1963 Austrian Grand Prix in a road accident in February 1964. 1963 Austrian Grand Prix The 1st Austrian Grand Prix was a motor race, run to Formula One rules, held on 1 September 1963 at the Zeltweg Airfield. The race was run over 80 laps of the circuit, and was won by Australian driver Jack Brabham in a Brabham BT3, finishing a massive five laps ahead of the next finisher. Many competitors retired after the rough surface of the track caused mechanical failures. This race marked the Formula One debut of 1970 World Champion Jochen Rindt, and also the only Formula One appearance of
Brabham BT19 which Brabham described as "Brands Hatch on steroids". On the opening lap Brabham took the lead from Surtees, now driving a Cooper-Maserati. Brabham won after a race-long fight with the Englishman in the rain. With four wins and more finishes than any of his championship rivals, Brabham had a 22-point lead in the drivers championship and could only be caught in the championship by Surtees or Stewart if one of them won all three of the remaining races. Jack Brabham used BT19 again at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, another high speed circuit. A second BT20 was completed at