South African Grand Prix 1970 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Jack Brabham opened the 1970 Formula 1 season with a commanding victory in South Africa, the 43-year-old Australian legend demonstrating that age was no barrier to success as he claimed his first win since 1967. Starting from the front row, the three-time World Champion controlled the race from the start at the high-altitude Kyalami circuit, leading home Denny Hulme's McLaren and Jackie Stewart's March in what proved to be the final Grand Prix victory of Brabham's illustrious career.

The race marked the beginning of a transitional season as several teams arrived with new designs. Stewart was driving the brand-new March 701, one of several customer teams running the ambitious British constructor's innovative chassis. The race also saw the debut of the revolutionary Lotus 72, though neither Jochen Rindt nor John Miles could finish as the radical new design suffered teething problems. Bruce McLaren's team showed strong form with Hulme's second place, while the New Zealander himself finished a solid fifth in the sister car.

Brabham's victory was all the more remarkable given the competitive nature of the field and his decision to continue racing at an age when most drivers had long since retired. The win moved him to the top of the early championship standings and demonstrated the potential of his own team's BT33 chassis. Tragically, this would prove to be Brabham's final season as he announced his retirement at year's end, though not before adding one more win to his remarkable tally of 14 Grand Prix victories. The South African race set the stage for what would become one of Formula 1's most dramatic and tragic seasons.