Formula 1 historical archive

Jim Clark won the 1963 South African Grand Prix

Jim Clark won the 1963 South African Grand Prix for Team Lotus, ahead of Dan Gurney and Graham Hill at Prince George Circuit.

Browse the full classification, related season, driver, team, circuit, and championship history.

Race recap

Winner
Jim Clark
Team
Team Lotus
Top listed
Jim Clark, Dan Gurney, and Graham Hill
Race date
December 28, 1963
Pole
Jim Clark
Fastest lap
Dan Gurney
Classified drivers
21
Circuit
Prince George Circuit

The decisive result

Jim Clark finished first for Team Lotus. Dan Gurney is listed 2 for Brabham, with Graham Hill 3 for BRM.

Grid to finish

Carel Godin de Beaufort from P20 to P10 (+10), Doug Serrurier from P18 to P11 (+7), and Trevor Blokdyk from P19 to P12 (+7) recorded the largest positive grid-to-finish changes in the classification. Jim Clark started from the listed P1 grid position.

Status and fastest lap

The classification lists 3 +1 lap, 2 Engine, 2 Finished, 2 Halfshaft, and 1 +19 laps. Dan Gurney holds the fastest-lap entry at 1:29.100 on lap 33. It records the result without speculating about incidents or strategy.

This summary sticks to the classification and does not speculate about incidents, strategy, weather, or causes. Source: F1DB (CC BY 4.0) · updated Jul 26, 2026.

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Race classification
PosDriverConstructorTime / statusPoints
1Jim ClarkTeam Lotus2:10:36.9009
2Dan GurneyBrabham2:11:43.7006
3Graham HillBRM+1 lap4
4Bruce McLarenCooper+1 lap3
5Lorenzo BandiniFerrari+1 lap2
6Jo BonnierCooper+2 laps1
7Tony MaggsCooper+3 laps0
8Trevor TaylorTeam Lotus+4 laps0
9John LoveCooper+5 laps0
10Carel Godin de BeaufortPorsche+6 laps0
11Doug SerrurierLDS+7 laps0
12Trevor BlokdykCooper+8 laps0
13Jack BrabhamBrabhamSpun off0
14Brausch NiemannTeam Lotus+19 laps0
DNFPeter de KlerkAlfa SpecialGearbox0
DNFDavid ProphetBrabhamOil pressure0
DNFRichie GintherBRMHalfshaft0
DNFJohn SurteesFerrariEngine0
DNFErnie PieterseTeam LotusEngine0
DNFSam TingleLDSHalfshaft0