Once again the final race in the World Championship series of Formula One events took place at East London on the warm sunny South East coast of Africa. However, unlike last year, the race was to mean nothing in placings for both drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships.
The circuit was unaltered since 1962 but due to the suspected increase in speed three laps were added this year making a total of 85 laps – 207.02 miles.
With the high cost of transporting drivers, cars and mechanics to South Africa, the RAC of SA invited two cars from each of the main teams, with one European private entry, the rest all being local boys. Team Lotus had two 25s for Clark and Taylor, the former’s being his own reliable car, while Taylor’s was the new car built and used at the Earls Court Exhibition. In the recent Rand GP the sun had been so hot that fuel was vaporising in the Lucas pressure pump. To stop this happening at East London the pump of both cars was moved in front of the radiator, so it had the coolest air moving over it.
