97

Grand Prix de Belgique

18 Jun 1961Spa-Francorchamps423.000 km (14100 m x 30 Laps)

Pole Position: Phil Hill, Ferrari 156, 3:59.3 (212.1 km/h) Fastest Lap: Richie Ginther, Ferrari 156, 3:59.8 (211.7 km/h lap 20) Race Results: Pos Car# Driver Car Time Speed 1 4 Phil Hill Ferrari 156 2:03:03.8 206.2 km/h 2 2 Wolfgang von Trips Ferrari 156 2:03:04.5 206.2 km/h 3 6 Richie Ginther Ferrari 156 2:03:23.3 205.7 km/h 4 8 Olivier Gendebien Ferrari 156 2:03:49.4 205.0 km/h 5 24 John Surtees Cooper T53-Climax 2:04:30.6 203.8 km/h 6 20 Dan Gurney Porsche 718/2 2:04:34.8 203.7 km/h 7 18 Jo Bonnier Porsche 718/2 2:05:50.9 201.7 km/h 8 14 Stirling Moss Lotus 18/21-Climax 2:06:59.4 199.9 km/h 9 40 Jackie Lewis Cooper T53-Climax -1 Lap 10 44 Masten Gregory Cooper T53-Climax -1 Lap 11 22 Carel Godin de Beaufort Porsche 718 -2 Laps 12 34 Jim Clark Lotus 21-Climax -6 Laps 13 38 Tony Brooks BRM P48/57-Climax -6 Laps Did Not Finish: 36 Graham Hill BRM P48/57-Climax 24 Oil leak/Ignition 26 Maurice Trintignant Cooper T51-Maserati 23 Gearbox 46 Lorenzo Bandini Cooper T53-Maserati 20 Oil pressure/Engine 28 Jack Brabham Cooper T55-Climax 12 Engine 12 Lucien Bianchi Lotus 18-Climax 9 Oil leak 32 Innes Ireland Lotus 21-Climax 9 Engine 30 Bruce McLaren Cooper T55-Climax 9 Ignition 10 Willy Mairesse Lotus 18-Climax 7 Ignition/Engine Did Not Start: 42 Tony Marsh Lotus 18-Climax Starting bonus not paid 48 Wolfgang Seidel Lotus 18-Climax Starting bonus not paid 50 Ian Burgess Lotus 18-Climax Starting bonus not paid 10 Willy Mairesse Emeryson 61-Maserati Car not competitive 12 Lucien Bianchi Emeryson 61-Maserati Car not competitive 16 Cliff Allison Lotus 18-Climax Injured in practice accident 16 Henry Taylor Lotus 18-Climax Car damaged by Allison Lap Leaders: Car# Driver Car Laps Total 4 Phil Hill Ferrari 156 1 20 8 Olivier Gendebien Ferrari 156 2 3 4 Phil Hill Ferrari 156 3-5 8 Olivier Gendebien Ferrari 156 6-7 4 Phil Hill Ferrari 156 8 2 Wolfgang von Trips Ferrari 156 9-10 7 4 Phil Hill Ferrari 156 11-13 2 Wolfgang von Trips Ferrari 156 14 4 Phil Hill Ferrari 156 15 2 Wolfgang von Trips Ferrari 156 16 4 Phil Hill Ferrari 156 17-18 2 Wolfgang von Trips Ferrari 156 19-20 4 Phil Hill Ferrari 156 21-23 2 Wolfgang von Trips Ferrari 156 24 4 Phil Hill Ferrari 156 25-30 Fastest Laps: Pos Car# Driver Car Time Speed Lap 1 6 Richie Ginther Ferrari 156 3:59.8 211.7 20 2 4 Phil Hill Ferrari 156 4:00.1 211.4 21 3 2 Wolfgang von Trips Ferrari 156 4:01.4 210.3 21 4 8 Olivier Gendebien Ferrari 156 4:01.7 210.0 5 5 24 John Surtees Cooper T53-Climax 4:05.2 207.0 11 6 20 Dan Gurney Porsche 718/2 4:05.8 206.5 30 7 36 Graham Hill BRM P48/57-Climax 4:06.3 206.1 4 8 38 Tony Brooks BRM P48/57-Climax 4:07.8 204.8 20 9 18 Jo Bonnier Porsche 718/2 4:08.1 204.6 14 10 28 Jack Brabham Cooper T55-Climax 4:08.3 204.4 5 11 40 Jackie Lewis Cooper T53-Climax 4:09.4 203.5 29 12 14 Stirling Moss Lotus 18/21-Climax 4:09.6 203.4 6 13 44 Masten Gregory Cooper T53-Climax 4:09.7 203.3 21 14 26 Maurice Trintignant Cooper T51-Maserati 4:11.3 202.0 19 15 22 Carel Godin de Beaufort Porsche 718 4:12.0 201.4 22 16 34 Jim Clark Lotus 21-Climax 4:12.9 200.7 14 17 30 Bruce McLaren Cooper T55-Climax 4:15.0 199.1 8 18 32 Innes Ireland Lotus 21-Climax 4:17.6 197.1 4 19 46 Lorenzo Bandini Cooper T53-Maserati 4:19.0 196.0 10 20 12 Lucien Bianchi Lotus 18-Climax 4:34.3 185.1 4 21 10 Willy Mairesse Lotus 18-Climax 4:34.7 184.8 2 Qualifying Times: Pos Car# Driver Car Time Speed Entrant 1 4 Phil Hill Ferrari 156 3:59.3 212.1 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 2 2 Wolfgang von Trips Ferrari 156 4:00.1 211.4 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 3 8 Olivier Gendebien Ferrari 156 4:03.0 208.9 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 4 24 John Surtees Cooper T53-Climax 4:06.0 206.3 Yeoman Credit Racing Team 5 6 Richie Ginther Ferrari 156 4:06.1 206.3 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 6 36 Graham Hill BRM P48/57-Climax 4:07.6 205.0 Owen Racing Organisation 7 38 Tony Brooks BRM P48/57-Climax 4:07.9 204.8 Owen Racing Organisation 8 14 Stirling Moss Lotus 18/21-Climax 4:08.2 204.5 R.R.C. Walker Racing Team 9 18 Jo Bonnier Porsche 718/2 4:08.3 204.4 Porsche System Engineering 10 20 Dan Gurney Porsche 718/2 4:08.4 204.3 Porsche System Engineering 11 28 Jack Brabham Cooper T55-Climax 4:08.6 204.2 Cooper Car Co 12 44 Masten Gregory Cooper T53-Climax 4:10.2 202.9 Camoradi International 13 40 Jackie Lewis Cooper T53-Climax 4:11.1 202.2 H&L Motors 14 22 Carel Godin de Beaufort Porsche 718 4:16.7 197.7 Ecurie Maarsbergen 15 30 Bruce McLaren Cooper T55-Climax 4:17.4 197.2 Cooper Car Co 16 34 Jim Clark Lotus 21-Climax 4:17.7 197.0 Team Lotus 17 46 Lorenzo Bandini Cooper T53-Maserati 4:19.0 196.0 Scuderia Centro Sud 18 32 Innes Ireland Lotus 21-Climax 4:20.0 195.2 Team Lotus 19 10 Willy Mairesse Lotus 18-Climax 4:20.6 194.8 Equipe Nationale Belge 20 26 Maurice Trintignant Cooper T51-Maserati 4:21.4 194.2 Scuderia Serenissima 21 42 Tony Marsh Lotus 18-Climax 4:23.2 192.9 Tony Marsh 22 10 Willy Mairesse Emeryson 61-Maserati 4:27.3 189.9 Equipe Nationale Belge 23 12 Lucien Bianchi Emeryson 61-Maserati 4:27.3 189.9 Equipe Nationale Belge 24 48 Wolfgang Seidel Lotus 18-Climax 4:27.4 189.8 Scuderia Colonia 25 50 Ian Burgess Lotus 18-Climax 4:37.6 182.9 Camoradi International 26 16 Cliff Allison Lotus 18-Climax - - UDT Laystall Racing Team 27 16 Henry Taylor Lotus 18-Climax - - UDT Laystall Racing Team Friday Practice: Pos Car# Driver Car Time Speed 1 2 Wolfgang von Trips Ferrari 156 4:04.0 208.0 2 8 Olivier Gendebien Ferrari 156 4:05.8 206.5 3 4 Phil Hill Ferrari 156 4:06.3 206.1 4 36 Graham Hill BRM P48/57-Climax 4:07.6 205.0 5 20 Dan Gurney Porsche 718/2 4:08.4 204.3 6 24 John Surtees Cooper T53-Climax 4:09.1 203.8 7 38 Tony Brooks BRM P48/57-Climax 4:09.8 203.2 8 6 Richie Ginther Ferrari 156 4:10.5 202.6 9 28 Jack Brabham Cooper T55-Climax 4:12.2 201.3 10 18 Jo Bonnier Porsche 718/2 4:12.3 201.2 11 44 Masten Gregory Cooper T53-Climax 4:13.5 200.2 12 14 Stirling Moss Lotus 18/21-Climax 4:14.3 199.6 13 40 Jackie Lewis Cooper T53-Climax 4:18.0 196.7 14 22 Carel Godin de Beaufort Porsche 718 4:18.4 196.4 15 30 Bruce McLaren Cooper T55-Climax 4:22.9 193.1 16 46 Lorenzo Bandini Cooper T53-Maserati 4:26.8 190.3 17 42 Tony Marsh Lotus 18-Climax 4:26.8 190.3 18 12 Lucien Bianchi Emeryson 61-Maserati 4:27.3 189.9 19 10 Willy Mairesse Emeryson 61-Maserati 4:27.3 189.9 20 48 Wolfgang Seidel Lotus 18-Climax 4:33.0 185.9 21 50 Ian Burgess Lotus 18-Climax 4:57.2 170.8 22 26 Maurice Trintignant Cooper T51-Maserati 8:54.8 94.9 Saturday Practice: Pos Car# Driver Car Time Speed 1 4 Phil Hill Ferrari 156 3:59.3 212.1 2 2 Wolfgang von Trips Ferrari 156 4:00.1 211.4 3 8 Olivier Gendebien Ferrari 156 4:03.0 208.9 4 24 John Surtees Cooper T53-Climax 4:06.0 206.3 5 6 Richie Ginther Ferrari 156 4:06.1 206.3 7 38 Tony Brooks BRM P48/57-Climax 4:06.9 205.6 8 14 Stirling Moss Lotus 18/21-Climax 4:08.2 204.5 9 18 Jo Bonnier Porsche 718/2 4:08.3 204.4 11 28 Jack Brabham Cooper T55-Climax 4:08.6 204.2 12 44 Masten Gregory Cooper T53-Climax 4:10.2 202.9 10 20 Dan Gurney Porsche 718/2 4:10.9 202.3 13 40 Jackie Lewis Cooper T53-Climax 4:11.1 202.2 14 22 Carel Godin de Beaufort Porsche 718 4:16.7 197.7 15 30 Bruce McLaren Cooper T55-Climax 4:17.4 197.2 16 34 Jim Clark Lotus 21-Climax 4:17.7 197.0 17 46 Lorenzo Bandini Cooper T53-Maserati 4:19.0 196.0 18 32 Innes Ireland Lotus 21-Climax 4:20.0 195.2 19 10 Willy Mairesse Lotus 18-Climax 4:20.6 194.8 20 26 Maurice Trintignant Cooper T51-Maserati 4:21.4 194.2 21 42 Tony Marsh Lotus 18-Climax 4:23.2 192.9 24 48 Wolfgang Seidel Lotus 18-Climax 4:27.4 189.8 25 50 Ian Burgess Lotus 18-Climax 4:37.6 182.9 23 12 Lucien Bianchi Emeryson 61-Maserati 4:49.3 175.5
Starting Grid:
4 Phil Hill
Ferrari 156
3:59.3
2 Wolfgang von Trips
Ferrari 156
4:00.1
8 Olivier Gendebien
Ferrari 156
4:03.0
24 John Surtees
Cooper T53-Climax
4:06.0
6 Richie Ginther
Ferrari 156
4:06.1
36 Graham Hill
BRM P48/57-Climax
4:07.6
38 Tony Brooks
BRM P48/57-Climax
4:07.9
14 Stirling Moss
Lotus 18/21-Climax
4:08.2
18 Jo Bonnier
Porsche 718/2
4:08.3
20 Dan Gurney
Porsche 718/2
4:08.4
28 Jack Brabham
Cooper T55-Climax
4:08.6
44 Masten Gregory
Cooper T53-Climax
4:10.2
40 Jackie Lewis
Cooper T53-Climax
4:11.1
22 Carel Godin de Beaufort
Porsche 718
4:16.7
30 Bruce McLaren
Cooper T55-Climax
4:17.4
32 Innes Ireland
Lotus 21-Climax
4:20.0
46 Lorenzo Bandini
Cooper T53-Maserati
4:19.0
34 Jim Clark
Lotus 21-Climax
4:17.7
10 Willy Mairesse
Lotus 18-Climax
4:20.6
26 Maurice Trintignant
Cooper T51-Maserati
4:21.4
12 Lucien Bianchi
Lotus 18-Climax
No time
Notes:
  • 2 entries each from 5 teams (Ferrari, Porsche, Lotus, Cooper, BRM) plus Equipe Nationale Belge, R.R.C. Walker Racing Team, Trintignant and Surtees were granted starting bonus leaving 3 places open for starting bonus. de Beaufort and Bandini decided to start without starting bonus.
  • Mairesse and Bianchi practiced in Emerysons, but started in lent Lotuses.
  • Clark and Ireland qualified 16th and 18th but started 18th and 16th respectively.
  • Weather: Overcast.
  • Race Review:

    A year after the traumatic Belgian race the F1 teams gathered again at Spa with a few changes from the Dutch Grand Prix three weeks previously. Innes Ireland, who had broken his leg at Monaco, was back in action for Team Lotus, which had new Lotus 21s for Ireland and Jim Clark. Ferrari had a fourth car painted up in Belgian racing yellow for Olivier Gendebien, which was being run by Ecurie Nationale Belge, which also had a pair of Emeryson chassis for Lucien Bianchi and Willy Mairesse. These were both damaged in practice and so Bianchi and Mairesse took over the non-qualified Lotus 18s on Tony March and Wolfgang Seidel. BRP was also in trouble with only one Lotus 18 to be shared by Cliff Allison and Henry Taylor. The team decided that the fastest driver would race. As a result Allison went too fast, crashed heavily, rolling the car and suffered severe leg injuries which would end his F1 career.

    Phil Hill took pole with Wolfgang von Trips alongside while Gendebien made the most of his local experience to take third despite using a less powerful engine than the factory Ferraris. Richie Ginther's Ferrari shared the second row with John Surtees in Reg Parnell's Cooper-Climax.

    Hill took the lead at the start but was then passed by Gendebien while von Trips and Ginther joined the fun. The lead changed several times before Hill took the lead from von Trips and Ginther. Gendebien was fourth giving Ferrari a straight 1-2-3-4 result. Surtees was fifth although he had to battle early in the race with Graham Hill's BRM which eventually went out with electrical trouble. Dan Gurney finished sixth in his Porsche.