The 1st Natal Grand Prix was a motor race, run to South African Formula One-style rules, held on 17 December 1961 at Westmead Circuit, South Africa. The race was run over 89 laps of the circuit, and was won by British driver Jim Clark, in his Lotus 21.

1961 Natal Grand Prix
Non-championship race in the 1961 Formula One season
Race details
Date 17 December 1961
Official name I Natal Grand Prix
Location Westmead Circuit, Durban
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 3.62 km (2.2496 miles)
Distance 89 laps, 322.213 km (200.214 miles)
Pole position
Driver Lotus-Climax
Time 1:26.1
Fastest lap
Driver United Kingdom Stirling Moss Lotus-Climax
Time 1:24.8
Podium
First Lotus-Climax
Second Lotus-Climax
Third Porsche

There were no great differences between the local rules to which this race was run and the international Formula One rules, but for example sports car bodies were permitted, such as the Porsche special driven by Jennings.

Clark led the race from start to finish, with only Stirling Moss, who had started from the back of the grid, able to stay on the same lap by the end. The local South African entrants were outclassed, with the first of them finishing three laps down on Clark.[1]

Results

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Pos No. Driver Entrant Constructor Time/Retired Grid
1 8   Jim Clark Team Lotus Lotus-Climax 2.13:58.4 1
2 7   Stirling Moss UDT Laystall Racing Team Lotus-Climax + 31.9 s 22
3 4   Jo Bonnier Porsche System Engineering Porsche 88 laps 2
4 5   Edgar Barth Porsche System Engineering Porsche 87 laps 8
5 1   Syd van der Vyver Syd van der Vyver Lotus-Alfa Romeo 86 laps 7
6 11   Doug Serrurier Scuderia Lupini Cooper-Maserati 86 laps 10
7 25   Adrian Pheiffer Adrian Pheiffer Cooper-Alfa Romeo 86 laps 9
8 26   Trevor Blokdyk Trevor Blokdyk Cooper-Ford 19
9 19   Bruce Jennings Bill Jennings Jennings-Porsche 18
10 20   John Guthrie Ecurie Rhodes Cooper-Alfa Romeo 13
Ret 2   Bruce Johnstone Yeoman Credit Racing Team Cooper-Climax Accident 6
Ret 14   Don Philp Don Philp Quodra-Climax Engine 12
Ret 16   Helmut Menzler Ecurie Wolman Lotus-Borgward 14
Ret 29   Neville Lederle Neville Lederle Lotus-Ford 15
Ret 27   Bob van Niekerk Equipe Judette Lotus-Ford 16
Ret 10   Ernie Pieterse Scuderia Alfa Heron-Alfa Romeo Suspension 11
Ret 23   Fanie Viljoen G.E. Mennie LDS-Climax 17
Ret 15   Sam Tingle Sam Tingle LDS-Alfa Romeo 20
Ret 17   Dave Wright Dave Wright Cooper-Climax 21
Ret 3   Tony Maggs Yeoman Credit Racing Team Cooper-Climax Overheating 5
Ret 9   Trevor Taylor Team Lotus Lotus-Climax Accident 3
Ret 6   Masten Gregory UDT Laystall Racing Team Lotus-Climax Cylinder head gasket 4
DNS 12   John Love A.H. Pillman LDS-Porsche Practice accident -
WD 18   Clive Trundell Clive Trundell Cooper-Climax Car not ready -
WD 21   Bill Dunlop Bill Dunlop Cooper-Alfa Romeo Car not ready -
WD 22   Gordon Henderson Gordon Henderson Cooper-Alfa Romeo Car not ready -
WD 24   Gene Bosman Scuderia Alfa Lotus-Alfa Romeo Car not ready -
WD 28   Bernard Podmore Bernard Podmore Lotus-Ford Car damaged -
WD 30   Jack Holme Jack Holme Lotus-Climax Car damaged -

References

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  1. ^ "The Formula One Record Book", John Thompson, 1974, pp.64-65
  • "The Grand Prix Who's Who", Steve Small, 1995.
  • "The Formula One Record Book", John Thompson, 1974.
  • Race results at www.silhouet.com [1]


Previous race:
1961 Rand Grand Prix
Formula One non-championship races
1961 season
Next race:
1961 South African Grand Prix
Previous race:
Natal Grand Prix Next race:
1962 Natal Grand Prix