After running non-championship Grand Prix under sportscar rules for six years at Mosport Park, the Canadian Grand Prix had its bid to become a World Championship event in 1967 accepted.
The race, measuring in at 90 laps, remained at the fast and sweeping Mosport Park; its 2.46 mile length bent and skewered out of shape by hills, dips and crests to test the brave, courageous and mad. But then again, that was the nature of Formula One at the time…
Following the previous round at the Nordschleife, Danny Hulme led the standings with 37 points; 12 clear of reigning champion and team boss Jack Brabham, with Scottish maestro Jim Clark an additional six points adrift.
Almost as per usual Clark secured pole position with a best of 1:22.4s in his Ford Cosworth-powered Lotus 49 and while it was clear the 49 was super quick – it won on its Grand Prix debut at Zandvoort at the hands of Clark – the unreliability of the DFV power unit rendered Clark’s championship challenge inert at the two-thirds mark of the season.
Clark’s Lotus teammate Graham Hill reminded the assembled of the 49’s prowess by taking 2nd on the grid, ahead of Hulme (Brabham-Repco), Chris Amon (Ferrari) and Dan Gurney (Eagle-Weslake). McLaren and Brabham were next up in their own respective cars, while relative new boys Jochen Rindt (Cooper) and Jackie Stewart (BRM) assumed 8th and 9th respectively.
Mike Spence made it two BRM’s in the top ten, although the British squad – now one year into a dip in form – would not present too much of a threat to the frontrunners. T=Meanwhile the much talented Jo Siffert, driving a Maserati-powered Cooper, failed to qualify.
The host nation was represented by two of its own on the grid – Eppie Wietzes and Al Pease; both of whom were making the Formula One debuts.
Although neither would enjoy large scale international success by any stretch of the imagination, the pair became relatively big names in Canadian motorsport, with Wietzes especially having success in Formula 5000 and Trans-Am.
Beyond the occasional blip in its history, the Canadian Grand Prix remains a permanent fixture on the Grand Prix calendar and today boasts some of the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable fans in Formula One.
1967 Canadian Grand Prix (Rd 6, Qualifying, August 26th)
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Jim Clark Lotus 1:22.4
2. Graham Hill Lotus 1:22.7
3. Denny Hulme Brabham 1:23.2
4. Chris Amon Ferrari 1:23.3
5. Dan Gurney Eagle 1:23.4
6. Bruce McLaren McLaren 1:23.5
7. Jack Brabham Brabham 1:24.7
8. Jochen Rindt Cooper 1:24.9
9. Jackie Stewart BRM 1:25.4
10. Mike Spence BRM 1:25.8
11. Chris Irwin BRM 1:26.0
12. David Hobbs BRM 1:26.2
13. Richard Attwood Cooper 1:27.1
14. Jo Bonnier Cooper 1:27.3
15. Alan Pease Eagle 1:30.1
16. Eppie Wietzes Lotus 1:30.8
17. Mike Fisher Lotus 1:31.9
Did Not Qualify
18. Jo Siffert Cooper 1:26.6
19. Tom Jones Cooper 1:51.9
1967 Canadian Grand Prix (Rd 6, August 27th; 90 laps)
Pos Driver Team Time / Gap
1. Jack Brabham Brabham-Repco 2:40:40.0s
2. Denny Hulme Brabham-Repco +01:01.9s
3. Dan Gurney Eagle-Weslake +1 lap
4. Graham Hill Lotus-Ford +2 laps
5. Mike Spence B.R.M. +3 laps
6. Chris Amon Ferrari +3 laps
7. Bruce McLaren McLaren-B.R.M. +4 laps
8. Jo Bonnier Cooper-Maserati +5 laps
9. David Hobbs B.R.M. +5 laps
10. Richard Attwood Cooper-Maserati +6 laps
11. Mike Fisher Lotus-B.R.M. +9 laps
Not Classified:
Alan Pease Eagle-Climax +43 laps
Disqualified:
Eppie Wietzes Lotus-Ford +21 laps (Disqualified)
Retirements:
Jim Clark Lotus-Ford +21 laps (Ignition)
Jackie Stewart B.R.M. +25 laps (Throttle)
Chris Irwin B.R.M. +72 laps (Spun Out)
Jochen Rindt Cooper-Maserati +86 laps (Ignition)
Fastest Lap:
Jim Clark Lotus 1:23.1 (lap 54)
World Drivers’ Championship points standings (Rd 8) Pos Driver Points 1. Denny Hulme 43 2. Jack Brabham 34 3. Chris Amon 20 4. Jim Clark 19 5. Pedro Rodríguez 14 Constructors’ Championship points standings (Rd 8) Pos Team Points 1. Brabham 51 2. Lotus 22 3. Cooper 21 4. Ferrari 20 5. Eagle 13
