The Lotus 49, fitted with the new Ford DFV engine, was clearly the fastest car in Formula 1 in 1967. Although quick, the new machine proved to be somewhat unreliable early on, allowing the Brabham team to score points which proved vital in the chase for the World Championship.
Clark Wins British Grand Prix at Silverstone
Jim Clark started from pole at Silverstone in his Lotus and proceeded to win his home Grand Prix. Graham Hill, in the other Lotus, had rather less luck. He led briefly before suspension damage forced him to pit for repairs. He wasn’t back in the race for long before his Ford DFV failed. Denny Hulme finished second, with Chris Amon third and Jack Brabham fourth. The final points went to Pedro Rodriguez and John Surtees.
Hulme Leads Brabham 1-2 at the Nurburgring
Clark was on pole by a significant margin at the Nurburgring, but his Lotus once again displayed its fragility during the race, going out with broken suspension. Dan Gurney took over the lead in his Eagle, only to be sidelined by a driveshaft failure.
Perhaps the most impressive performance in Germany was that of Jacky Ickx. Driving a Matra in the Formula 2 class he managed to get as high as fourth in the overall classification before retiring.
The Grand Prix was won by Hulme, who was beginning to look like a potential World Champion. His team-mate Brabham finished second and Amon completed the podium in third place.
Before the next race in Canada motor racing suffered another tragedy. Bob Anderson was a well-known figure in the Formula 1 paddock, competing tenaciously in an outdated Brabham which he transported from circuit to circuit on the back of a converter VW pick-up. The highlight of his Formula 1 career came at Zeltweg in 1964 when he finished third in the Austrian Grand Prix. While testing at Silverstone in early August his Brabham slid off the track and into a marshal’s post. Anderson was trapped for a long time and could not be saved.
Another Brabham 1-2 in Canadian Grand Prix
Clark’s title challenge suffered another setback in Canada, where he retired with ignition failure. Bruce McLaren raced his new eponymous Formula 1 car, and it performed very well. On a wet track he made it as far as second place before the handling went away. Brabham won the Grand prix from Hulme, with Gurney’s Eagle third.
1967 F1 review continues here.
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