1973 Singapore Grand Prix
Encyclopedia
The 1973 Singapore Grand Prix was a race held at the Thomson Road Grand Prix circuit on 22 April 1973. It was the final Singapore Grand Prix before the cancellation of the event, which resumed in 2008 as a round of the Formula One
World Championship. The race was contested over 50 laps and was won by Vern Schuppan
driving a March
. The race was run to Australian Formula Two rules.
had a brand new Brabham BT40 delivered to him for the race. However, his team ran into difficulty due to fuel pick-up problems with the new car.
In the 1972 event, the 28 year old Singaporean driver Lionel Chan was involved in an accident which saw his car roll into a ditch on the fourth lap after losing a wheel and hitting an official car
. He was taken to hospital but fell into a coma and later died. The circuit was considered dangerous and the Singaporean Minister of Social Affairs, Encik Othman Wok, stated, "I'll be the happiest man when we get a permanent circuit."
, Swiss driver Joe Huber went off the track into a lamp post. He died six days later as a result of his injuries. The difficulty of implementing adequate safety measures, along with concerns that the Grand Prix was promoting reckless driving, led to motor racing being banned in Singapore after the 1973 Grand Prix. Other contributory factors have been suggested, including an increase in traffic, the inconvenience of having to close roads for the event and also a surge of oil prices stemming from the Suez Crisis
. On average the Grand Prix saw one fatality per year, partly due to the nature of the circuit which featured monsoon drains
and bus stop
s. Graeme Lawrence, a three time winner of the Singapore Grand Prix, believed that the Thomson Road circuit was one of the most dangerous in the world.
A permanent track incorporating a sports complex was proposed as a replacement for the Thomson Road circuit, but this did not come to fruition.
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
World Championship. The race was contested over 50 laps and was won by Vern Schuppan
Vern Schuppan
Vernon "Vern" Schuppan is a racing driver from Whyalla, South Australia. Schuppan drove in various categories, participating in Formula One, the Indianapolis 500 and most successfully in sports car racing.-Formula One:...
driving a March
March Engineering
March Engineering was a Formula One constructor and manufacturer of customer racing cars from the United Kingdom. Although only moderately successful in Grand Prix competition, March racing cars enjoyed much better achievement in other categories of competition including Formula Two, Formula Three,...
. The race was run to Australian Formula Two rules.
Background
John MacDonaldJohn MacDonald (motorsport)
John MacDonald is a racing car driver and a motor-cycle racer of Hong Kong. He was originally from England, where he started his career racing motorcycles, then cars until he served at the National service. He then lived in Hong Kong and raced as a competitor of Hong Kong, where he owned a garage...
had a brand new Brabham BT40 delivered to him for the race. However, his team ran into difficulty due to fuel pick-up problems with the new car.
In the 1972 event, the 28 year old Singaporean driver Lionel Chan was involved in an accident which saw his car roll into a ditch on the fourth lap after losing a wheel and hitting an official car
Safety car
In motorsport, a safety car or pace car is a car which limits the speed of competing cars on a racetrack in the case of a caution period such as an obstruction on the track. During a caution period the safety car enters the track ahead of the leader...
. He was taken to hospital but fell into a coma and later died. The circuit was considered dangerous and the Singaporean Minister of Social Affairs, Encik Othman Wok, stated, "I'll be the happiest man when we get a permanent circuit."
Race
Schuppan was leading Malcolm Ramsay's Birrana when Schuppan's March kicked up some stones, puncturing Ramsay's fuel tank and covering him in petrol.Aftermath
During a support race for touring carsTouring car racing
Touring car racing is a general term for a number of distinct auto racing competitions in heavily-modified street cars. It is notably popular in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Scandinavia and Britain.-Characteristics of a touring car:...
, Swiss driver Joe Huber went off the track into a lamp post. He died six days later as a result of his injuries. The difficulty of implementing adequate safety measures, along with concerns that the Grand Prix was promoting reckless driving, led to motor racing being banned in Singapore after the 1973 Grand Prix. Other contributory factors have been suggested, including an increase in traffic, the inconvenience of having to close roads for the event and also a surge of oil prices stemming from the Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
. On average the Grand Prix saw one fatality per year, partly due to the nature of the circuit which featured monsoon drains
Storm drain
A storm drain, storm sewer , stormwater drain or drainage well system or simply a drain or drain system is designed to drain excess rain and ground water from paved streets, parking lots, sidewalks, and roofs. Storm drains vary in design from small residential dry wells to large municipal systems...
and bus stop
Bus stop
A bus stop is a designated place where buses stop for passengers to board or leave a bus. These are normally positioned on the highway and are distinct from off-highway facilities such as bus stations. The construction of bus stops tends to reflect the level of usage...
s. Graeme Lawrence, a three time winner of the Singapore Grand Prix, believed that the Thomson Road circuit was one of the most dangerous in the world.
A permanent track incorporating a sports complex was proposed as a replacement for the Thomson Road circuit, but this did not come to fruition.
Starting grid
| Pos | Name | Chassis | Engine | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Graeme LawrenceGraeme Lawrence Graeme Lawrence is a former race car driver from New Zealand.Lawrence was the first New Zealander to win a race in the Tasman Series, in 1970. Although he won only the one race that year, he was Tasman Series champion, driving Chris Amon's old Ferrari 246T.... |
Surtees Surtees The Surtees Racing Organisation was a race team that spent nine seasons as a constructor in Formula One, Formula 2, and Formula 5000.-History:... TS15 |
Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
1:57.1 |
| 2 |  Vern SchuppanVern Schuppan Vernon "Vern" Schuppan is a racing driver from Whyalla, South Australia. Schuppan drove in various categories, participating in Formula One, the Indianapolis 500 and most successfully in sports car racing.-Formula One:... |
March March Engineering March Engineering was a Formula One constructor and manufacturer of customer racing cars from the United Kingdom. Although only moderately successful in Grand Prix competition, March racing cars enjoyed much better achievement in other categories of competition including Formula Two, Formula Three,... 722 |
Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
1:57.3 |
| 3 | Leo Geoghegan Leo Geoghegan Leo Geoghegan is a retired Australian racing driver.Geoghegan is the elder of two sons of New South Wales car dealer Tom Geoghegan, who went on to become two of the dominant names in Australian motor racing in the 1960s... |
Birrana 273 | Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
1:57.8 |
| 4 | Ken Smith |
March March Engineering March Engineering was a Formula One constructor and manufacturer of customer racing cars from the United Kingdom. Although only moderately successful in Grand Prix competition, March racing cars enjoyed much better achievement in other categories of competition including Formula Two, Formula Three,... 722 |
Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
1:59.1 |
| 5 |  John MacDonaldJohn MacDonald (motorsport) John MacDonald is a racing car driver and a motor-cycle racer of Hong Kong. He was originally from England, where he started his career racing motorcycles, then cars until he served at the National service. He then lived in Hong Kong and raced as a competitor of Hong Kong, where he owned a garage... |
Brabham BT40 | Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
1:59.1 |
| 6 | Malcolm Ramsay |
Birrana 273 | Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
1:59.5 |
| 7 | Max Stewart Max Stewart Malcolm Clarke Stewart was an Australian racecar driver.... |
Rennmax BN3 | England Paul England Paul England is an Australian former racing driver. He worked for the Repco company and raced his own Holden-powered Ausca sports racing car that used a fibreglass body based on the A6GCS Maserati. He contested a single Grand Prix race, the 1957 German Grand Prix, in a Formula 2 Cooper-Climax... |
2:01.3 |
| 8 | Tony Stewart |
Dolphin 732 | England Paul England Paul England is an Australian former racing driver. He worked for the Repco company and raced his own Holden-powered Ausca sports racing car that used a fibreglass body based on the A6GCS Maserati. He contested a single Grand Prix race, the 1957 German Grand Prix, in a Formula 2 Cooper-Climax... |
2:01.5 |
| 9 |  Sonny Rajah |
March March Engineering March Engineering was a Formula One constructor and manufacturer of customer racing cars from the United Kingdom. Although only moderately successful in Grand Prix competition, March racing cars enjoyed much better achievement in other categories of competition including Formula Two, Formula Three,... 722 |
Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
2:02.6 |
| 10 | Albert Poon |
Brabham BT40 | Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
2:03.0 |
| 11 |  Mike Hall |
Brabham BT40 | Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
2:04.0 |
| 12 | Percy Chan |
Lotus Team Lotus Team Lotus was the motorsport sister company of English sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars. The team ran cars in many motorsport series including Formula One, Formula Two, Formula Ford, Formula Junior, IndyCar and sports car racing... 69 |
RES | 2:07.5 |
| 13 |  Jan Bussell |
Palliser WDB4 | BRM British Racing Motors British Racing Motors was a British Formula One motor racing team. Founded in 1945, it raced from 1950 to 1977, competing in 197 Grands Prix and winning 17. In 1962, BRM won the Constructors' Title. At the same time, its driver, Graham Hill became World Champion... |
2:07.6 |
| 14 |  Hanny Wiano |
GRD 272 | Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
2:08.9 |
| 15 |  Kiyoshi Misaki |
Brabham BT30 | Toyota | 2:11.1 |
| 16 | Steve Millen Steve Millen Steve Millen was a New Zealand IMSA racecar driver. In the 1970s and 1980s, Millen raced in hillclimbing and Formula Ford before doing stadium off-road racing in the United States in the Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group . He then began sports car racing, winning numerous championships in IMSA... |
Elden Mk. 8 | Ford Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK... |
2:12.7 |
| 17 | Harvey Simon |
Elfin 600B | Ford Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK... |
2:13.6 |
| 18 | John Green |
Chevron Chevron Cars Ltd Chevron Cars Ltd. is a manufacturer of racing cars, founded by Derek Bennett in 1965. Following Bennett's death in 1978, the firm has remained active in various guises. The original company's designs and name continue to be utilized by Roger Andreason to build replacement parts and continuation... B20 |
Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
2:14.4 |
| 19 | Dave Hayward |
Hawke | Ford Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK... |
2:31.8 |
| 20 | Chong Boon Seng |
Brabham BT30 | 2:49.1 | |
Race
| Pos | Driver | Constructor | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vern Schuppan Vern Schuppan Vernon "Vern" Schuppan is a racing driver from Whyalla, South Australia. Schuppan drove in various categories, participating in Formula One, the Indianapolis 500 and most successfully in sports car racing.-Formula One:... |
March March Engineering March Engineering was a Formula One constructor and manufacturer of customer racing cars from the United Kingdom. Although only moderately successful in Grand Prix competition, March racing cars enjoyed much better achievement in other categories of competition including Formula Two, Formula Three,... -Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
50 | 1:38:58.3 | 2 |
| 2 | Graeme Lawrence Graeme Lawrence Graeme Lawrence is a former race car driver from New Zealand.Lawrence was the first New Zealander to win a race in the Tasman Series, in 1970. Although he won only the one race that year, he was Tasman Series champion, driving Chris Amon's old Ferrari 246T.... |
Surtees Surtees The Surtees Racing Organisation was a race team that spent nine seasons as a constructor in Formula One, Formula 2, and Formula 5000.-History:... -Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
50 | +38.5 | 1 |
| 3 | John MacDonald John MacDonald (motorsport) John MacDonald is a racing car driver and a motor-cycle racer of Hong Kong. He was originally from England, where he started his career racing motorcycles, then cars until he served at the National service. He then lived in Hong Kong and raced as a competitor of Hong Kong, where he owned a garage... |
Brabham-Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
49 | +1 lap | 5 |
| 4 | Max Stewart Max Stewart Malcolm Clarke Stewart was an Australian racecar driver.... |
Rennmax-England Paul England Paul England is an Australian former racing driver. He worked for the Repco company and raced his own Holden-powered Ausca sports racing car that used a fibreglass body based on the A6GCS Maserati. He contested a single Grand Prix race, the 1957 German Grand Prix, in a Formula 2 Cooper-Climax... |
49 | +1 lap | 7 |
| 5 | Tony Stewart |
Dolphin-England Paul England Paul England is an Australian former racing driver. He worked for the Repco company and raced his own Holden-powered Ausca sports racing car that used a fibreglass body based on the A6GCS Maserati. He contested a single Grand Prix race, the 1957 German Grand Prix, in a Formula 2 Cooper-Climax... |
49 | +1 lap | 8 |
| 6 | Ken Smith |
March March Engineering March Engineering was a Formula One constructor and manufacturer of customer racing cars from the United Kingdom. Although only moderately successful in Grand Prix competition, March racing cars enjoyed much better achievement in other categories of competition including Formula Two, Formula Three,... -Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
47 | +3 laps | 4 |
| 7 | Jan Bussell |
Palliser-BRM British Racing Motors British Racing Motors was a British Formula One motor racing team. Founded in 1945, it raced from 1950 to 1977, competing in 197 Grands Prix and winning 17. In 1962, BRM won the Constructors' Title. At the same time, its driver, Graham Hill became World Champion... |
47 | +3 laps | 13 |
| 8 | Steve Millen Steve Millen Steve Millen was a New Zealand IMSA racecar driver. In the 1970s and 1980s, Millen raced in hillclimbing and Formula Ford before doing stadium off-road racing in the United States in the Mickey Thompson Entertainment Group . He then began sports car racing, winning numerous championships in IMSA... |
Elden-Ford Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK... |
43 | +7 laps | 16 |
| 9 | Leo Geoghegan Leo Geoghegan Leo Geoghegan is a retired Australian racing driver.Geoghegan is the elder of two sons of New South Wales car dealer Tom Geoghegan, who went on to become two of the dominant names in Australian motor racing in the 1960s... |
Birrana-Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
41 | +9 laps | 3 |
| 10 | Harvey Simon |
Elfin-Ford Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK... |
40 | +10 laps | 17 |
| ? | Percy Chan |
Lotus Team Lotus Team Lotus was the motorsport sister company of English sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars. The team ran cars in many motorsport series including Formula One, Formula Two, Formula Ford, Formula Junior, IndyCar and sports car racing... -RES |
12 | ||
| ? | Hanny Wiano |
GRD-Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
14 | ||
| ? | Kiyoshi Misaki |
Brabham-Toyota | 15 | ||
| ? | John Green |
Chevron Chevron Cars Ltd Chevron Cars Ltd. is a manufacturer of racing cars, founded by Derek Bennett in 1965. Following Bennett's death in 1978, the firm has remained active in various guises. The original company's designs and name continue to be utilized by Roger Andreason to build replacement parts and continuation... -Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
18 | ||
| ? | Dave Hayward |
Hawke-Ford Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK... |
19 | ||
| ? | Chong Boon Seng |
Brabham | 20 | ||
| Ret | Sonny Rajah |
March March Engineering March Engineering was a Formula One constructor and manufacturer of customer racing cars from the United Kingdom. Although only moderately successful in Grand Prix competition, March racing cars enjoyed much better achievement in other categories of competition including Formula Two, Formula Three,... -Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
25 | Battery | 9 |
| Ret | Malcolm Ramsay |
Birrana-Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
17 | Fuel tank | 6 |
| Ret | Mike Hall |
Brabham-Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
7 | Radiator | 11 |
| DNS | Albert Poon |
Brabham-Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
Engine | 10 | |
| DNS |  Brian Robertson |
Brabham-Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
Practice crash | — | |
| DNS | Robert Silitonga |
GRD-Hart Brian Hart Ltd. Brian Hart Ltd., also known as Hart and Hart Racing Engines was a motor racing engine manufacturer that participated in 157 Formula One Grands Prix, powering a total of 368 entries.... |
Practice crash | — | |