Grand Prix Insider

A sunny Kyalami once again hosted the 1968 South African Formula 1 Grand Prix, the opening race of the season. And with Jim Clark running away with the race the rest of the paddock knew that the Colin Chapman’s Lotus 49 with Ford Cosworth DFV engine was the combination to beat.

1968 would also see the arrival of advertisers logos on the cars for the first time, as governing body FISA had ruled this restriction out as of 1st of January. The cars of John Love and Sam Tingle wrote history in Kyalami by displaying for the first time ever in Formula 1 the logos of non-automotive sponsor Gunston. It was the beginning of the commercial aspect of Formula 1 beyond it’s natural habitat.

Two new teams arrived on the grid in South Africa running Matra cars. An offshoot of the French rocket company, Matra Sport, fielded Jean-Pierre Beltoise with an MS7 and Matra International, run by Ken Tyrrell with Jackie Stewart as the driver, showed up with an MS9. The new team looked capable of upsetting the apple-cart when Stewart managed to take his car to third spot on the grid on its very first outing. At the start he gave the front-runners a scare when he blasted into the lead. The fairy tale didn’t last and he was soon reeled in by Clark who then went on to victory having led for the remaining 79 laps.

Stewart went out just before the half-way point with his Ford Cosworth engine failing, but he had certainly shown that both he and his team would soon be a force to be reckoned with. Hill made it a 1-2 for Lotus while Jochen Rindt had an excellent run to third, suggesting that his switch to Brabham had been a wise move. The SA-GP also marked the first race of what would be a long and successful association of the then reigning World Champion Denny Hulme with fellow Kiwi Bruce McLaren and his team with Hulme finishing fifth.

Clark’s victory was his 25th, improving Juan Manuel Fangio’s record Grands Prix wins. Sadly it was to be his last triumph in a round for the World Championship. Before the European season began, his career ended with a fatal accident in a Formula 2 race at Germany’s Hockenheim circuit.

1968 South African Formula 1 Grand Prix, Kyalami

Pole Position: Jim Clark, Lotus 49, 1m 21.600s

Race Result: Winner – Jim Clark, Lotus 49, 80 laps at 4104 km = 328.320 km (2.550 miles= 204.0 miles), 1hr 53m 56.600s

2) Graham Hill, Lotus 49, + 25.3s
3) Jochen Rindt, Brabham BT24 + 30.4s
4) Chris Amon, Ferrari 312/67, – 2 laps
5) Denny Hulme, McLaren M5A, – 2 laps
6) Jean-Pierre Beltoise, Matra MS7 – 3 laps

Fastest Lap: Jim Clark, Lotus 49, 1m 23.700s, 176,51 Km/h (109.677 mph) average on Lap 73 = New Lap Record