J. Siffert Wins First G. P.

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31737, 22 July 1968, Page 20

J. Siffert Wins First G. P.

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) BRANDS HATCH (England). The Swiss driver, J. Siffert, in a LotusFord, won his first grand prix with an upset victory in the British event, seventh leg of the world drivers’ championship.

Siffert was given little chance of a win before the race on Saturday but as the favourites dropped out in s'eady succession he came through to win by about 200 yards from C. Amop (New Zealand). J. Ickx (Belgium) Amon’s Ferrari team-mate, was third. Siffert, who had been fourth fastest in practice, won the 212-mile event at an average speed of 104.83 m.p.h.— faster than the official lap record before the race. He also set a record for the 2.5mile circuit with a time of lmin 29.75ec, an average of 106.35 m.p.h. The last Swiss driver to win a grand prix was Baron de Graffenreid, in Britain in a Maserati in 1949. For most of the 20 starters on Saturday it was a race of trouble. D. Gurney (United States) had scarcely left the grid when his Eagle developed fuel pump trouble, then J. Brabham (Australia) withdrew because of lack of power in his Brabham-Repco.

In the first haff of the race it looked as if the British Lotus-Ford team would win. G. Hill led for most of the first 26 laps before dropping out with a broken drive-shaft. Then J. Oliver, the No. 2 Lotus-Ford driver, took over the lead but retired just past the half-way mark with gearbox trouble.

Siffert took the lead but Amon, in his 12-cylinder Ferrari was well placed and seemed to be biding his time. Siffert and Amon lapped the rest of the field —passing some cars twice—but the New

uc«iauuci was ucici avis tO catch Siffert. The lap record was lowered six times during the race. The former mark was held by B. McLaren, of New Zealand. Results:— J. Siffert (Switzerland, LotusFord), 2:1:20.3, 1; C. Amon (New Zealand, Ferrari), 2:01:24.7, 2; J. Ickx (Belgium, Ferrari), one lap behind, 3; D. Hulme (New Zealand, McLaren-Ford), one lap, 4; J. Surtees (Britain, Honda), two laps, 5; J. Stewart (Britain, Matra-Ford), two laps, 6; B. McLaren (New Zealand. McLaren-Ford), three laps, 7; P. Courage (Britain, 8.R.M.), eight laps, 8. World championship placings after the race were: G. Hill (Britain), 24 points, 1; Ickx, 20, 2; Stewart, 17, 3; Hulme, 15, 4; P. Rodriguez (Mexico), McLaren, Amon, 10, 5; Siffert, 9, 8. *