Course Permanent race track Driver Jack Brabham | Course length 4.094 km (2.543 mi) | |
 | ||
Date 2 January 1967 (1967-01-02) Location Kyalami, Transvaal Province, South Africa Distance 80 laps, 327.52 km (203.44 mi) | ||
The 1967 South African Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Kyalami on 2 January 1967. It was the first race of the 1967 Formula One season. The 80-lap race was won by Cooper driver Pedro Rodríguez after he started from fourth position. John Love finished second in a privately-entered Cooper and Honda driver John Surtees came in third.
Contents
Race report
For the first time, the Kyalami circuit near Johannesburg was being used. There were some changes in the driver line-ups: John Surtees was driving for Honda, Mike Spence signed for BRM whilst Pedro Rodríguez was on trial for Cooper. Denny Hulme led Jack Brabham away from the start, but the Australian soon spun, handing second place to Surtees, but by lap 21 had managed to regain second. Further down the field, Rhodesian privateer racer John Love reached third place in a four-cylinder Cooper Climax. On lap 41, Brabham retired, followed by Dan Gurney on lap 44. On lap 59, Hulme had to pit for more brake fluid, handing the lead to Love. His drive was halted as with just seven laps left he had to pit to take on more fuel. Rodríguez took his first win in Formula One for Cooper from Love in second place and Surtees in third.