The 1968 Spanish Grand Prix was the first Formula One race following the death of double World Champion Jim Clark, marking a somber moment in the sport's history.
Key Facts
- Date
- 12 May 1968
- Circuit
- Jarama Circuit
- Race number in season
- 2 of 12
- Championship context
- 1968 World Championship of Drivers
- Jim Clark's points before race
- 9 (championship leader)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Jim Clark, the reigning double World Champion and championship leader with 9 points after winning the season opener in South Africa, was killed in a non-championship Formula Two race at Hockenheim, Germany, in April 1968, leaving the Formula One world in shock ahead of the Spanish round.
The 1968 Spanish Grand Prix took place at the Jarama Circuit on 12 May 1968, serving as the second race of twelve in both the 1968 World Championship of Drivers and the 1968 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers, and was the first championship event contested in the absence of Clark.
The race proceeded under the shadow of Clark's death, underscoring the dangers of motorsport at the time and prompting wider reflection on safety standards within Formula One, while the championship Clark had been leading was now open for other drivers to contest.