1962 Formula 1 World Championship
Graham Hill Beat Jim Clark to F1 Title
With three races remaining in the 1962 Formula 1 season BRM driver Graham Hill was a strong favourite for the World Championship. His main rival was Jim Clark in the innovative Lotus 25.
BRM 1-2 in Italian Grand Prix at Monza
Monza’s fearsome banking was not used for the Italian Grand Prix in 1962, unlike the previous year. Clark returned to the track where he’d been involved in the terrible accident which killed Wolfgang von Trips and many spectators. The Scotsman promptly qualified his Lotus on pole, with Graham Hill’s BRM alongside him.
The two title protagonists battled for the lead until Clark dropped out with a gearbox problem. This left the way clear for Ritchie Ginther to move into second place and complete a BRM 1-2. Enzo Ferrari was doubtlessly not amused, as Ginther had refused to sign a new contract with his team for 1962. Bruce McLaren was third, ahead of Willy Mairesse who was returning to Formula 1 after his serious Spa crash. Giancarlo Baghetti finished in fifth and Jo Bonnier was sixth.
Clark Keeps Title Chase Alive with US Grand Prix Win
Enzo Ferrari didn’t bother sending cars to the final two Grands Prix of the season, seeing it as a pointless exercise with none of his drivers in championship contention. At Watkins Glen Clark won from pole, while Graham Hill finished second. Then came McLaren, Jack Brabham, Dan Gurney and Masten Gregory. The result meant that the World Championship would not be decided until the final race of the season in South Africa.
Clark’s Retirement Hands Formula 1 Title to Hill
Clark arrived in East London with the simple objective of winning the race. If he won he would be World Champion, wherever Graham Hill finished. Clark won the qualifying battle by taking pole, but his title rival was right there in second place.
In the race Clark simple vanished into the distance, and Graham Hill thought the title was lost. Then, about two third of the way through the race Clark’s Lotus began trailing oil. The problem was terminal. Graham Hill was World Champion. He celebrated in style by winning the Grand Prix from McLaren. Tony Maggs finished third, ahead of Brabham and Innes Ireland. In sixth place was an old Lotus 21 driven by Neville Lederle.
There was a tragic postscript to the 1962 Formula 1 season. During practice for the non-championship Mexican Grand Prix local hero Ricardo Rodriguez crashed to his death while pushing too hard in a Rob Walker entered Lotus.
1962 BRM P57 Formula 1 car
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