South African Formula One Championship
Category | Single-seaters |
---|---|
Country | South Africa |
Inaugural season | 1960 |
Folded | 1975 |
Drivers | 14 (1975) |
Teams | 10 (1975) |
Constructors | 7 (1975) |
Engine suppliers | 2 (1975) |
Last Drivers' champion | ![]() |
The South African Formula One Championship, was a Formula One motor racing championship held in South Africa between 1960 and 1975.
The frontrunning cars in the series were recently retired from the world championship although there was also a healthy selection of locally built or modified machines. Frontrunning drivers from the series usually contested their local World Championship Grand Prix, as well as occasional European events, although they had little success at that level.
1967 also saw a remarkable result by Rhodesian driver John Love with a 2.7 litre four-cylinder Cooper-Climax; Love, who was in his forties and, although seen as one of the finest drivers in Southern Africa, was not a major star, led and finished second in that year's South African Grand Prix. Love's Cooper was originally designed for the short races of the Tasman Series; to run a full Grand Prix Love added two auxiliary gas tanks. Unfortunately the auxiliary tanks fuel pump failure forced him to refuel after having led most of the race.[1]
Love was the king of the South African championship, winning the drivers championship six times in the 1960s.
Former Champions
Season | Driver | Car | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1960 | ![]() |
Cooper-Alfa Romeo | ||||
1961 | ![]() |
Lotus 18-Alfa Romeo | ||||
1962 | ![]() |
Heron-Alfa Romeo Lotus 20-Climax | ||||
1963 | ![]() |
Lotus 20-Climax | ||||
1964 | ![]() |
Cooper T55-Climax | ||||
1965 | ![]() |
Cooper T55-Climax | ||||
Season | Driver | Car | Wins | Podiums | Points | Margin (pnts) |
1966 | ![]() |
Cooper T79-Climax | 7 | 8 | 69 | 13 |
1967 | ![]() |
Cooper T79-Climax Brabham BT20-Repco |
8 | 10 | 82 | 30 |
1968 | ![]() |
Brabham BT20-Repco Lotus 49-Cosworth |
6 | 6 | 54 | 14 |
1969 | ![]() |
Lotus 49-Cosworth | 4 | 5 | 43 | 1 |
1970 | ![]() |
Lotus 49-Cosworth | 7 | 8 | 69 | 32 |
1971 | ![]() |
Lotus 49-Cosworth Lotus 72-Cosworth |
7 | 8 | 72 | 24 |
1972 | ![]() |
Lotus 72-Cosworth | 9 | 9 | 81 | 39 |
1973 | ![]() |
Lotus 72-Cosworth | 10 | 10 | 93 | 40 |
1974 | ![]() |
Tyrrell 007-Cosworth | 6 | 10 | 76 | 11 |
1975 | ![]() |
McLaren M23-Cosworth | 6 | 7 | 56 | 2 |
References
- ^ John Love, L'homme de Kyalami. Automobile historique (To be completed)