The Intercontinental Formula was first
organised by British Racing Drivers Club to allow the racing of cars with
2000cc to 3000cc engines. At the time the 1500cc limit of Formula 1 had
been instituted by the international ruling body in the belief that the
smaller cars would mean safer racing. In reality this meant that the
relatively easy to handle Formula 1 cars could be driven by less
experienced drivers almost as fast as the most experienced master drivers.
The result was that the car with fractionally more power was the deciding
factor in winning the race, rather than the better driver but this also
compromised track safety. The introduction of the Intercontinental Formula
was seen as more of a callenge for the drivers, with the larger and more
powerful cars requiring greater skill and experience than to drive the
1500cc cars of Formula 1.
The 13th International Trophy on Saturday 6th May 1961 was the first
race of the season to carry World Championship points and consisted of 80
laps of Silverstone, a total of 233 miles.
Stirling Moss, having already won the International Sports Car Race
in a Lotus earlier that day, was driving Rob Walkers 2.5 litre Cooper
Climax and qualified 2nd on the grid despite being unhappy with the
steering of his car. The starting grid front row was Bruce McLaren,
Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham and Graham Hill and by the time the race
started at 2.30pm a heavy rain meant that the track was not only soaked
but also covered in oil and rubber from the previous races.
World Champion Jack Brabham made a superb start, passed Moss and was
first into Copse and by lap 4 Moss was in 3rd place led by Surtees and
Brabham. Due to appalling conditions and poor visibility many of the cars
were spinning or leaving the track and by lap 13 Brabham and Moss were 1st
and 2nd with the rest of the field some distance behind. Moss now poured
on the pressure and for the next few laps he tried to pass as he harried
Brabham in a duel for the lead. The pair were now beginning to lap the
tailenders and, at around a quarter of the distance Moss was held up by
Flockhart, Brabham's team member, who had allowed Brabham to pass. Moss
gestured angrily to Flockhart as he was unable to follow Brabham and, as
the rain paused for a while the pace became faster.
Suddenly and quite dramatically Moss passed both Flockhart and
Brabham and within 2 laps had gained 5 seconds on the World Champion. As
the rain returned in a deluge Moss mercilessly pushed on, increasing his
lead to 1.5 minutes by the halfway mark. Although he could have taken
things easily at this point Moss drove on relentlessly at a seemingly
impossible pace and was now lapping most of the field for a second time.
By the ¾ stage he completed his humiliation of Brabham by passing him for
a second time to lap him representing a 3 mile lead. Moss eventually won
the race in 2hrs 41 mins 19.2 secs, 1.5 laps ahead of Brabham and at least
two laps ahead of the rest of the field in what were treacherous
conditions.
At the end of the race Moss summed up the experience as a "nice
ride", having proved himself to be one of the greatest and fastest
drivers in the world under any conditions. Sir Stirling Moss believes this
to be one of his finest ever drives.
