The 1973 South African Grand Prix, formally titled the Seventh AA Grand Prix of South Africa,[1] was a Formula One motor race held at Kyalami on 3 March 1973. It was race 3 of 15 in both the 1973 World Championship of Drivers and the 1973 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers.[2] The race was won by Jackie Stewart driving a Tyrrell. Denny Hulme's pole position was the only one of his Formula One World Championship career.
| 1973 South African Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 The Kyalami Circuit (1967–1985) | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | 3 March 1973 | ||
| Official name | Seventh AA Grand Prix of South Africa | ||
| Location | Kyalami, Midrand, Transvaal Province, South Africa | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 4.104 km (2.550 miles) | ||
| Distance | 79 laps, 324.216 km (201.458 miles) | ||
| Weather | Sunny, Hot, Dry | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | McLaren-Ford | ||
| Time | 1:16.28 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver |  Emerson Fittipaldi | Lotus-Ford | |
| Time | 1:17.10 on lap 76 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Tyrrell-Ford | ||
| Second | McLaren-Ford | ||
| Third | Lotus-Ford | ||
Lap leaders | |||
This race marked Scuderia Ferrari's 200th start in a World Championship event as a team.[3]
Accident
Mike Hailwood was recognised for bravery when he went to pull Clay Regazzoni from his burning car after the two collided on the third lap of the race. Hailwood's driving suit caught fire, but after being extinguished by a fire marshal he returned to help rescue Regazzoni, an act for which he was awarded the George Medal.
Classification
Qualifying
| Pos | No | Driver | Constructor | Time/Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 |  Denny Hulme | McLaren–Ford | 1:16.28 |
| 2 | 1 | Emerson Fittipaldi | Lotus–Ford | +0.13 |
| 3 | 7 |  Jody Scheckter | McLaren–Ford | +0.15 |
| 4 | 2 |  Ronnie Peterson | Lotus–Ford | +0.16 |
| 5 | 15 |  Clay Regazzoni | BRM | +0.19 |
| 6 | 6 |  Peter Revson | McLaren–Ford | +0.44 |
| 7 | 16 |  Jean-Pierre Beltoise | BRM | +0.56 |
| 8 | 18 |  Carlos Reutemann | Brabham–Ford | +0.66 |
| 9 | 11 | Carlos Pace | Surtees–Ford | +0.78 |
| 10 | 17 |  Niki Lauda | BRM | +0.86 |
| 11 | 8 |  Jacky Ickx | Ferrari | +0.88 |
| 12 | 10 |  Mike Hailwood | Surtees–Ford | +0.89 |
| 13 | 25 | Dave Charlton | Lotus–Ford | +0.90 |
| 14 | 22 | Jackie Oliver | Shadow–Ford | +1.36 |
| 15 | 9 |  Arturo Merzario | Ferrari | +1.36 |
| 16 | 3 | Jackie Stewart | Tyrrell–Ford | +1.37 |
| 17 | 19 | Wilson Fittipaldi | Brabham–Ford | +1.67 |
| 18 | 14 | Jean-Pierre Jarier | March–Ford | +1.70 |
| 19 | 21 | Howden Ganley | Williams–Ford | +1.79 |
| 20 | 12 | Andrea de Adamich | Surtees–Ford | +2.38 |
| 21 | 23 | George Follmer | Shadow–Ford | +2.54 |
| 22 | 26 | Eddie Keizan | Tyrrell–Ford | +2.64 |
| 23 | 24 | Mike Beuttler | March–Ford | +4.09 |
| 24 | 20 | Jackie Pretorius | Williams–Ford | +4.26 |
| 25 | 4 | François Cevert | Tyrrell–Ford | No time |
| Source:[4] | ||||
Race
Championship standings after the race
- Constructors' Championship standings
| Pos | Constructor | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1 | Lotus-Ford | 22 |
| | 2 | Tyrrell-Ford | 21 |
| | 3 | McLaren-Ford | 12 |
| | 4 | Ferrari | 9 |
 1 | 5 | Brabham-Ford | 1 |
| Source:[6] | |||
- Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.