Date May 12, 1968 | Course length 3.404 km (2.115 mi) | |
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Official name XIV Gran Premio de España Location Circuito Permanente del Jarama, Madrid, Spain Course Permanent racing facility Distance 90 laps, 306.360 km (190.363 mi) | ||
The 1968 Spanish Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Jarama Circuit on May 12, 1968. It was the second round of the 1968 Formula One season. It was the first race after the death of former double World Champion Jim Clark, who had died in a non-championship Formula Two event in Hockenheim, Germany. Clark had led the drivers' championship before this race, on 9 points, after he won in the first race in South Africa.
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Background
After Jim Clark's death two months earlier in Germany and the death of his replacement Mike Spence during practice for the Indianapolis 500 just five days before the race, team principal Colin Chapman opted not to come to Spain, still being devastated by the losses. Graham Hill was the single entrance for the works Lotus team, after the car for Jackie Oliver could not be set up in time. Jackie Stewart was absent due to a wrist injury he sustained while driving in a Formula Two race. So it was up to Jean-Pierre Beltoise to first race the new Matra MS10.
Report
During qualifying, Ferrari's Chris Amon took his first ever pole position with Graham Hill for the mourning Team Lotus down in sixth place.
Lotus fate turned however during the race on Sunday, contested in searing heat. Pedro Rodríguez for BRM took the lead at the start, followed by Beltoise, Amon and Hulme. The Frenchman took first position on lap 12, only to drop back four laps later with engine troubles. Amon was now back in the lead, followed closely by Rodriguez until the Mexican spun and crashed on lap 28. While he waited for his mechanics to pick up the car, spectators "descended on the car like vultures and stripped off the mirrors, seat, windscreen and nose cowling". These retirements elevated Hill to second place behind Amon, who suffered a fuel pump failure on lap 58, handing Hill, who had been a mile behind, first place and victory. Hulme was close behind Hill, but when his McLaren lost second gear, he needed to back off and the Englishman cruised home. Beltoise recovered from his mechanical troubles and recorded the fastest lap of the race.