1968 British Grand Prix – Complete

The dreadful 1968 season had seen four Formula 1 drivers killed between April and July in a
variety of racing machinery. British fans has lost both Jim Clark and Mike Spence but Graham Hill
arrived at Brands Hatch with a big lead in the World Championship and with seven other British
drivers in the 20-car field there was plenty for the fans to cheer.

Qualifying showed that Team Lotus was dominant with Hill fastest by half a second and Jack
Oliver alongside him. Chris Amon completed the front row in his Ferrari. On the second row Jo
Siffert (Rob Walker Lotus) lined up alongside Jochen Rindt’s while the third row featured Dan
Gurney (back in action after missing several races in his Eagle-Weslake because of engine
problems), Jackie Stewart in Ken Tyrrell’s Matra-Ford, and Jack Brabham’s Brabham.

There was light rain at the start (for the third consecutive race) and Oliver took the lead from
Hill and Siffert. The leading Lotus was trailing smoke and on the fourth lap Oliver was overtaken
by Hill. Despite the smoke trail Oliver remained second. On the 27th lap. however, Hill went out
with a rear suspension failure and so Oliver went back into the lead. behind him Siffert fought for
second place with Amon but gradually the Lotus driver moved away.

On lap 44 Oliver came to a halt with a transmission failure and so Siffert inherited the lead and
went on to win Rob Walker’s first victory in seven years. The Ferraris of Amon and Ickx came
home second and third. This would be Siffert’s first win (only two victories in his career) and he
would tragically lose his life in a non-championship race at Brands Hatch in 1971.

This is LIVE black & white television coverage with Murray Walker on commentary.