Grand Prix Insider

19th of June - A day of maiden victories at the 1977 Swedish Grand Prix with the Marseillaise being played in the background: Jacques Laffite scores his first GP win at Anderstorp, taking Ligier to its first the honors as Formula 1 constructor. And - to make it a complete French affair - engine supplier Matra finally would celebrate a win for the first time, too, after trying hard since their debut in 1968 at the Monaco Grand Prix.

(more…)

18th of June - A day that Dan Gurney will never forget: At the wheel of his Anglo American Racers’ Eagle T1G-Weslake V12 the American wins the 1967 Belgian Grand Prix, setting the fastest lap and a new record average speed of 234.946 km/h. It would remain the only win in Formula 1 for the marque, as well as for engine supplier Weslake.

(more…)

Whoozat no. 2 - Here’s who that is: Stefan Bellof

Niki Lauda drives Brabham’s infamous fan car to a singular victory at the 1978 Swedish GP. While Gordon Murray’s clever design, reminiscent of the 1970 Chaparral Can-Am car, was dominant on-track, it also created massive controversy in the paddock.

(more…)

Since Ronnie Peterson had finished runner-up to Jackie Stewart in 1971, Sweden was keen to host a round for the Formula 1 World Championship. When the switch to Lotus became imminent, negotiations with FISA were concluded and Anderstorp’s Scandinavian Raceway was chosen as location. But Denny Hulme knew no mercy and spoiled the Swedish party.

(more…)

17th of June - Jim Clark wins the 1962 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francochamps driving a Lotus 25 with a 1.5 Climax V8 engine. It was the Scotsman’s first of a total 25 career GP wins.

(more…)

16th of June - Sweden’s Jo Bonnier, pictured above in a Centro Sud-Maserati 250F at the 1957 Pescara Grand Prix, was a very competent privateer racer, an international socialite, and a heir to the Bonnier’s Aktiebolag publishing empire. That you might know by yourself. Now I’ve heard of an exciting film project that’s currently being produced and the filmmakers have secured a range of previously unseen footage as well as images. I’m not allowed to tell much more than this for the time being. But reading through the synopsis I found there’s a very interesting spin to it. Watch this space for more news on that.

(more…)

It is 15 years to the day that James Hunt passed away at his home in London due to a heart attack at the young age of 45 years. After watching from the trackside his rise from David “the shunt” Hunt to the 1976 World Champion, it was only at the 1993 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola that I finally had the pleasure to meet James personally.

(more…)

15th of June - Fifty years ago to the day Tony Brooks, driving a G.A. Vandervell Vanwall 57, wins the Belgian Formula 1 Grand Prix. It was the first time the Spa-Francorchamps circuit used the layout that would valid up until the late 1960s. At the same race Maria Theresa de Filipis made history by being the first woman ever to participate at a Formula 1 Grand Prix.

(more…)

“Whozzat” quiz no. 2 - Let’s see if you can guess who this is. Let’s try first without a tip.