1962 South African Grand Prix

1962 South African Grand Prix
Race 9 of 9 in the 1962 Formula One season
Race details
Date	29 December 1962
Official name	9th International RAC Grand Prix of South Africa
Location	Prince George Circuit East London, South Africa
Course	Temporary road circuit
Course length	3.920 km (2.436 miles)
Distance	82 laps, 321.415 km (199.718 miles)
Weather	Dry, windy
Pole position
Driver	Jim Clark	Lotus-Climax
Time	1:29.3
Fastest lap
Driver	Jim Clark	Lotus-Climax
Time	1:31.0 on lap 3
Podium
First	Graham Hill	BRM
Second	Bruce McLaren	Cooper-Climax
Third	Tony Maggs	Cooper-Climax
Lap leaders

The 1962 South African Grand Prix, formally titled the 9th International RAC Grand Prix of South Africa,^[1] was a Formula One motor race held at East London on 29 December 1962. It was the ninth and final race in both the 1962 World Championship of Drivers and the 1962 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. The 82-lap race was won by Graham Hill driving a BRM, the Englishman taking his first Drivers' Championship in the process, with New Zealander Bruce McLaren and local driver Tony Maggs second and third, respectively, in works Cooper-Climaxes.

Hill went into the race with a nine-point lead in the Drivers' Championship over Scotland's Jim Clark, driving a works Lotus-Climax. A Clark win would give him the championship regardless of Hill's performance because only the top 5 results counted for the championship. After taking pole position, Clark led comfortably until an oil leak 20 laps from the finish forced him to retire, handing the championship to Hill. The win also gave BRM their first and only Manufacturers' Cup.