1968 Belgian Grand Prix
The Grand Prix of Belgium 1968 was held on 9 June at the Circuit de Spa- Francorchamps and was the fourth race of the Formula 1 season 1968.
- 3.1 Start -up
- 3.2 race
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
- 4.2 Constructors' Championship
Reports
Background
After Lotus was two weeks previously competed at the Grand Prix of Monaco as the first team with aerodynamic wings on the race car, which appeared to run in Belgium some other teams with similar modifications. This also included the Scuderia Ferrari. After they had completely missed the Monaco GP, two factory cars were entered for the race weekend again, which was equipped by Chris Amon with significantly larger wings, as the car of Jacky Ickx.
Jackie Stewart was able to start again for the Matra customer team of Ken Tyrrell after his injury-related break. Lucien Bianchi replaced at the Cooper works driver Ludovico Scarfiotti who wanted to participate on the same weekend in Germany on a mountain race, but for this fatal accident during practice and thus already was the third tribe Formula 1 driver who died this year.
Dan Gurney and Denis Hulme returned after a successful participation in the Indianapolis 500 back from the USA to compete at the Grand Prix of Belgium can.
Training
On Friday Chris Amon achieved by a margin of almost four seconds, the fastest lap time, which was immediately at least partially attributed to the new aerodynamic aids. Stewart in the Matra and Ickx in the second Ferrari also qualified for the front row. John Surtees and Denis Hulme followed in series two to Bruce McLaren, Piers Courage and Pedro Rodríguez. Both Lotus factory driver had to contend with problems and therefore could qualify only for rear starting places.
Since it was raining during the training sessions on Saturday, the Friday times were no longer undercut and thus counted for the grid.
Race
Although the race was held in heavy cloud cover, but in dry place. Amon initially took the lead from his team mate Ickx and Surtees and Hulme. At the end of the second round Surtees took over the top position. Numerous pilots resigned meanwhile already during the first rounds out due to technical difficulties.
In the seventh round Brian Redman came off because of a suspension damage from the track. His Cooper slipped over a barrier, crashed into a parked car and caught fire. Redman was able to escape with a broken arm and minor burns. A little later resigned from Amon due to a faulty radiator and immediately afterwards also the leading Surtees due to a suspension problem. This came Hulme in the lead position, but was overtaken shortly after by Stewart. The two dueled several laps around the tip until Hulme had to retire due to a gearbox problem.
On the final lap Stewart was about half a minute ahead of second -placed Bruce McLaren when he ran out of fuel. He rolled into the pits and was regarded to be fourth behind McLaren, Rodríguez and Ickx due to its distance traveled.
It was the first victory for Team McLaren and the fourth and final victory for his team boss Bruce McLaren. Jacky Ickx won first podium finish of his Formula 1 career at his home race.
Message list
Classifications
Line-up
Race
WM stands after the race
The first six of the race were 9, 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point (s).