1963 Rome Grand Prix

The 15th Rome Grand Prix was a motor race, run to Formula One rules, held on 19 May 1963 at the ACI Vallelunga Circuit, near Rome in Italy. The race was run over two heats of 40 laps of the circuit, both of which were won by British driver Bob Anderson in a Lola Mk4.

1963 Rome Grand Prix
Non-championship race in the 1963 Formula One season
Race details
Date	19 May 1963
Official name	XV Gran Premio di Roma
Location	ACI Vallelunga Circuit, Vallelunga
Course	Permanent racing facility
Course length	3.222 km (2.002 mi)
Distance	2 x 40 laps, 255.96 km (159.04 mi)
Pole position
Driver	Carel Godin de Beaufort	Porsche
Time	1:29.4
Fastest lap
Driver	Bob Anderson	Lola-Climax
Time	1:29.0
Podium
First	Bob Anderson	Lola-Climax
Second	Carel Godin de Beaufort	Porsche
Third	Ian Raby	Gilby-BRM

Both heats finished with the same three cars coming home in the first three places, and each time they were the only three cars to complete the distance. The grid included some Italian drivers who were relatively unknown outside their home country, and who never took part in any World Championship Grands Prix. The only one of these to threaten the leaders in this race was Franco Bernabei in his De Tomaso, but his engine blew up while he was leading the first heat and he was unable to take part in the second.

Swiss driver Jo Siffert was to have taken part in this race, having decided against competing in a sports car race in Germany on the same day. The team he was to have driven for, Ecurie Filipinetti, lobbied the Swiss Automobile Club and they refused Siffert a visa to race in Rome.[1]