THE PERFECT F2 RECIPE
1965 INTERNATIONAL GOLD CUP, OULTON PARK
1Four world champions were among the 11-strong F1 fraternity for the second Gold Cup run to 1000cc F2 regulations: John Surtees, Jim Clark, Graham Hill and Jack Brabham.
And there were three future title winners:
Denny Hulme, Jackie Stewart and Jochen Rindt.
A single second covered the first eight of the 27-strong grid, headed by Hulme's Brabham. The only non-f1 driver among them was Alan Rees, heading the second row. After its poor showing earlier in the year, Jack Brabham gave the revised Honda unit another go and was the last of the eight, but any Honda improvement was hidden until 1966 as his clutch failed at the start.
Rindt's Winkelmann Brabham took off best, but Hulme led after a hectic first lap before dropping to third. Rindt, Clark, Rindt again and Rees led successive laps. Amazingly, the pressure got to Clark, who dramatically ran off at Cascades on lap eight of 40, dropping to 16th after hauling his Lotus back onto the track in this highly contested event. It wasn't just the leaders, as further back there was a great scrap between Brian Hart and Alan Rollinson.
Rees's Brabham also hit the front before losing out to the Lola of Surtees at half-distance. Now Surtees, Hill (John Coombs Lotus-brm), Rees, Hulme and Rindt scrapped away, with Surtees seeming to have the upper hand.
Reigning world champion Surtees nevertheless lost the lead to Hulme on laps 26 and 27, but then recovered to lead from Rees, who shortly afterwards spun to sixth. After Rindt retired, Surtees fought off Hulme and Hill. The Kiwi was within touching distance of the leading Lola of Surtees at Knickerbrook on the last lap, and 0.6s covered the trio at the flag. Trevor Taylor's Brabham was fourth from Rees. Clark recovered to sixth to claim the British F2 title by a single point from Hill, his comeback including fastest lap, just 2s from his F1 record.
There had been constant drama in a breathtaking, hard-fought race, which also included a charge from one of motorsport's legends. “No one could possibly have left Oulton Park without feeling that they had seen absolutely top-class motor racing,” said Autosport. “One of the greatest races seen in this country.”
F1 stars (and Rees) in F2 cars on this drivers' track was the perfect recipe.