British GP 1970

British GP, 1970

There were 25 cars for the British Grand Prix including the new Surtees. Frank Williams returned to action with a new De Tomaso chassis for Brian Redman, while Clay Regazzoni was back in the second Ferrari. Mario Andretti reappeared in an STP March and Team Lotus entered a third car (an old 49) for rising star Emerson Fittipaldi, Jochen Rindt having already told Colin Chapman that he intended to retire at the end of the season. In the course of qualifying Rolf Stommelen demolished the second Brabham, without hurting himself, but was out for the rest of the weekend. Redman was withdrawn when the De Tomaso suffered a rear hub failure.

Rindt was fastest in qualifying with Jack Brabham (Brabham) and Jacky Ickx (Ferrari) sharing the front row. Jack Oliver was quick in the BRM and qualified fourth ahead of Denny Hulme's McLaren while the third row featured Regazzoni, John Miles (in the second Lotus 72) and Jackie Stewart's Tyrrell March.

Ickx took the lead from Brabham at Druids after going through Paddock Hill Bend side by side. For six laps the Ferrari stayed ahead but at the start of lap seven the car suffered a transmission failure in Paddock Hill Bend. At the same moment Rindt challenged Brabham and the Austrian emerged in the lead. Brabham did not give in and for most of the race the two stayed close together. Oliver ran third for most of the race but on lap 55 the BRM engine failed. This promoted Hulme to third place.

On lap 69 Rindt missed a gear. In a moment Brabham was ahead and it looked as though the race was over until the last lap when the car ran out of fuel on the run to the finishing line. Brabham was forced to coast for home and Rindt was able to close up the 13 seconds he had lost and crossed the line to win as the Brabham trickled towards the line. Hulme was too far back to grab second and had to settle for third place.

POSNODRIVERENTRANTLAPSTIME/RETIREMENTQUAL POS
1 5 Jochen Rindt Lotus-Cosworth 72C 80 1h57m02.000s  1 
2 17 Jack Brabham Brabham-Cosworth BT33 80 1h57m34.900s  2 
3 9 Denny Hulme McLaren-Cosworth M14D 80 1h57m56.400s  5 
4 4 Clay Regazzoni Ferrari 312B 80 1h57m56.800s  6 
5 16 Chris Amon March-Cosworth 701 79  17 
6 14 Graham Hill Lotus-Cosworth 49C 79  22 
7 2 Francois Cevert March-Cosworth 701 79  14 
8 28 Emerson Fittipaldi Lotus-Cosworth 49C 78  21 
9 27 Ronnie Peterson March-Cosworth 701 72  13 
nc 29 Peter Lovely Lotus-Cosworth 49B 69  23 
r 10 Dan Gurney McLaren-Cosworth M14A 60 Engine 11 
r 22 Pedro Rodriguez BRM P153 58 Accident 15 
r 23 Jackie Oliver BRM P153 54 Engine 4 
r 1 Jackie Stewart March-Cosworth 701 52 Clutch 8 
r 20 John Surtees Surtees-Cosworth TS7 51 Engine 19 
r 8 Henri Pescarolo Matra Simca-Matra MS120 41 Accident 12 
r 7 Jean-Pierre Beltoise Matra Simca-Matra MS120 24 Wheel Bearing 10 
r 26 Mario Andretti March-Cosworth 701 21 Suspension 9 
r 15 Jo Siffert March-Cosworth 701 19 Suspension 20 
r 6 John Miles Lotus-Cosworth 72B 15 Engine 7 
r 24 George Eaton BRM P153 10 Engine 16 
r 3 Jacky Ickx Ferrari 312B 6 Differential 3 
ns 11 Andrea de Adamich McLaren-Alfa Romeo M7D  Fuel Tank 18 
ns 18 Rolf Stommelen Brabham-Cosworth BT33  Accident 24 
ns 25 Brian Redman De Tomaso-Cosworth 505  Mechanical 25