F1 Grands Prix held on New Year's Day? Here's when it happened
12/30/2024 06:45 PM
As surprising as it may seem today, F1 has held Grands Prix on New Year's Day. To be precise, only one race was held on January 1, while two others took place on adjacent days. In all three cases, these were the South African Grands Prix, set in the timeline of the 1960s.
The history of Formula 1, especially up to the 1990s, is full of anecdotes and historic events that, seen from today's perspective, seem unthinkable. The case of New Year's Day Grands Prix is just the tip of the iceberg of a magical era in this sport. We've seen races on improbable circuits, teams and drivers participating in GPs with little to no resources or preparation, and much more.
1962 South African GP
Chronologically, the first of the three F1 Grands Prix held around New Year's was the 1962 South African GP. This race was held on December 29 at the Prince George Circuit in East London, South Africa. The first driver to cross the finish line was Graham Hill, driving for British Racing Motors (BRM). The race was the final one of the season, securing Hill the world championship title and BRM its only Constructors' Championship.
The last GP of the season took place three months after the penultimate race in the United States. Between the two, there were three non-championship races: one in Mexico and two at Kyalami. The East London GP marked Formula 1's debut in South Africa, drawing 90,000 spectators.
In this GP, the championship battle was between Jim Clark and Graham Hill. During qualifying, they secured the first and second positions, setting up a close contest in the early stages of the race. Clark seemed to manage the gap to Hill until his Lotus was forced to retire due to an oil leak. This left the path clear for Graham Hill, who won with a margin of over 50 seconds ahead of Bruce McLaren, thereby clinching the title.
1965 South African GP
The 1965 South African GP was held on January 2. The unique aspect of this event is that it was part of the 1964 season, as it was initially scheduled for the previous week but was postponed. For this edition, all teams used cars from the previous year. The championship had already been decided, with John Surtees crowned champion for Ferrari.
The weekend began with Jim Clark securing pole position ahead of John Surtees and Brabham. The Scotsman dominated all 85 laps of the race, crossing the finish line first, followed by the reigning world champion.
1968 South African GP
The 1968 South African GP took place on January 1, making it the only race in history held on New Year's Day. Unfortunately, it is remembered as the last race Jim Clark participated in before his fatal accident in a Formula 2 race in April.
This weekend was held at the Kyalami circuit and began with Jim Clark on pole, followed by his Lotus teammate, Graham Hill. The pair, driving the Lotus 49 powered by a Ford-Cosworth engine, maintained their positions until the finish, marking the team's 30th victory. For Jim Clark, it was his 25th win, surpassing Juan Manuel Fangio's record.
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