1965 Rounds 5-7
Australia

Fastest Lap: Jack Brabham 1m 8.6s

Round Seven: LONGFORD     30th Australian Grand Prix

Date: 1st March 1965

26 Laps of 7.242kms (188.292kms)

Longford saw the McLaren cars come resoundingly into their own with good short-stroke engines and the small frontal area and shallow tread of the Firestones on this ultra-fast circuit. McLaren and Brabham staged a thrilling battle for pole position and 100 bottles of champagne on the Friday, with McLaren finally making it with a shattering 2m 18.5s lap. McLaren won the 10 lap qualifier on the Saturday from Brabham and Graham Hill and lap times from this set the grid for the Grand Prix.

From the start, McLaren was first away, joined by Graham Hill on the outside. Brabham came between them and soon edged ahead of Hill. Clark, Matich, Stillwell and Phil Hill all followed very closely behind. This group soon pulled away from Levis, Jane and Scott, with Tresise behind, beginning to get the Cooper-Climax wound up ready to find a way past the smaller cars. Jane moved past Levis, then, as they passed the pits, Tresise moved out to take Levis as well. As he did, the Cooper went out of control, crashing through a fence, killing the young driver immediately.

After three laps, McLaren led from Brabham, Hill and Clark, who was suffering from a miss-fire under full revs. This allowed Phil Hill to pass him. By the end of four laps, Grant, Jane and Archer were all out. Clark got back in front of Hill, only to be re-passed again. This occurrence was to take place numerous times throughout the race. Just before half distance, the front suspension collapsed on Matich's car and he was lucky to be able to keep the car under control until bringing it to a stop.

As Brabham was passing Levis, going into Mountford corner, Levis suffered a brake lock up and connected with Brabhams wheel. As a precautionary check, Brabham called into the pits, and returned to the race back in fifth position, just ahead of Stillwell, but behind McLaren, Graham Hill, Phil Hill and Clark.

Brabham began recording record shattering laps in his endeavour to regain his spot. McLaren responded and on lap 17 set a new record time of 2m 18.4s. With nine laps remaining, everyone sensed the urgency as Brabham began to appear in their mirrors. Jack passed Clark and was now right behind Phil Hill. Jack passed Phil, but was immediately re-passed by Phil, who set a new record lap of 2m 18.2s in doing so. Jack responded once more and passed Phil with a new lap record of 2m 18.0s, a time that was never ever beaten on the Longford track.

Meanwhile up at the front, McLaren was having clutch trouble and his lap times began to drop. Phil Hill wasn't finished yet and needing to help defend his team leaders position, he once again took Brabham and followed this by passing Graham Hill as well. Brabham also took Graham Hill and with three laps to go, McLaren was holding on, with Phil Hill trying to hold off Brabham. This he could not do and Brabham was now in second. McLaren was changing gears without a clutch and survived to win by only 3.3 seconds. This must surely go down as one of the best Australian Grand Prixs ever.

Grid: (* denotes pole)

Graham Hill             Jack Brabham            Bruce McLaren*
               Frank Gardner                Jim Clark
   Phil Hill                     Bib Stillwell                Frank Matich
               Rocky Tresise               Jim Palmer
 Bob Jane                 Jack Hobden             John McDonald
                 Mel McEwin                  Roly Levis
 Glyn Scott                  Kerry Grant                   Lyn Archer