Mexican GP 1965

Mexican GP, 1965

The final race of the 1965 World Championship - and of the 1.5-liter formula - took place in Mexico City with Honda keen to finish the year on a high note after a troubled year. Jim Clark had won the World Championship in August but was still keen to win races and he was fastest in qualifying, beating Dan Gurney's Brabham by less than a tenth of a second. Ritchie Ginther put his Honda on he second row, alongside Jack Brabham's Brabham, while Graham Hill (BRM) and Mike Spence (Lotus) shared the third row. There was some excitement during qualifying with Tim Parnell firing Innes Ireland after the Scotsman got lost getting to the circuit. His place was taken by Bob Bondurant, who had been replaced in the NART Ferrari team by Lodovico Scarfiotti. The Italian did not get to start the race, however, as his car was taken over by team mate Pedro Rodriguez after the Mexican's own car was damaged in a practice crash after a wheel fell off.

At the beginning of the race Ginther made a great start and took the lead while Stewart was also quick away and was second although he dropped quickly behind Spence. Clark was not in the hunt because of engine trouble and he retired after nine laps. Stewart dropped behind Hill and Gurney in the next few laps but it was Gurney who was going quickest and he overtook Hill and then Spence to take second place on lap 20. He then charged after Ginther's Honda but the Japanese car was strong and Ginther drove without making a mistake and he won by just under three seconds, giving Honda, Goodyear and himself a first win in the World Championship. Spence finished third behind Gurney with Jo Siffert being the only man left unlapped in fourth place after Graham Hill and Solana had both broken down in the late stages of the races.

POSNODRIVERENTRANTLAPSTIME/RETIREMENTQUAL POS
1 11 Richie Ginther Honda RA272 65 2h08m32.100s  3 
2 8 Dan Gurney Brabham-Climax BT11 65 2h08m34.990s  2 
3 6 Mike Spence Lotus-Climax 33 65 2h09m32.250s  6 
4 16 Jo Siffert Brabham-BRM BT11 65 2h10m26.520s  11 
5 12 Ronnie Bucknum Honda RA272 64  10 
6 21 Richard Attwood Lotus-BRM 25 64  16 
7 14 Pedro Rodriguez Ferrari 1512 62  13 
8 2 Lorenzo Bandini Ferrari 1512 62  7 
r 3 Graham Hill BRM P261 56 Engine 5 
r 18 Moises Solana Lotus-Climax 25 55 Ignition 9 
r 15 Jo Bonnier Brabham-Climax BT7 43 Suspension 12 
r 10 Jochen Rindt Cooper-Climax T77 39 Ignition 15 
r 7 Jack Brabham Brabham-Climax BT11 38 Mechanical 4 
r 4 Jackie Stewart BRM P261 35 Clutch 8 
r 22 Bob Bondurant Lotus-BRM 33 29 Suspension 17 
r 9 Bruce McLaren Cooper-Climax T77 25 Gearbox 14 
r 5 Jim Clark Lotus-Climax 33 8 Engine 1 
ns 24 Ludovico Scarfiotti Ferrari 1512  Car Raced By Rodriguez 18 
ns 22 Innes Ireland Lotus-BRM 25  Dismissed By Team 19