It was raining as the cars formed up on the grid and as the flag fell von Opel made a slow start, holding up team-mate Walker in the process, so it was Sutcliffe who lead from Magee and Ginn. Making storming progress was Tony Brise in the Brabham BT38 and by the time the cars reached Runway Bend just before the end of the opening lap Brise was in first. The Brabham began to pull away from von Opel and Sutcliffe who were merrily holding each other up, behind them it was Walker from Magee and Ginn (who had spun). On lap 5 Sutcliffe passed von Opel at York but was promptly overtaken again at Acomb, Walker moved in and passed Sutcliffe only to find himself being assisted out of the race by a punt up the rear from Sutcliffe in the Esses.
Onto the last lap and Brise’s lead was being quickly eroded by von Opel as the track dried out, the Ensign tried to pass the Brabham at York but Brise resisted, von Opel tried again at Acomb this time making contact with Brise, both cars spun off, von Opel continuing but Brise having trouble restarting his engine. A very surprised Sutcliffe found himself the winner from von Opel, Ginn and Magee.