Once again the Formula One season ends here in Mexico City, on the 5-kilometre circuit set in the vast sports park. As usual the high altitude of the city (7,300ft) causes mixture problems not found anywhere else in the F1 programme. Last year the Honda was able to lose less power through lack of oxygen than most of the other cars and once in the lead no-one could touch it. This year, although without a doubt the most powerful car, it was also the heaviest, which did not give it the advantage it had last year.
The cars had been transported down from Watkins Glen in time for work to be completed before first practice. The entry lacked any Ferrari participation due to the racing shop at Modena being rebuilt to enable fuller coverage for 1967. Lotus had three cars for Clark, Arundell and Rodriguez. Clark’s number was on the H16 with which he won the United States GP. The engine was the same and had not been returned to England. Arundell was in the BRM V8 and Rodriguez in the Climax V8. All three cars were fitted with the latest Firestone tubeless tyres.
BRM had three cars and three engines had been sent home and returned rebuilt after the damage at Watkins Glen. Hill was again driving the true “H16” while Stewart had his number on the other two cars, both fined with “double 8” engines. The two Brabhams for Brabham and Hulme were unaltered, one still fitted with Bosch coil ignition and the other on Lucas transistorised ignition.
