Race E

Grand Prix cars with rear engines (1954-1965)

It was a category always full of participants at the wheel of cars having great charm and palmarès ; a category devoted to Formula 1 1500 cc with rear engine which revolutionized the technical concept of the single-seaters, and that has shown a race full of surprises. During the tests there was King, an American driver who dominated, looking for the first success in the Principality at the wheel of a Brabham BT7 that was owned by Dan Gurney, followed by the wonderful Lotus 25/33 of Middlehurst: this jewel was purposely built in 1965 for Parnell Team under the 25 model project but with specifications on the 33 one.

At the green light the first two drivers were hesitating and Wills in Cooper T51 took the first position, followed by King, Clark and Pearson in Cooper T51 and T60 and by Sytner in Lotus 24. The two drivers in Cooper started a challenge with overtaking actions which saw them engaged up to the sixth lap, when Pearson was forced to retire because of engine problems. Meanwhile, in the lead Wills held out well against King’s pressure but on lap four the Climax of his Cooper breathed its last by making a pileup against barriers. Surprises didn’t finish there because Clark, finding himself second, ended by under steering on St. Devote bumping against the guardrails. The dangerous situation forced the technical directors to call the Safety car which had to accompany the winner up to the chequered flag, followed by Middlehurst who took again the second place, and by Twyman with his Cooper T45.

Marco Zanello
Photos by Fabio Carrera
Technical advice by Joni Stefani

Gallery