1968 World Sportscar Championship

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The 1968 World Sportscar Championship season was the 16th season of FIA World Sportscar Championship racing and featured the 1968 International Championship for Makes and the 1968 International Cup for GT Cars. [1] The former was contested by Group 6 Sports Prototypes, Group 4 Sports Cars and Group 3 Grand Touring Cars [2] and the later by Group 3 Grand Touring Cars only. The two titles were decided over a ten race series which ran from 3 February 1968 to 29 September 1968, but one race was only worth half points, and only the five best results were counted.

Contents

Following a very fast 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans, the engine size of prototypes from 1968 onwards was limited to 3 litres, forcing the retirement of Ford's 7-litre prototypes as well as Ferrari's 4-litre P series. Even though the engine size was the same as in Formula 1 since 1966, the F1 engines did not last 1000km or 24 hours, while downsized engines lacked power and torque, causing a problem for the prototype class. Ferrari stayed absent in protest, while old 5-litre Ford GT40 as well as Lola and some others makes could still enter as sportscars if at least 50 cars had been built.

Replica of the Gulf-sponsored 1964 Ford GT40 4,5-litre which was successful in 1968 due to being a sportscar of which at least 50 had been made Ford GT40 (39430889701).jpg
Replica of the Gulf-sponsored 1964 Ford GT40 4,5-litre which was successful in 1968 due to being a sportscar of which at least 50 had been made
Porsche 907 prototypes like this, with undersized 2200cc engines, provided most of Porsche results in 1968 Porsche 907 TCE.jpg
Porsche 907 prototypes like this, with undersized 2200cc engines, provided most of Porsche results in 1968
Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/2 named Daytona Coupe due to winning the 2-litre-class there in 1968. Alfa came 2nd at the Targa and 3rd in the championship Alfa Romeo Tipo 33-2.jpg
Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/2 named Daytona Coupe due to winning the 2-litre-class there in 1968. Alfa came 2nd at the Targa and 3rd in the championship
Porsche 908 longtail at Cite de l'Automobile. This Chassis 908-013 has finished 3rd in Le Mans in 1972, like it did already in 1968 Porsche Coupe 908 (1968) pic2.JPG
Porsche 908 longtail at Cité de l'Automobile. This Chassis 908-013 has finished 3rd in Le Mans in 1972, like it did already in 1968
Ford P68 was fast only for short times Ford F3L - Flickr - andrewbasterfield.jpg
Ford P68 was fast only for short times

Up to 1966, Porsche had only entered in the two-litre class, and for 1968 developed the 3-litre Porsche 908 which had teething problems, just like the Ford P68, so most wins for Zuffenhausen came with the underpowered 2.2-litre Porsche 907. Also, the Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/2 in early 1968 had only 2000cc, not enough to win races. As a result, and with only 5 of 10 races counting towards the championship, the 1968 International Championship for Makes was won by JWAE (John Willment Automotive Engineering) in conjunction with Gulf Oil. Although records state it is Ford, as the Ford GT40, which was introduced in 1964, was the main basis for the cars construction. For the 1968 season, three "lightweight" GT40's were built to compete for the 1968 season using information, and materials learned from their first internally built race car, the Mirage M1, including a reconfigured front bulkhead, wider wheel arches front and rear, and carbon fiber. After being uncompetitive in the early rounds in the USA at Daytona and Sebring, they would win five races including its most prestigious and also last round, Le Mans, which had been postponed from the usual mid-June date to late September due to political unrest.

Porsche also scored five wins, but the 500km "short" race at Zeltweg was only awarded half points, and with only four full-point wins and four second places in nine full-point events, Porsche came second in the WSC with 42 points to Fords 45, as 25.5 points were discarded, compared to Fords 6, scored with 3rd places at Nürburgring and Zeltweg. Porsche's only non-top-two-finish came at the third-to-last round, 6h at Watkins Glen, where no less than four factory 908 were entered in an all-in attempt to secure the championship ahead of the insignificant half-point Zeltweg and the all-important Le Mans. Siffert took pole position ahead of Ickx, but after three 908 were out and the fourth limped to 6th place, two private old 906E were ahead of the factory, behind two GT40 and even a gasturbine-powered Howmet TX which was rated at 2960 cm3 and thus allowed as a prototype.

The International Cup for GT Cars was won by Porsche entering the Porsche 911. [1]

Schedule

RndRaceCircuit or LocationDate
1 Flag of the United States.svg 24 Hours of Daytona Daytona International Speedway 3 February
4 February
2 Flag of the United States.svg 12 Hours of Sebring Sebring International Raceway 23 March
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg BOAC 500 (6 Hours) Brands Hatch 7 April
4 Flag of Italy.svg 1000km Monza Autodromo Nazionale Monza 25 April
5 Flag of Italy.svg Targa Florio Circuito delle Madonie 5 May
6 Flag of Germany.svg 1000km Nürburgring Nürburgring 19 May
7 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg 1000km Spa Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps 26 May
8 Flag of the United States.svg Watkins Glen 6 Hours Watkins Glen International 14 July
9 Flag of Austria.svg 500km of Zeltweg Zeltweg Airfield 25 August
10 Flag of France.svg 24 Hours of Le Mans Circuit de la Sarthe 28 September
29 September

† - These races were contested by Sports Prototypes and Sports Cars only. GT cars did not participate.

‡ - The 24 Hours of Le Mans was originally scheduled to be run 15 June and 16, but was delayed due to a workers strike in France.

Season results

Races

RndCircuitWinning TeamGT Winning TeamResults
Winning DriversGT Winning Drivers
1 Daytona Flag of Germany.svg #54 Porsche Engineering Flag of the United States.svg #31 Sunray DX Oil Company Results
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Vic Elford
Flag of Germany.svg Jochen Neerpasch
Flag of the United States.svg Jerry Grant
Flag of the United States.svg Dave Morgan
2 Sebring Flag of Germany.svg #49 Porsche Engineering Flag of the United States.svg #3 Sunray DX Oil Company Results
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Jo Siffert
Flag of Germany.svg Hans Herrmann
Flag of the United States.svg Hap Sharp
Flag of the United States.svg Dave Morgan
3 Brands Hatch Flag of the United Kingdom.svg #4 J.W. Automotive None Results
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jacky Ickx
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Brian Redman
4 Monza Flag of the United Kingdom.svg #40 J.W. Automotive Flag of Germany.svg #68 IGFA Results
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul Hawkins
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Hobbs
Flag of Germany.svg Dieter Glemser
Flag of Germany.svg Helmut Kelleners
5 Targa Florio Flag of Germany.svg #224 Porsche Engineering Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg #82 Ecurie Les Corsaires Results
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Vic Elford
Flag of Italy.svg Umberto Maglioli
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Claude Haldi
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Pierre Greub
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Edgar Berney
6 Nürburgring Flag of Germany.svg #2 Porsche Engineering Flag of Germany.svg #110 Sepp Greger [4] Results
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Jo Siffert
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Vic Elford
Flag of Germany.svg Sepp Greger
Flag of Germany.svg Malte Huth
7 Spa-Francorchamps Flag of the United Kingdom.svg #33 J.W. Automotive Flag of Germany.svg #63 IGFA Results
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jacky Ickx
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Brian Redman
Flag of Germany.svg Dieter Glemser
Flag of Germany.svg Helmut Kelleners
8 Watkins Glen Flag of the United Kingdom.svg #5 J.W. Automotive Flag of the United States.svg #59 Brumos Porsche Results
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jacky Ickx
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Lucien Bianchi
Flag of the United States.svg Peter Gregg
Flag of the United States.svg Bert Everett
9 Zeltweg Flag of Germany.svg #1 Porsche EngineeringNone Results
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Jo Siffert
10 Le Mans Flag of the United Kingdom.svg #9 J.W. Automotive Flag of Belgium (civil).svg #43 Jean-Pierre Gaban Results
Flag of Mexico.svg Pedro Rodriguez
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Lucien Bianchi
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jean-Pierre Gaban
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger van der Schrick

Manufacturers Championships

International Championship for Makes

As Round 9 Zeltweg 500km was awarded only half points due to its short distance, and only the best 5 round results for each make counted towards the championship, only 9 of 10 rounds were actually significant. Only the best 5 round results for each make counted towards the championship, with any other points earned

Points were awarded for overall placings gained by the top 6 finishers from Groups 6, 4 & 3 at each round in the order of 9-6-4-3-2-1. Manufacturers were only given points for their highest finishing car; any other cars from that manufacturer were skipped in the points standings, but could prevent other manufacturers from scoring these points.

Cars from other than Groups 6, 4 & 3 were ignored in the awarding of points for the overall championship.

Relinquished points are shown within brackets, they are not included in the total.

PosManufacturerRd 1Rd 2Rd 3Rd 4Rd 5Rd 6Rd 7Rd 8Rd 9Rd 10Total
1 Flag of the United States.svg Ford 99(4)99(2)945
2 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche 996(6)99(6)(3)(4.5)(6)42
3 Flag of Italy.svg Alfa Romeo 3621.5315.5
4= Flag of the United States.svg Chevrolet 44
4= Flag of the United States.svg Howmet 44
4= Flag of France.svg Alpine-Renault 44
7 Flag of Italy.svg Ferrari 22
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lola 11


International Cup for GT Cars

Points were awarded for Group placings gained by the top six GT finishers at each round in the order of 9-6-4-3-2-1. Manufacturers were only given points for their highest finishing car; any other cars from that manufacturer were merely skipped in the points standings.

Only the best 5 round results for each make counted towards the title, with any other points earned not included in the total. Relinquished points are shown within brackets.

The GT class did not participate in Rounds 3 and 9.

PosManufacturerRd 1Rd 2Rd 4Rd 5Rd 6Rd 7Rd 8Rd 10Total
1 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche (6)(6)99999(9)45
2 Flag of the United States.svg Chevrolet 99624
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg MG 1269
4 Flag of Italy.svg Lancia 44
5 Flag of Italy.svg Fiat 11

Car Details

The following models contributed to the nett points totals of their respective manufacturers.

International Championship for Makes

International Cup for GT Cars

References

  1. 1 2 FIA Yearbook 1974, Grey section, Previous International Championship winners, pages 124 & 125
  2. Peter Higham, The Guinness Guide to International Motor Racing, 1995, page 259
  3. "Porsche 908.01 Langheck (VIN 908-013) 1968".
  4. "Sepp Greger • Career & Character Info | Motorsport Database".