| rdfs:comment | - Colors = id:canvas value:rgb(0.937,0.937,0.937) id:linemark value:gray(0.8) id:linemark2 value:gray(0.9) BackgroundColors = canvas:canvas PlotData = mark:(line,linemark) from:start till:11 color:teal shift:(20, -5) text:Pedro Rodríguez (Laps 1-11) from:11 till:15 color:blue shift:(20,-5) text: Jean-Pierre Beltoise (Laps 12-15) from:15 till:57 color:red shift:(20,-5) text:Chris Amon (Laps 16-57) from:57 till:end color:green shift:(20,-5) text:Graham Hill (Laps 58-90)
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| abstract | - Colors = id:canvas value:rgb(0.937,0.937,0.937) id:linemark value:gray(0.8) id:linemark2 value:gray(0.9) BackgroundColors = canvas:canvas PlotData = mark:(line,linemark) from:start till:11 color:teal shift:(20, -5) text:Pedro Rodríguez (Laps 1-11) from:11 till:15 color:blue shift:(20,-5) text: Jean-Pierre Beltoise (Laps 12-15) from:15 till:57 color:red shift:(20,-5) text:Chris Amon (Laps 16-57) from:57 till:end color:green shift:(20,-5) text:Graham Hill (Laps 58-90) The 1968 Spanish Grand Prix, officially known as the XIV Gran Premio de España, was the second round of the 1968 FIA Formula One World Championship, notable for being the first Spanish Grand Prix to count as a World Championship round since 1954. The race itself would be staged on the new Jarama circuit on the 12th of May, 1968, and would see Graham Hill sweep to victory for a rather subdued Team Lotus. It had been a very odd start to the season, starting on an incredible high for the Norfolk squad as Jim Clark and Hill claimed a dominant one-two in South Africa. Then, it all went wrong, as a poor pre-season was followed by two deaths among the drivers, Jim Clark and Mike Spence losing their lives while racing in other series. This was the first Grand Prix meeting without them, and the entire F1 paddock was shocked at their loss, with Colin Chapman himself unwilling to attend. Qualifying did not see things improve for the Lotus effort, now running in the colours of sponsors Gold Leaf, as Hill qualified in a lowly sixth place. Chris Amon duly took a maiden pole in the Ferrari, beating Pedro Rodríguez, Denny Hulme, Bruce McLaren and Jean-Pierre Beltoise, who all had new cars for the first European round. When the flag dropped it would be Rodriguez who launched into the lead of the race, although his start was slightly overshadowed by a brilliant launch from Beltoise, who leapt into second. The young Frenchman would duly take the lead early on, only for his Ford Cosworth engine to expire a few laps later. Amon was therefore left in the lead of the race after he overtook Rodriguez, aided a short while later when the Mexican crashed all on his own. Hill was therefore promoted into second after battling early on with Hulme and John Surtees, although it looked as though no one would catch Amon. Unfortunately, the New Zealander's usual variety of luck, which had already denied him a chance at victory twice since joining Ferrari, struck on lap 58, when his fuel pump failed. Hill therefore took the lead and cruised home to record an eleventh victory ahead of Hulme, while Brian Redman survived to be the best of the rest in third, one lap down.
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