This was to be Graham Hill's year. He had made his Grand Prix debut in 1958, but his first two years at Lotus were bedevilled by the unreliability of the cars. Things initially looked no better when he moved to BRM, thoughthere were signs that both team and driver were getting things right in 1960 and 1961. By 1962, BRM's new V-8 unit was ready, but it faced stiff opposition from the rival Climax V-8, which most other teams had adopted.
"Moss's career ends in mystery smash"
Hill's first Formula One win with BRM came at the Goodwood event, unfortunately overshadowed by a terrible crash involving Moss. Moss had been passing Hill on a fast stretch of the circuit when he left the track and his Lotus piled head-on into a bank. He sustained appalling injuries, and his career was over — though he did make a full recovery. He had done everything except win the world championship; he'd been runner-up four times in succession and had never been out of the top three in the previous seven years.
"Ferrari surpassed"
After another non-championship victory at Silverstone, an optimistic Hill and BRM went to the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort. Hill led from early in the race and won, giving BRM their second-ever championship win. He was ahead at Monaco before engine trouble forced him out, and Bruce McLaren brought his Cooper home first, ahead of Phil Hill, who was still driving for Ferrari. The car was almost unchanged: Ferrari peaked in 1961 and stood still; the new British V-8s caught them up and overtook. Hill's second place at Monaco was his best in the year, and there was some discontent in the team. He left them at the end of the season.
"Clark beset with mechanical problems"
Jim Clark took the honours in Belgium. Not only did he benefit from having the new V-8 Climax unit, but he also had a new car: the Lotus 25, whose monocoque chassis was to revolutionise racing car design. Mechanical problems had ruined Clark's chances at both Zandvoort and Monaco but things came right at Spa, and he notched up the first of his 25 Grand Prix wins. Hill had to make do with second. Aintree was the scene of the British Grand Prix; Clark led from start to finish and set the fastest lap. He was also within a point of Hill in the title race, and he had finished fourth. Hill then scored back-to-back wins at the Nurburgring and Monza. Clark suffered in both. In Germany he stalled on the line but gave chase and brought himself within striking distance of the leaders, then low fuel meant he had to ease off: he came fourth. He had to retire with engine trouble at Monza.
"Four wins for Hill"
Clark bounced back to win at Watkins Glen, but Hill claimed second place. Hill was now 9 points clear of his rival going into the final race at East London in South Africa. Clark needed to win to have any chance of the title, and only had a chance if Hill failed to score. Clark took pole, and was indeed leading the race, but engine failure once again put paid to his hopes, and it was Hill who came through to win. His four wins and two second places put him on 42 points, 12 ahead of Clark. The championship was his.
1962 Drivers Championship
1. Graham Hill - 42
2. Jim Clark - 30
3. Bruce McLaren - 27
1962 Constructors Title
1. BRM - 42
2. Lotus - 36
3. Cooper - 29
