HistoryData
general1963

1963 South African Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1963

December 28, 1963

Jim Clark secured his seventh win of the 1963 season at this final championship round, the last Formula One race held in December until 2019.

Quick Facts

Year
1963
Category
general

Key Facts

Race laps
85 laps
Winner
Jim Clark (Lotus-Climax)
Clark's 1963 season wins
7 wins
Championship round
10th and final race of 1963 season
Runner-up
Dan Gurney (Brabham-Climax)
Third place
Graham Hill (BRM)

By the Numbers

85laps
Race laps
7wins
Clark's 1963 season wins
10
Championship round

Location

Map of East London, South AfricaMap of East London, South AfricaEast London, South Africa

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

The 1963 Formula One season concluded with its tenth and final round scheduled at East London, South Africa. Jim Clark had already dominated the championship that year, and this race offered an opportunity to extend his record win tally for the season.

Event

On 28 December 1963, Jim Clark started from pole position and won the 85-lap South African Grand Prix in a works Lotus-Climax, finishing ahead of Dan Gurney in a Brabham-Climax and Graham Hill in a BRM. The event served as the concluding round of both the 1963 World Championship of Drivers and the International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers.

Consequence

Clark's victory gave him seven wins from ten races in the 1963 season, underlining his and Lotus's dominance. The race also marked the end of December Formula One Grands Prix, a scheduling position not revisited until the 2019 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix over five decades later.

Timeline Context

Timeline around 196319631960196119621964196519661963 Summer Universiade — multi-sport event in Porto Alegre, Brazil1963 Cannes Film Festival — film festival edition1963 Mediterranean Games — 4th edition of the Mediterranean Games1963 FIBA World Championship — 1963 edition of the FIBA World Championship1963 African Cup of Nations — football tournament1963 Formula One season — sports season1963 CONCACAF Championship — football tournament1963 South American Championship — football tournament1963-south-african-grand-prix-formula-one-motor-race-held-1963