1/1/1965

Record updated

South African GP won by Jim Clark in a Lotus-Climax.

East London, South Africa...Jim Clark won the Formula One season opening South African GP in a Lotus-Climax, in what would be the last championship F1 GP held on the East London circuit. Clark led from the pole, with defending World Champion John Surtees' Ferrari 29 seconds behind at the finish. The checkered flag fell a lap early, but Clark trusted his pit signals and carried on through a confusing final lap. The race also featured a couple of debuts of note: Jackie Stewart made his championship GP debut, earning a point for finishing 6th, and Goodyear tires made their F1 debut on the Brabham team cars.