South African Formula One Championship build interest by padding the field with Formula 2 and Formula 5000 cars, but viewership was in a steady decline - not helped by a somewhat Byzantine points system. 1976 would see the start of the domination of South Africa's National Championship by Ian Scheckter. Indeed, had it not been for youthful exuberance Scheckter would have won the 1975 title. He won more races than Charlton, but Charlton was more consistent. Scheckter won the first four championship in a row for Lexington Racing before United Tobacco Company withdrew their teams (Lexington, Gunston and Texan). With Gunston returning in 1983, Scheckter
John Rhodes (racing driver) John Rhodes (racing driver) John Rhodes (born Wolverhampton, Staffordshire on 18 August 1927 ) is a British former racing driver from England, who participated in one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix, the 1965 British Grand Prix, at Silverstone on 10 July 1965, from which he retired on lap 39 with ignition problems. His Cooper-Climax T60 was provided for him by veteran racer Bob Gerard.<br> In 1961 he drove a Cooper-B.M.C. Formula Junior car for the Midland Racing Partnership, winning a long race on the Phoenix Park circuit in Dublin on 22 July, and the Dunboyne Trophy on 29 July.