Peter de Klerk – F1 | The “forgotten” drivers of F1

1962 PDK’s Consolation Win Peter de Klerk drove his Alfa Special to victory in East London’s Daily Dispatch Trophy, today in 1962. Run the day before the oversubscribed South African Grand Prix to accommodate the local entries that did not qualify for the main race, de Klerk won fought a race long battle with Bob van Niekerk’s Lotus 22 Climax and Sam Tingle’s LDS 1 Alfa Romeo, with Trevor Blokdyk’s Cooper T56 Alfa Romeo, Gene Bosman’s LDS Alfa and Fanie Viljoen’s LDS Climax closing off the top six among an impressive fourteen finishers. Auto’s Moment of the Day is brought to you by the Franschhoek Motor Museumm. A vacation to the Cape is not complete without a trip to the Museum and the glorious Franschhoek Valley! Book your next visit now at www.fmm.co.za. Photo and info Michele Lupini

1963 Peter de Klerk took his self-built Alfa Special to victory in the the South African Formula 1 Dickie Dale Trophy at Roy Hesketh in Pietermaritzburg, today in 1963 9/2/1963. He beat Bernard Podmore’s Lotus 20 Ford, Brausch Niemann in his Lotus 7 Ford, Trevor Blokdyk’s Cooper Alfa and Ray Cresp’s Cooper Alfas, and Bill Scheepers Lotus 18 Alfa. Auto’s Moment of the Day is brought to you by the Franschhoek Motor Museum. Book your next visit at www.fmm.co.za. Info and photo Michele Lupini

1963 – Kyalami driving the Alfa Special. Photo Joshua Joshua via FB. Peter de Klerk (Alfa Romeo Special) during the 1963 Rand Spring Trophy, 10th October 1963. Peter finished this race in third place, while it was won, as well as that year national title, by Neville Lederle in Lotus-Climax 21.

1963 – Kyalami with Neville Lederle. Info: The 1963 Rand Winter Trophy. Peter de Klerk in his Alfa Romeo Special is leading his main championship rival Neville Lederle in Lotus-Climax 21, maroon Lotus-Ford 22 of Brausch Niemann and metallic blue LDS-Alfa of Louis Douglas Serrurier.

1963 – Peter de Klerk steered his splendid self-built Alfa Special to his second victory in as many years, in the South African Formula 1 Grand Prix de Moçambique in Lourenço Marquez, today in 1963. Auto’s Moment of the Day is bought to you by the Franschhoek Motor Museum, which has a splendid selection of cars significant with South African race history and providence on display. Learn more and plan and book your next trip at www.fmm.co.za. Photo and info Michele Lupini

South African Peter de Klerk drove his local crowd wild when he brought Otello Nucci’s Brabham Climax home just 5 seconds behind double World Champion at the time, Jack Brabham’s Brabham Climax in Kyalami’s VIII Rand Grand Prix, today in 1965. Another Aussie, Paul Hawkins’ Lotus-Climax was almost a lap further back in third from South African champion, Rhodesian John Love’s Cooper-Climax, Swiss Jo Siffert’s Rob Walker Brabham BRM and Englishman Innes Ireland in a Reg Parnell Racing Lotus BRM. This story around this Ivor Hanes image features in the new book, Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit – 60 Years of Memories. Selling out fast, only a few copies remain available. Visit Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit – 60 Years of Memories to learn more and order yours, or one as a brilliant Christmas gift for your loved SA race fan now! Auto’s Moment of the Day is brought to you by the Franschhoek Motor Museum. Book your next visit at www.fmm.co.za. Photo and info Michele Lupini