1971 World Championship Victory Race

The Rothmans World Championship Victory Race[2] was a motor race, run to Formula One rules, held on 24 October 1971 at Brands Hatch, Kent. The race was to be run over 40 laps of the circuit, but was stopped on lap 15 following the fatal accident suffered by Swiss driver Jo Siffert. The result was taken from the race order after 14 laps, with Peter Gethin being declared the winner in his BRM P160. The entry included several Formula 5000 cars which were contesting Round 12 of the 1971 Rothmans European Formula 5000 Championship.

1971 World Championship Victory Race
Non-championship race in the 1971 Formula One season
Race details[1]
Date 24 October 1971
Official name Rothmans World Championship Victory Race
Location Brands Hatch, Kent
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 4.265 km (2.65 miles)
Distance 40 laps, 170.59 km (106 miles)
Pole position
Driver BRM
Time 1:22.8
Fastest lap
Driver Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi Lotus
Time 1:24.0
Podium
First BRM
Second Lotus
Third Tyrrell
Jackie Stewart driving the Tyrrell 003 on his way to third place

Siffert's accident led to a rapid overhaul of safety, both in-car and on circuit. In the subsequent Royal Automobile Club (the UK organising and regulatory representative of the FIA at the time) investigation, it was discovered that the crash itself caused non-fatal injuries but Siffert had rather been killed by smoke inhalation. None of the trackside fire extinguishers worked, and it was found to be impossible to reach the car and extract Siffert because of the intense fire. On-board fire extinguishers (using BCF—Bromochlorodifluoromethane, an aircraft product) became mandatory and also piped air directly into the drivers' helmets.[citation needed]

Qualifying

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Note: a blue background indicates a Formula 5000 entrant.

Pos No. Driver Constructor Lap Gap
1 5   Jo Siffert BRM 1:22.8
2 6   Peter Gethin BRM 1:22.8 +0.0
3 8   Emerson Fittipaldi Lotus-Cosworth 1:23.6 +0.8
4 4   Ronnie Peterson March-Cosworth 1:23.6 +0.8
5 17   Mike Hailwood Surtees-Cosworth 1:23.8 +1.0
6 1   Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Cosworth 1:23.8 +1.0
7 12   Tim Schenken Brabham-Cosworth 1:23.8 +1.0
8 7   Howden Ganley BRM 1:24.2 +1.4
9 10   Jackie Oliver McLaren-Cosworth 1:24.6 +1.8
10 16   John Surtees Surtees-Cosworth 1:24.6 +1.8
11 14   Carlos Reutemann Brabham-Cosworth 1:24.6 +1.8
12 11   Graham Hill Brabham-Cosworth 1:24.8 +2.0
13 2   François Cevert Tyrrell-Cosworth 1:25.0 +2.2
14 23   Frank Gardner Lola-Chevrolet 1:25.8 +3.0
15 15   Henri Pescarolo March-Cosworth 1:26.2 +3.4
16 77   Mike Walker Lola-Chevrolet 1:27.0 +4.2
17 26   Alan Rollinson Surtees-Chevrolet 1:27.0 +4.2
18 21   Reine Wisell McLaren-Chevrolet 1:27.0 +4.2
19 25   Keith Holland McLaren-Chevrolet 1:27.6 +4.8
20 44   Gordon Spice McLaren-Chevrolet 1:28.2 +5.4
21 28   Ray Allen McLaren-Chevrolet 1:28.4 +5.6
22 33   Teddy Pilette McLaren-Chevrolet 1:28.4 +5.6
23 41   Trevor Taylor Leda-Chevrolet 1:29.2 +6.4
24 40   Ian Ashley Lola-Chevrolet 1:29.6 +6.8
25 27   David Prophet McLaren-Chevrolet 1:29.6 +6.8
26 24   Guy Edwards McLaren-Chevrolet 1:31.0 +8.2
27 66   Fred Saunders Crosslé-Rover 1:32.2 +9.4
Sources:[3][4]

Race

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Although the race only lasted for less than half of its intended distance, there were several incidents. On lap 2, Henri Pescarolo and Reine Wisell collided at the Druids hairpin, with both cars retiring. Then Mike Hailwood and Ronnie Peterson also collided and had to pit for repairs. Hailwood's car was deemed unfit to continue, but Peterson rejoined the race, albeit nearly a lap down. Jo Siffert had fallen several places at the start, but had made his way back to 4th by lap 14. Approaching Hawthorn Bend at high speed on lap 15, Siffert's BRM suffered a mechanical failure which pitched it across the track into an earth bank. The car rolled over and caught fire, trapping Siffert underneath, and he died of smoke inhalation in the flames. The race was stopped with the track blocked, and all the cars were stranded out on the circuit except for John Surtees, who was able to drive around to the pits, his car damaged by debris.[4]

Results

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Pos No. Driver Entrant Constructor Time/Retired Grid
1 6   Peter Gethin Yardley-BRM BRM 19:54.4 2
2 8   Emerson Fittipaldi Gold Leaf Team Lotus Lotus-Cosworth + 0.2 s 3
3 1   Jackie Stewart Elf Team Tyrrell Tyrrell-Cosworth + 5.4 s 6
4 5   Jo Siffert Yardley-BRM BRM + 12.8 s 1
5 12   Tim Schenken Motor Racing Developments Brabham-Cosworth + 15.6 s 7
6 16   John Surtees Team Surtees Surtees-Cosworth + 16.0 s 10
7 2   François Cevert Elf Team Tyrrell Tyrrell-Cosworth + 24.8 s 13
8 11   Graham Hill Motor Racing Developments Brabham-Cosworth + 31.6 s 12
9 14   Carlos Reutemann Motor Racing Developments Brabham-Cosworth + 33.4 s 11
10 26   Alan Rollinson Alan Rollinson Surtees-Chevrolet + 56.4 s 17
11 23   Frank Gardner Motor Racing Research Lola-Chevrolet + 56.6 s 14
12 77   Mike Walker Doug Hardwick Lola-Chevrolet + 58.0 s 16
13 44   Gordon Spice Gordon Spice McLaren-Chevrolet + 1:10.2 s 20
14 33   Teddy Pilette Racing Team VDS McLaren-Chevrolet + 1:11.4 s 22
15 25   Keith Holland Keith Holland McLaren-Chevrolet + 1:12.2 s 19
16 4   Ronnie Peterson STP March March-Cosworth + 1:15.8 s 4
17 28   Ray Allen Team Trojan McLaren-Chevrolet 13 laps 21
18 40   Ian Ashley Kaye Griffiths Lola-Chevrolet 13 laps 24
19 27   David Prophet David Prophet Racing McLaren-Chevrolet 13 laps 25
20 24   Guy Edwards J.T. Butterworth McLaren-Chevrolet 12 laps 26
Ret 10   Jackie Oliver Bruce McLaren Motor Racing McLaren-Cosworth Brakes 9
Ret 41   Trevor Taylor Malaya Garages Leda-Chevrolet Overheating 23
Ret 7   Howden Ganley Yardley-BRM BRM Engine 8
Ret 17   Mike Hailwood Team Surtees Surtees-Cosworth Suspension (collision) 5
Ret 66   Fred Saunders Fred Saunders Crosslé-Rover Engine fire 27
Ret 15   Henri Pescarolo Frank Williams Racing Cars March-Cosworth Collision 15
Ret 21   Reine Wisell Sid Taylor McLaren-Chevrolet Collision 18
Sources:[4][5][6]

References

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  1. ^ "1971 Victory Race". ChicaneF1. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Rothmans World Championship Victory Race". British Automobile Racing Club. 24 October 1971. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  3. ^ "1971 Victory Race – Qualification". ChicaneF1. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Pritchard, Anthony (1972). The Motor Racing Year No. 3. New York City, United States: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. pp. 144–147. ISBN 0-393-08502-3 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ^ "1971 Victory Race – Classification". ChicaneF1. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  6. ^ "1971 World Championship Victory Race". Motor Sport. Retrieved 28 February 2024.


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