1968 German Grand Prix
The Grand Prix of Germany 1968 was held on August 4 at the Nürburgring place and was the eighth race of the Formula 1 season 1968. The race also had the FIA honorary title of European Grand Prix.
- 3.1 Start -up
- 3.2 race
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
- 4.2 Constructors' Championship
Reports
Background
Two weeks after the surprising victory of private driver Jo Siffert at the Grand Prix of Great Britain arrived almost unchanged participants at the Nürburgring. The field was supplemented only by two local guest driver. Kurt Ahrens received his third Grand Prix at the wheel of a private Brabham, while Hubert Hahne took like last year, driving a Lola - BMW Formula 2.
Dan Gurney made this weekend for a first in the Formula 1 way, using the first Grand Prix driver a full-face helmet.
Training
All training sessions were held in wet track conditions. Jacky Ickx scored the pole position with a faster by about ten seconds lap time than his team- mate Chris Amon, who reached the second place in the first row next to the third-placed Jochen Rindt. The second row was shared by Graham Hill and Vic Elford. Jackie Stewart qualified for the sixth place.
Race
On the morning of race day, as there was already dense fog and visibility in some parts route was less than 50 meters, the GPDA representatives Joakim Bonnier and Graham Hill were commissioned by the race organizers to assess the situation. Not least because of the 250,000 spectators who had traveled the two argued for holding the event, and against a refusal. In the hope of an improvement in the circumstances of the launch was postponed by one hour. Although no change occurred, the race was finally started.
Hill initially took the lead in front of Amon, Rindt and Stewart. Already during the first round, however, succeeded Stewart to take the lead, which he henceforth ever goal for and not relinquish it until the end of the race. He benefited, among others from his Dunlop rain tires, which appeared to be superior to those of the competition. After two laps of the 22.8 kilometer race track, his lead was over 34 seconds ahead of second-placed Hill. This turned the meantime once on the wet roadway. However, he succeeded to get out to turn his vehicle and put back on track before the third-place finisher Rindt reached the spot. This would otherwise have resulted in a critical situation due to poor visibility.
Stewart went on to win about four minutes ahead of Hill and Rindt. The victory is considered due to the superiority in these difficult conditions as one of the biggest of his career. After Amon was eliminated due to an accident, went to the fourth place team-mate Ickx.
The race is still regarded as the greatest rain and fog Battle of Formula 1 history. According to legend, one of the overtaking maneuver should have been perceived in the dense fog of either of the two racers involved.
Message list
Classifications
Line-up
Race
WM stands after the race
The first six of the race were 9, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point (s).