South African Formula One Championship

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South African Formula One Championship
Category	Single-seaters
Country or region	South Africa
Inaugural season	1960
Folded	1975
Drivers	14 (1975)
Teams	10 (1975)
Constructors	7 (1975)
Engine suppliers	2 (1975)
Last Drivers' champion	Ian Scheckter

The South African Formula One Championship, was a Formula One motor racing championship held in South Africa between 1960 and 1975.

The frontrunning cars in the series were recently retired from the world championship although there was also a healthy selection of locally built or modified machines. Frontrunning drivers from the series usually contested their local World Championship Grand Prix, as well as occasional European events, although they had little success at that level.

1967 also saw a remarkable result by Rhodesian driver John Love with a 2.7 litre four-cylinder Cooper-Climax; Love, who was in his forties and, although seen as one of the finest drivers in Southern Africa, was not a major star, led and finished second in that year's South African Grand Prix. Love's Cooper was originally designed for the short races of the Tasman Series; to run a full Grand Prix Love added two auxiliary gas tanks. Unfortunately the auxiliary tanks fuel pump failure forced him to refuel after having led most of the race.^[1]

Love was the king of the South African championship, winning the drivers championship six times in the 1960s.

[edit] Former Champions

Season	Driver	Car
1960	Syd van der Vyver	Cooper-Alfa Romeo
1961	Syd van der Vyver	Lotus 18-Alfa Romeo
1962	Ernest Pieterse	Heron-Alfa Romeo Lotus 20-Climax
1963	Neville Lederle	Lotus 20-Climax
1964	John Love	Cooper T55-Climax
1965	John Love	Cooper T55-Climax
Season	Driver	Car	Wins	Podiums	Points	Margin (pnts)
1966	John Love	Cooper T79-Climax	7	8	69	13
1967	John Love	Cooper T79-Climax Brabham BT20-Repco	8	10	82	30
1968	John Love	Brabham BT20-Repco Lotus 49-Cosworth	6	6	54	14
1969	John Love	Lotus 49-Cosworth	4	5	43	1
1970	Dave Charlton	Lotus 49-Cosworth	7	8	69	32
1971	Dave Charlton	Lotus 49-Cosworth Lotus 72-Cosworth	7	8	72	24
1972	Dave Charlton	Lotus 72-Cosworth	9	9	81	39
1973	Dave Charlton	Lotus 72-Cosworth	10	10	93	40
1974	Dave Charlton	Tyrrell 007-Cosworth	6	10	76	11
1975	Ian Scheckter	McLaren M23-Cosworth	6	7	56	2