The history of F1 is also this: a GP held on New Year's Eve! They were the Years' 60, when at the end of the year the F1 world championship could even be decided. It was also the last GP won by Jim Clark.
F1: we're working on New Year's Eve too! The historic GP of '68
Once upon a time there was an F1 that also raced between Christmas and New Year, nothing but a winter break from the GPs! Of course, he didn't give up on the celebrations, but he continued to run. In the 1968 a happened truly singular fact: that year fight for the world title of F1 began on New Year's Eve, with the South African GP, to take advantage of the favorable climatic conditions. In particular, that was thesingle moment throughout the history of F1 in which the qualifications and the race took place in two different years, straddling the 1967 and il 1968.
Jim Clark's last victory
Il 1968 it therefore began, on New Year's Eve with one promising Lotus already at the first F1 GP of the season. A Lotus that featured on the grid the two-time world champion Jim Clark e Graham hill, then again with a single title behind. There Ferrari instead he was aiming for Jacky ickx e Andrea Lodovico De Adamich, While the Brabham su Jochen Rindt.
In the office of qualifications, there was brace of Lotus: first fu Clark e according to Hill, Followed by Stewart, its Matra. In the race the first two places were confirmed: le Lotus dominated the entire New Year's F1 GP of the race on the South African circuit and finished at first and second place. He also got on the podium Rindt, while amon crossed the finish line in fourth position.
It seemed like the beginning of the dominion of Jim Clark, already the author of great feats… Instead the one from the New Year's GP in '68 was his last victory in F1, since the Scotsman he died a few months later, on April 7, during a F2 race.
Source: www.automotorinews.it
