

|Caption = The Österreichring (1969–76)

|Race_No = 11

|Season_No = 16

|Location = Österreichring
Spielberg, Styria, Austria

|Course = Permanent racing facility

|Course_mi = 3.673

|Course_km = 5.911

|Distance_laps = 54

|Distance_mi = 198.342

|Distance_km = 319.914

|Weather =

|Pole_Driver = James Hunt

|Pole_Team = McLaren-Ford

|Pole_Time = 1:35.02{{cite book|last=Lang |first=Mike |title=Grand Prix! Vol 3 |publisher=Haynes Publishing Group |date=1983 |isbn=0-85429-380-9 |page=138}}

|Pole_Country = United Kingdom

|Fast_Driver = James Hunt

|Fast_Team = McLaren-Ford

|Fast_Time = 1:35.91{{cite book|last=Lang |first=Mike |title=Grand Prix! Vol 3 |publisher=Haynes Publishing Group |date=1983 |isbn=0-85429-380-9 |page=141}} {{smaller|(lap record)}}

|Fast_Country = United Kingdom

|First_Driver = John Watson

|First_Team = Penske-Ford

|First_Country = United Kingdom

|Second_Driver = Jacques Laffite

|Second_Team = Ligier-Matra

|Second_Country = France

|Third_Driver = Gunnar Nilsson

|Third_Team = Lotus-Ford

|Third_Country = Sweden

|Lapchart = {{F1Laps1976|AUT}}

}}

The 1976 Austrian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Österreichring on 15 August 1976. It was the eleventh race of the 1976 World Championship of F1 Drivers and the 1976 International Cup for F1 Constructors.{{Cite web |date=31 August 1976 |title=1976 Austrian Grand Prix Entry list |url=http://www.racingsportscars.com/covers/_Zeltweg-1976-08-15e.jpg |access-date=21 April 2025 |website=Racingsportscars.com}}

The 54-lap race was won by John Watson, driving a Penske-Ford. As well as being Watson's first F1 victory, it was also the only F1 victory for the Penske team, coming a year after the death of their former driver Mark Donohue at the same circuit. Roger Penske would withdraw from F1 at the end of the season to concentrate on Indycars.

Jacques Laffite finished second in a Ligier-Matra, with Gunnar Nilsson third in a Lotus-Ford. Drivers' Championship challenger James Hunt finished fourth in his McLaren-Ford, having started from pole position.

Local drivers Otto Stuppacher and Karl Oppitzhauser had applied to enter the event, but were refused due to their lack of experience. They had entered under the ÖASC Racing Team banner, with Stuppacher bringing a Tyrrell 007 to the circuit, and Oppitzhauser a March 761. They petitioned the other teams for support, but none was forthcoming and hence they did not participate.{{cite web |url=http://www.f1rejects.com/drivers/stuppacher/biography.html |title=Otto Stuppacher - Full Biography |publisher=F1 Rejects |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014175339/http://www.f1rejects.com/drivers/stuppacher/biography.html |archive-date=14 October 2007 |access-date=9 January 2016}}

With local hero Niki Lauda still in hospital following his near-fatal accident at the Nürburgring two weeks previously, and Ferrari not entering the race in protest at the reinstatement of Hunt as the winner of the Spanish Grand Prix,{{cite web |last1=Hope-Frost |first1=Henry |title=Top 12: Ferrari‑free Grands Prix |url=https://www.goodwood.com/grr/f1/exceptional-11-ferrari-free-grands-prix/ |website=www.goodwood.com |access-date=25 October 2023}}

there was talk that the race would be cancelled. In the event, the race went ahead, but was attended by fewer spectators than usual.{{cite web|url=http://www.grandprix.com/gpe/rr275.html |title=Grand Prix Results: Austrian GP, 1976 |publisher=Grandprix.com |access-date=20 October 2017}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/september-1976/25/austrian-grand-prix |title=Austrian Grand Prix: The sun came out |magazine=Motor Sport |date=September 1976 |page=25 |access-date=20 October 2017}}

{{As of|2025}}, this remains the last World Championship race that Ferrari did not enter and the last time an American-licensed constructor won a F1 race.{{cite news|url=http://en.f1i.com/news/46708-penske-anxious-to-see-how-haas-f1-fares.html|title=Penske 'anxious' to see how Haas F1 fares|date=14 March 2016}}Though American-owned, Shadow achieved a victory at the 1977 Austrian Grand Prix having raced with a British licence. This would also be the last occasion to date that a female driver would not only qualify for but also finish a Grand Prix with Lella Lombardi qualifying 24th and finishing four laps down in 12th place in a RAM Racing entered Brabham.