South African Grand Prix and B.P.

British Petroleum have taken exception to the following part of our report of the Grand Prix of South Africa: “Unfortunately for him (John Surtees) some foreign matter in the B.P. oil caused considerable damage to the engine.”

Some of our readers may read into this that the “foreign matter” was in the oil before being poured into the engine. There is no evidence that this was so, neither was our wording intended to convey this impression.

In further conversation with John Surtees he confirmed that the damage was caused by “foreign matter” in the oil system but emphasised the fact that it was no fault of B.P.