You were there: 1968 British GP at Brands Hatch
What luck! Nigel Norman made the most of finding a photographer’s armband lying on the ground a day before the 1968 British GP. Later, watching qualifying from a grandstand, he felt “a hand on my shoulder from the seat behind”. It was the photographer, who was relieved to get his armband back in time for race day…
Dan Gurney’s Eagle-Weslake and Jack Brabham run side by side into Druids during practice. Spectators conspicuous by their absence.
Jack Brabham.
BRM V12 fettled.
Denny Hulme and McLaren. He looked “far from fit, his face being swollen” according to Denis Jenkinson
Graham Hill’s Lotus 49B is refuelled. Yet another British GP escaped him when a broken driveshaft forced the Lotus out of the lead.
Ferrari’s truck spills its guts.
Honda ‘spaghetti’ exhaust pipes protrude from Japanese V12
“And you are?”. Jochen Rindt looking casual during an interview. A fuel pipe leak led to flames from his Brabham and another non-finish.
Chris Amon in civvies. He’d finish a close second for Ferrari.
Jo Bonnier in his BRM V12-powered McLaren M5A – amid paddock rubble.
Jack Brabham’s Repco V8, past its best in 1968.
Neighbouring Honda truck looms as Colin Chapman and Graham Hill check paperwork.
Great view of paddock looking back from Paddock Hill grandstand.
Pensive Jackie Oliver and Lotus mechanics. Under pressure after crashing out in both Monaco and France, Oliver shone at Brands, only for gearbox failure to rob him of likely victory.
Jo Siffert, who picked up the pieces in Rob Walker’s Lotus.
Bruce McLaren, sitting on rear tyre. A repeat of his Race of Champions win was far beyond him.
Jacky Ickx and Mauro Forghieri. The Belgian had won in France and finished a distant third here.
Rindt in his Brabham-Repco. He joined the team just at the wrong time – and by now, knew it.
Jackie Stewart heads for the tunnel that leads to the pits. Sixth in the GP was all he could muster.
How many F1 drivers and mechanics does it take to fill a Mercedes, ponder Bruce McLaren and friends?
Teddy Mayer (left) wonders at the strength of that mid-wing that also makes for a handy bench.
John Surtees fitted the ‘Meccano’ rear wing himself, according to our man Jenks. But it flew off in the race!
Saloons gather for action.
Dan Gurney and his Eagle didn’t fly at Brands.
Wry smile for Nigel from BRM’s Tony Rudd. A year later he’d leave for a role at Lotus Cars.
Surtees caught mid-flow. He finished fifth in the grand prix, between Hulme and Stewart.
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