1968 Spanish Grand Prix

Background

Following Jim Clark 's death in Germany, and the death of his replacement Mike Spence during practice for the Indianapolis 500 just five days before the race, team principal Colin Chapman opted not to come to Spain for the first championship Spanish Grand Prix since 1954, still being devastated by the losses. [ 1 ] Graham Hill was the only works Lotus driver; a second car was entered for Jackie Oliver but could not be set up in time. [ 2 ] The race saw the first appearance of Team Lotus in the r...

Quick Facts

1968 Spanish Grand Prix The Jarama Circuit (1967–1990)

1968 Spanish Grand Prix Race details

1968 Spanish Grand Prix Date

1968 Spanish Grand Prix Official name

1968 Spanish Grand Prix Location

1968 Spanish Grand Prix Course

1968 Spanish Grand Prix Course length

1968 Spanish Grand Prix Distance

1968 Spanish Grand Prix Weather

1968 Spanish Grand Prix Pole position

Table 1

Pos	No	Driver	Constructor	Time	Gap
1	19	Chris Amon	Ferrari	1:27.9	—
2	9	Pedro Rodríguez	BRM	1:28.1	+0.2
3	1	Denny Hulme	McLaren-Ford	1:28.3	+0.4
4	2	Bruce McLaren	McLaren-Ford	1:28.3	+0.4
5	6	Jean-Pierre Beltoise	Matra-Ford	1:28.3	+0.4
6	10	Graham Hill	Lotus-Ford	1:28.4	+0.5
7	7	John Surtees	Honda	1:28.8	+0.9
8	21	Jacky Ickx	Ferrari	1:29.6	+1.7
9	4	Jochen Rindt	Brabham-Repco	1:29.7	+1.8
10	16	Jo Siffert	Lotus-Ford	1:29.7	+1.8

Table 2

Pos	No	Driver	Constructor	Laps	Time/Retired
1	10	Graham Hill	Lotus-Ford	90	2:15:20.1
2	1	Denny Hulme	McLaren-Ford	90	+ 15.9
3	14	Brian Redman	Cooper-BRM	89	+ 1 Lap
4	15	Ludovico Scarfiotti	Cooper-BRM	89	+ 1 Lap
5	6	Jean-Pierre Beltoise	Matra-Ford	81	+ 9 Laps
Ret	2	Bruce McLaren	McLaren-Ford	77	Oil Leak
Ret	7	John Surtees	Honda	74	Gearbox
Ret	16	Jo Siffert	Lotus-Ford	62	Transmission
Ret	19	Chris Amon	Ferrari	57	Fuel Pump
Ret	5	Piers Courage	BRM	52	Fuel Pump

Table 3

Unnamed: 0	Pos	Driver	Points
1	1	Graham Hill	15
1	2	Jim Clark	9
2	3	Denny Hulme	8
1	4	Jochen Rindt	4
6	5	Brian Redman	4
Source: [4]	Source: [4]	Source: [4]	Source: [4]

F1ABY Commentary

A pall hangs heavy over Jarama today, doesn’t it? Five weeks since Hockenheim, a shadow cast not just by the circuit’s asphalt, but by the profound absence of Jim Clark. Chapman’s decision—a solitary presence amidst a grieving paddock— speaks volumes about the shifting landscape of respect within this sport. The Indianapolis tragedy, a brutal reminder of motorsport’s inherent risks, amplifies the weight of this moment. Can a team, so recently united by a shared hero, truly find the impetus to compete with the same fervor? The race unfolds, a poignant counterpoint to the echoes of a legend, and a stark illustration of how grief can reshape even the most fiercely competitive arenas.

The shadow of Hockenheim hangs heavy over Jarama today, a stark reminder that motorsport, at its core, is a brutal reckoning with mortality. Chapman’s absence speaks volumes; a team, adrift in grief, cannot simply compete, but rather, carries the weight of a legend’s ambition across the asphalt. The spirit of Clark, undeniably, fuels the engines of these machines.

F1ABY Trivia

The air hangs heavy here at Jarama, doesn’t it? A palpable grief settles over the paddock, a stark contrast to the inherent aggression of this sport. Lotus’s Ford 300Z engine, producing a robust 320 horsepower, strains against the circuit, a testament to Chapman’s relentless pursuit of performance – a force attempting to honor a fallen hero. The BRM cars, with their 3. 0-liter V8s, represent a different philosophy, a more conservative approach to power, a choice reflecting the team’s immediate reaction to the tragedy in Germany.

The rain, a persistent, sullen grey, has descended upon Jarama, mirroring perhaps, the collective mood of the paddock. Colin Chapman’s absence is palpable; the McLaren team, understandably, remains withdrawn. The Ferrari’s, despite considerable investment, have yet to register a single point, a stark deviation from their usual dominance and a reflection, perhaps, of a sport grappling with profound loss.

F1ABY Tales

The engine screams, a raw, desperate howl against the Jarama asphalt. Stewart, relentless, closes the gap, a mere tenth separating him from Villeneuve’s lead. A shadow hangs over this circuit, doesn’t it? The memory of Jim Clark, a ghost in the exhaust fumes, fuels Stewart’s attack. This race, a brutal test of skill and nerve, echoes the profound sorrow felt across the sport, a somber reflection on loss. Chapman’s absence, a quiet statement of respect, adds another layer to this already fraught contest. The Indianapolis tragedy, a fresh wound, underscores the inherent peril of these machines, a constant reminder of the fragility of human endeavor.

The rain, a persistent, sullen grey, mirrored the mood hanging over the pitlane. Chapman, a figure etched with a grief too profound for the bright Spanish sun, remained absent. A decision, weighty and unsettling, had been made regarding his Lotus team’s participation. The silence from the factory was a palpable thing, a stark contrast to the usual frantic energy. It spoke volumes about the shock, the disorientation, the sudden, brutal alteration of a season already fraught with peril. The absence of Colin’s presence here, at Jarama, felt like a physical void, a missing limb in the heart of a sport suddenly, irrevocably changed.