Putting the Record Straight

Sir

I read with interest Jan Mackay’s letter entitled ‘Honda Problems’ in the September 1990 issue. Indeed I agree with his comments but, as something of a Grand Prix historian, I must query his photograph of John Surtees. He states that the picture was taken during practice for the 1967 British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch. This cannot be correct since the 1967 event was held at Silverstone! During that year Surtees drove the Honda RA300 with exhausts within the ‘V’ of the V12 engine, claiming victory in the Italian GP at Monza.

In 1968 Surtees drove the Honda RA301 with exhausts outside the engine ‘V’. Mr Mackay’s photograph clearly shows this later configuration and so I conclude that it was taken at the British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch, but the year was 1968!

Incidentally the race was won by Jo Siffert in Rob Walker’s privately entered Lotus 49, beating the works cars of Graham Hill and Jackie Oliver who took turns to lead the race but both retired with mechanical failures. I hope this puts the record straight and adds to it just a little!

David J Farrow

Leatherhead, Surrey.