The 1961 Solitude Grand Prix had been very exciting, and 320,000 people showed up in 1962 for a new record attendance. However, the race proved less than exciting, with only Lotus and Porsche sending their cars in addition to numerous privateers. Ferrari and Scuderia SSS Venezia stayed away due to the ongoing Italian metal workers' strike, while &lt;a href="British%20Racing%20Partnership"&gt;UDT/Laystall&lt;/a&gt; and Yeoman Credit Racing both stayed home to repair cars damaged in the 1962 French Grand Prix.