| 1962 Solitude Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-championship race in the1962 Formula One season | |||
 | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | 15 July 1962 | ||
| Official name | XIIGroßer Preis der Solitude | ||
| Location | Solitudering, nearStuttgart | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 11.4086 km (7.089 miles) | ||
| Distance | 25 laps, 285.216 km (177.225 miles) | ||
| Attendance | 320,000 | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Lotus-Climax | ||
| Time | 3:53.9 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver |  Dan Gurney | Porsche | |
| Time | 3:55.6 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Porsche | ||
| Second | Porsche | ||
| Third | Lotus-Climax | ||
The12thSolitude Grand Prix was a non-Championshipmotor race, run toFormula One rules, held on 15 July 1962 at theSolitudering, nearStuttgart. The race was run over 25 laps of the circuit, and was won byDan Gurney in aPorsche804.[1]
The1961 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 andScuderia SSS Venezia stayed away due to the ongoing Italian metal workers' strike, whileUDT/Laystall andYeoman Credit Racing both stayed home to repair cars damaged in the1962 French Grand Prix.[2]
Jo Bonnier was hindered at the start by a photographer on the track, and the race began with Gurney leadingClark, then Bonnier, and thenTrevor Taylor. These positions remained unchanged until just past the middle of the race, when there was a rainsquall and all of the oil and rubber deposits on the track made for very slippery conditions. Clark slipped backwards into a fence and had to retire with a damaged exhaust and rear end. Taylor also slipped off the track a few times, and the tempo dropped steadily. As an indication thereof, Gurney's average speed for the first fifteen laps was 173 km/h (107 mph) while it was only 145.75 km/h (91 mph) for the last ten.[2]Ian Burgess' Cooper-special was best privateer in fourth.Jo Siffert had an electric short which led to a small fire. Luckily for the spectators, Solitude also hosted the German Motorcycle Grand Prix and there was aGT-race, won byKalman von Czazy in aFerrari 250GTO which he had crashed during practice.[2]
| Previous race: 1962 Reims Grand Prix | Formula One non-championship races 1962 season | Next race: 1962 Kanonloppet |
| Previous race: 1961 Solitude Grand Prix | Solitude Grand Prix | Next race: 1963 Solitude Grand Prix |
