# 1971 World Championship Victory Race

The Rothmans World Championship Victory Race was a motor race, run to Formula One rules, held on 24 October 1971 at Brands Hatch, Kent. The race was to be run over 40 laps of the circuit, but was stopped on lap 15 following the fatal accident suffered by Swiss driver Jo Siffert. The result was taken from the race order after 14 laps, with Peter Gethin being declared the winner in his BRM P160. The entry included several Formula 5000 cars which were contesting Round 12 of the 1971 Rothmans European Formula 5000 Championship.
Siffert's accident led to a rapid overhaul of safety, both in-car and on circuit. In the subsequent Royal Automobile Club (the UK organising and regulatory representative of the FIA at the time) investigation, it was discovered that the crash itself caused non-fatal injuries but Siffert had rather been killed by smoke inhalation. None of the trackside fire extinguishers worked, and it was found to be impossible to reach the car and extract Siffert because of the intense fire. On-board fire extinguishers (using BCF—Bromochlorodifluoromethane, an aircraft product) became mandatory and also piped air directly into the drivers' helmets.

## Qualifying

Note: a blue background indicates a Formula 5000 entrant.
| Pos | No. | Driver | Constructor | Lap | Gap |
| 1 | 5 | Jo Siffert | BRM | 1:22.8 | — |
| 2 | 6 | Peter Gethin | BRM | 1:22.8 | +0.0 |
| 3 | 8 | Emerson Fittipaldi | Lotus-Cosworth | 1:23.6 | +0.8 |
| 4 | 4 | Ronnie Peterson | March-Cosworth | 1:23.6 | +0.8 |
| 5 | 17 | Mike Hailwood | Surtees-Cosworth | 1:23.8 | +1.0 |
| 6 | 1 | Jackie Stewart | Tyrrell-Cosworth | 1:23.8 | +1.0 |
| 7 | 12 | Tim Schenken | Brabham-Cosworth | 1:23.8 | +1.0 |
| 8 | 7 | Howden Ganley | BRM | 1:24.2 | +1.4 |
| 9 | 10 | Jackie Oliver | McLaren-Cosworth | 1:24.6 | +1.8 |
| 10 | 16 | John Surtees | Surtees-Cosworth | 1:24.6 | +1.8 |
| 11 | 14 | Carlos Reutemann | Brabham-Cosworth | 1:24.6 | +1.8 |
| 12 | 11 | Graham Hill | Brabham-Cosworth | 1:24.8 | +2.0 |
| 13 | 2 | François Cevert | Tyrrell-Cosworth | 1:25.0 | +2.2 |
| 14 | 23 | Frank Gardner | Lola-Chevrolet | 1:25.8 | +3.0 |
| 15 | 15 | Henri Pescarolo | March-Cosworth | 1:26.2 | +3.4 |
| 16 | 77 | Mike Walker | Lola-Chevrolet | 1:27.0 | +4.2 |
| 17 | 26 | Alan Rollinson | Surtees-Chevrolet | 1:27.0 | +4.2 |
| 18 | 21 | Reine Wisell | McLaren-Chevrolet | 1:27.0 | +4.2 |
| 19 | 25 | Keith Holland | McLaren-Chevrolet | 1:27.6 | +4.8 |
| 20 | 44 | Gordon Spice | McLaren-Chevrolet | 1:28.2 | +5.4 |
| 21 | 28 | Ray Allen | McLaren-Chevrolet | 1:28.4 | +5.6 |
| 22 | 33 | Teddy Pilette | McLaren-Chevrolet | 1:28.4 | +5.6 |
| 23 | 41 | Trevor Taylor | Leda-Chevrolet | 1:29.2 | +6.4 |
| 24 | 40 | Ian Ashley | Lola-Chevrolet | 1:29.6 | +6.8 |
| 25 | 27 | David Prophet | McLaren-Chevrolet | 1:29.6 | +6.8 |
| 26 | 24 | Guy Edwards | McLaren-Chevrolet | 1:31.0 | +8.2 |
| 27 | 66 | Fred Saunders | Crosslé-Rover | 1:32.2 | +9.4 |
| Sources: ||||||

## Race

Although the race only lasted for less than half of its intended distance, there were several incidents. On lap 2, Henri Pescarolo and Reine Wisell collided at the Druids hairpin, with both cars retiring. Then Mike Hailwood and Ronnie Peterson also collided and had to pit for repairs. Hailwood's car was deemed unfit to continue, but Peterson rejoined the race, albeit nearly a lap down. Jo Siffert had fallen several places at the start, but had made his way back to 4th by lap 14. Approaching Hawthorn Bend at high speed on lap 15, Siffert's BRM suffered a mechanical failure which pitched it across the track into an earth bank. The car rolled over and caught fire, trapping Siffert underneath, and he died of smoke inhalation in the flames. The race was stopped with the track blocked, and all the cars were stranded out on the circuit except for John Surtees, who was able to drive around to the pits, his car damaged by debris.

## Results

| Pos | No. | Driver | Entrant | Constructor | Time/Retired | Grid |
| 1 | 6 | Peter Gethin | Yardley-BRM | BRM | 19:54.4 | 2 |
| 2 | 8 | Emerson Fittipaldi | Gold Leaf Team Lotus | Lotus-Cosworth | + 0.2 s | 3 |
| 3 | 1 | Jackie Stewart | Elf Team Tyrrell | Tyrrell-Cosworth | + 5.4 s | 6 |
| 4 | 5 | Jo Siffert | Yardley-BRM | BRM | + 12.8 s | 1 |
| 5 | 12 | Tim Schenken | Motor Racing Developments | Brabham-Cosworth | + 15.6 s | 7 |
| 6 | 16 | John Surtees | Team Surtees | Surtees-Cosworth | + 16.0 s | 10 |
| 7 | 2 | François Cevert | Elf Team Tyrrell | Tyrrell-Cosworth | + 24.8 s | 13 |
| 8 | 11 | Graham Hill | Motor Racing Developments | Brabham-Cosworth | + 31.6 s | 12 |
| 9 | 14 | Carlos Reutemann | Motor Racing Developments | Brabham-Cosworth | + 33.4 s | 11 |
| 10 | 26 | Alan Rollinson | Alan Rollinson | Surtees-Chevrolet | + 56.4 s | 17 |
| 11 | 23 | Frank Gardner | Motor Racing Research | Lola-Chevrolet | + 56.6 s | 14 |
| 12 | 77 | Mike Walker | Doug Hardwick | Lola-Chevrolet | + 58.0 s | 16 |
| 13 | 44 | Gordon Spice | Gordon Spice | McLaren-Chevrolet | + 1:10.2 s | 20 |
| 14 | 33 | Teddy Pilette | Racing Team VDS | McLaren-Chevrolet | + 1:11.4 s | 22 |
| 15 | 25 | Keith Holland | Keith Holland | McLaren-Chevrolet | + 1:12.2 s | 19 |
| 16 | 4 | Ronnie Peterson | STP March | March-Cosworth | + 1:15.8 s | 4 |
| 17 | 28 | Ray Allen | Team Trojan | McLaren-Chevrolet | 13 laps | 21 |
| 18 | 40 | Ian Ashley | Kaye Griffiths | Lola-Chevrolet | 13 laps | 24 |
| 19 | 27 | David Prophet | David Prophet Racing | McLaren-Chevrolet | 13 laps | 25 |
| 20 | 24 | Guy Edwards | J.T. Butterworth | McLaren-Chevrolet | 12 laps | 26 |
| Ret | 10 | Jackie Oliver | Bruce McLaren Motor Racing | McLaren-Cosworth | Brakes | 9 |
| Ret | 41 | Trevor Taylor | Malaya Garages | Leda-Chevrolet | Overheating | 23 |
| Ret | 7 | Howden Ganley | Yardley-BRM | BRM | Engine | 8 |
| Ret | 17 | Mike Hailwood | Team Surtees | Surtees-Cosworth | Suspension (collision) | 5 |
| Ret | 66 | Fred Saunders | Fred Saunders | Crosslé-Rover | Engine fire | 27 |
| Ret | 15 | Henri Pescarolo | Frank Williams Racing Cars | March-Cosworth | Collision | 15 |
| Ret | 21 | Reine Wisell | Sid Taylor | McLaren-Chevrolet | Collision | 18 |
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