HistoryData
general1966

1966 Italian Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1966

September 4, 1966

Ludovico Scarfiotti won his only Formula One Grand Prix at Monza, while Jack Brabham clinched his third world championship in a car of his own construction.

Quick Facts

Year
1966
Category
general

Key Facts

Race date
4 September 1966
Circuit length
5 kilometres km
Race distance
391 kilometres over 68 laps km
Winning car
Ferrari 312
Winning margin (1st–2nd)
5 seconds seconds
Championship round
Race 7 of 9

By the Numbers

4
Race date
5km
Circuit length
391km
Race distance
312
Winning car

Location

Map of Monza, ItalyMap of Monza, ItalyMonza, Italy

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

Entering the 1966 Italian Grand Prix, Jack Brabham led the Drivers' Championship but faced a points challenge from John Surtees. Both Brabham and Surtees needed to monitor each other's race result for the title to be decided, while the Italian crowd hoped for a home victory from Ferrari.

Event

Held on 4 September 1966 at Monza, Ludovico Scarfiotti drove a Ferrari 312 to victory, becoming the first Italian to win the Italian Grand Prix in years. He finished five seconds ahead of teammate Mike Parkes, with Denny Hulme less than half a second further back in third. Championship leader Brabham retired with an oil leak on lap seven, and Surtees also retired with a fuel leak 24 laps later.

Consequence

Scarfiotti secured his sole Formula One victory, and Jack Brabham clinched his third Drivers' Championship — the first person to become world champion driving a car of his own manufacture. Brabham's title also ended four consecutive years of British drivers winning the championship.

Result

Ludovico Scarfiotti (Ferrari)
1st: Scarfiotti, 2nd: Parkes (+5s), 3rd: Hulme (+5.4s)
Mike Parkes (Ferrari)

at Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy

Scarfiotti became the first Italian to win the Italian GP in the modern era; Brabham became world champion in a self-built car

Timeline Context

Timeline around 196619661963196419651967196819691966 battle in the Vietnam WarCivil unrest in 1966/7 in West Hollywood, California, USA1966 Asian Games — fifth edition of the Asian GamesJapanese civil conflict over the construction of Narita Airport (1966-present)1966 European Athletics Championships — 1966 edition of the European Athletics ChampionshipsWorld Chess Championship 1966 — Game1966–67 European Cup — 12th season of the UEFA club football tournament1966 Formula One season — sports season1966-italian-grand-prix-formula-one-motor-race-held-in-196-1966