What happened on this day, January 2 in Formula 1 history? Find out interesting facts and stories about Formula 1 on this day.
1957
Italian driver Beppe Gabbiani was born in Piacenza. Competing in Formula 1 from 1978 to 1981, Gabbiani entered 17 races but managed to qualify for only three, all in 1981. He made the grid for the Long Beach, San Marino, and Belgian Grands Prix but did not finish any of those races.
1967
The 1967 South African Grand Prix became the season opener at the Kyalami Circuit in South Africa, the track’s debut on the Formula 1 calendar. Pedro Rodriguez claimed victory behind the wheel of a Cooper Maserati. South African privateer John Love delivered an impressive performance, finishing second in his Cooper Climax, outpacing several winning drivers, including Honda driver John Surtees, who secured third place.
This was the only Championship podium for John Love and a Rhodesian driver, and the the first win and podium for Pedro Rodriguez and a Mexican driver.
1967 South African Grand Prix Race Results
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Laps | Time/retired | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Pedro Rodriguez | Cooper Maserati | 80 | 2:05:45.900 | 9 |
| 2 | 17 | John Love | Cooper Climax | 80 | +26.400s | 6 |
| 3 | 11 | John Surtees | Honda | 79 | +1 lap | 4 |
| 4 | 2 | Denny Hulme | Brabham Repco | 78 | +2 laps | 3 |
| 5 | 14 | Bob Anderson | Brabham Climax | 78 | +2 laps | 2 |
| 6 | 1 | Jack Brabham | Brabham Repco | 76 | +4 laps | 1 |
| NC | 19 | Dave Charlton | Brabham Climax | 63 | +17 laps | 0 |
| NC | 20 | Luki Botha | Brabham Climax | 60 | +20 laps | 0 |
| NC | 18 | Sam Tingle | LDS Climax | 56 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 16 | Piers Courage | Lotus BRM | 51 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 9 | Dan Gurney | Eagle Climax | 44 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 12 | Jo Siffert | Cooper Maserati | 41 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 3 | Jochen Rindt | Cooper Maserati | 38 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 6 | Mike Spence | BRM | 31 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 15 | Jo Bonnier | Cooper Maserati | 30 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 7 | Jim Clark | Lotus BRM | 22 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 8 | Graham Hill | Lotus BRM | 6 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 5 | Jackie Stewart | BRM | 2 | DNF | 0 |
2003
The Arrows team dissolved after struggling financially since its inception in 1978, when it was established by former members of the Shadow team.
Over 24 years, Arrows competed in 382 Grand Prix races. Although the team never secured a win, it achieved several commendable performances, including five second-place finishes and a handful of podium appearances. One of the team’s most notable moments came in 1997 when Damon Hill nearly won the Hungarian Grand Prix, leading the race until a mechanical failure in the closing laps forced him to settle for second place.
Arrows were also known for their role in developing young talent. They gave future stars their first taste of Formula 1, including drivers such as Riccardo Patrese, who debuted with Arrows in 1977. The team was a stepping stone for many drivers who would achieve success later in their careers.
F1 Driver Birthdays 2 January
| Birthday | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 2 January 1957 | Beppe Gabbiani |
F1 Driver Deaths 2 January
| Death | F1 Driver |
|---|---|
| 2 January 2003 | Leroy Warriner |
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