1968 Australian Grand Prix


The 1968 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held at Sandown Park in Victoria, Australia on 25 February 1968. The race was open to Racing Cars complying with the Australian National Formula or the Australian 1½ Litre Formula. It was the thirty third Australian Grand Prix and was also round seven of the 1968 Tasman Series.
The race was staged by the Light Car Club of Australia and was sponsored by the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria.
Jim Clark, driving a Lotus 49T, won by 0.1 seconds from Chris Amon, with whom he battled for the lead throughout the race. Clark's victory was rewarded with the Lex Davison Trophy and the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria Trophy. It proved to be the last major victory for the Scotsman. Twice winner of the World Championship of Drivers, three-time Tasman Series champion and the winner of the 1965 Indianapolis 500, Clark was killed in a Formula 2 crash at the Hockenheim circuit in West Germany six weeks after the race.
In his last ever drive in an Australian Grand Prix, Jack Brabham started the race from pole position but retired with engine failure. Chris Amon set the fastest race lap.
Leo Geoghegan was the first Australian resident driver to finish, an achievement which was rewarded with the Langridge Cup.

Classification

Results as follows:
PosNo.DriverEntrantCarLapsTime /
Comment
16 Jim ClarkGold Leaf Team Lotus with Ford AustraliaLotus 49T / Ford Cosworth DFW 2.5551h 02m 40.3s
24 Chris AmonC. AmonDino 246 Tasmania / Ferrari V6 2.4551h 02m 40.4s
35 Graham HillGold Leaf Team Lotus with Ford AustraliaLotus 49T / Ford Cosworth DFW 2.5551h 03m 39.6s
48 Frank GardnerAlec Mildren Racing Pty. Ltd.Brabham BT23D / Alfa Romeo V8 2.5551h 03m 39.8s
518 Piers CourageP. CourageMcLaren M4A / Ford Cosworth FVA54
612 Richard AttwoodOwen Racing OrganisationBRM P126 / BRM V12 2.553
710 Leo GeogheganGeoghegan Racing DivisionLotus 39 / Repco V8 2.553
89 Kevin BartlettAlec Mildren Racing Pty. Ltd.Brabham BT11A / Coventry Climax FPF53
91 Denny HulmeRacing Team S.A.Repco Brabham BT23 / Ford Cosworth FVA50
Ret2 Jack BrabhamEcurie Vitesse S.A.Repco Brabham BT23E / Repco V8 2.521Engine
Ret7 Greg CusackScuderia VeloceRepco Brabham BT23A / Repco V8 2.521??
Ret3 John HarveyBob Jane Racing TeamRepco Brabham BT11A / Repco V8 2.516Gearbox
Ret11 Pedro RodriguezOwen Racing OrganisationBRM P126 / BRM V12 2.510Engine