Formula Two, Hockenheim (June 15th)

Following a fortnight after Crystal Palace there was a huge field assembled for the Rhein Cup race at the notorious Hockenheim circuit. The circuit remained exactly as before, a battle of speed, nerves and slip-streaming ability. The only regulars not in attendance were the works Tecnos, Hill for obvious reasons and Stewart, whose arm was giving him considerable pain following the Belgian G.P.

The works Matras worked together in practice to record the fastest two times, followed by the two works Ferraris and Gardner in the McLaren. When the slip-streaming battle began, twelve cars managed to detach themselves from the rest. They were covered by only three or four seconds for lap after lap and any one of these could win. Before half distance the number was reduced to ten, when first Lambert then Beltoise retired in quick succession. Lambert, who was leading independent, retired with a broken fuel injector trumpet, while Beltoise’s engine trouble was rather more serious. The rest continued jockeying for position, unhappy in the knowledge that only the last lap would really count for anything. Oliver, who was driving very well, led quite often, as did Pescarolo and Rindt, while Rodriguez made the occasional appearance at the front.

When they burst into the stadium for the last time it was the crafty Austrian in front and no one was going to get by him on the last lap. Moser, in his private Tecno, lost seventh or eighth place with a last corner spin, and when they flashed by the line the order was Rindt, Oliver, Ahrens, Rodriguez, Ickx, Pescarolo, Courage, Amon, Attwood and then Moser. Jonathan Williams, substituting for Bell, led home the second group.—A. R. M.