60TH ANNIVERSARY: 1962 DUTCH GRAND PRIX

Hill Wins at 1962 Dutch Grand Prix

Today marks 60 years since the start of the 1962 Formula 1 season, the season that would end with Graham Hill steering his P57 ‘Old Faithful’ V8 to win the World Drivers’ Championship and, together with Richie Ginther, secured the World Constructor’s Title for BRM. This was the first time that a British Car with a British Driver had won both the Drivers and Constructors Championships, and as such 1962 remains perhaps the most definitive year in BRM’s rich history.

The first Grand Prix race for BRM of 1962 was held at the Zandvoort Circuit in Holland. It was held over 80 laps of the compact 2.6 mile circuit for a race distance of just over 200 miles.

A true victory for BRM, the race was won by Graham Hill in his BRM P57. It was the first Grand Prix victory for the future dual-World Champion and the second time a BRM driver had won the race after Jo Bonnier in 1959. Hill finished over 27 seconds ahead of Team Lotus driver Trevor Taylor driving a Lotus 24. The reigning World Champion, Ferrari’s Phil Hill (Ferrari 156) completed the podium.

The race provided an indication of the season to come – a close battle between Lotus and BRM, with BRM taking the lead. It also signalled Hill’s own rise in the sport, having only stood on the podium once before, at the same circuit two years previously.