THE BRITISH RACING DRIVER, JOHN SURTEES, TODAY (MONDAY) WON THE GUARDS INTERNATIONAL TROPHY AT BRANDS HATCH. BUT TO DO IT HE HAD TO BEAT NOT ONLY HIS RIVALS BUT ALSO THE RAIN.

DRIVING A SIX-LITRE ENGINED LOLA, SURTEES WON THE RACE, THE MAIN EVENT AT TODAY'S MEETING, FROM CHRIS AMON WHO CAME SECOND AND GRAHAM HILL, THIRD. HIS AVERAGE SPEED WAS 90.85 MILES AND HOUR.

THE RACE WAS TO HAVE BEEN DECIDED ON AGGREGATE RESULTS IN TWO PARTS, BUT THE SECOND PART HAD TO BE STOPPED AND STARTED AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE RAIN. THE CARS HAD COMPLETED FIVE LAPS OF THE SECOND PART WHEN THE RAIN STARTED AND SOON CARS WERE SKIDDING IN ALL DIRECTIONS AROUND THE TRACK.

DESPITE THE CONDITIONS SURTEES HAD OPENED UP A CLEAR 200 YARD (274 METRE) LEAD BEFORE THE RACE WAS STOPPED. IN FACT IT WAS THE ONLY TIME HE HAD A CLEAR LEAD. IN THE FIRST PART IN THE RE-RUNNING OF SECOND PART THE YOUNG NEW ZEALANDER CHRIS AMON WAS CLOSE ON THE FORMER WORLD CHAMPION'S TAIL. HE WAS DRIVING A McLAREN ELVA. GRAHAM HILL WHO CAME THIRD WAS DRIVING THE SECOND OF SURTEES' LOLAS.