United States Grand Prix 1963 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Graham Hill claimed a satisfying victory at Watkins Glen, ending Jim Clark's championship celebration with a commanding performance that reminded everyone the defending champion remained a force to be reckoned with. Hill's BRM mastery of the challenging upstate New York circuit demonstrated that while Clark had dominated the season, the gap between them was not as large as the championship standings suggested. The former champion's victory came with Clark already crowned world champion, allowing Hill to race without the pressure of title defense and simply showcase his considerable talent. BRM's one-two finish provided some consolation for a difficult season that had seen them comprehensively outperformed by Lotus's technical innovation.

Richie Ginther completed BRM's perfect afternoon with second place, giving the British team maximum points and some pride after watching Clark dominate most of the season. Clark settled for third, the new world champion perhaps easing off slightly with the title already secured. The Watkins Glen result demonstrated that on their day, BRM could still match Lotus, but the reality was that such days had been too rare in 1963. Hill's victory was a reminder of his quality and a warning that he would be a contender again in 1964, even as everyone acknowledged that Clark's dominance would be difficult to break.