1961 Belgian Grand Prix

Infobox Grand Prix race report
Type = F1
Country = Belgium
Grand Prix = Belgian
date=June 18
Year = 1961
Race_No = 3
Season_No = 8

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Official name = XXI Grote Prijs van Belgie
Location = Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Spa, Belgium
Course = Street circuit/Racing facility
Course_mi = 8.761
Course_km = 14.1
Distance_laps = 30
Distance_mi = 262.8
Distance_km = 423.0
Weather = Sunny
Pole_Driver = Phil Hill
Pole_Country = USA
Pole_Team = Ferrari
Pole_Time = 3.59.3
Fast_Driver = Richie Ginther
Fast_Team = Ferrari
Fast_Time = 3.59.8
Fast_L

Fast_Country = US
First_Driver = Phil Hill
First_Country = USA
First_Team = Ferrari
Second_Driver = Wolfgang von Trips
Second_Country = Germany
Second_Team = Ferrari
Third_Driver = Richie Ginther
Third_Country = USA
Third_Team = Ferrari

The 1961 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on 18 June 1961 at Spa-Francorchamps.

The organizers of the race invited 25 entries, but were only going to pay starting money to 19: sixteen pre-selected cars plus the 3 fastest of the remaining 9. Three of the cars without starting money decided not to race after practicing. A fourth entry was a single car for Cliff Allison and Henry Taylor. The team decided to let the fastest driver in practice compete, but Allison wrecked the car on his first practice lap. The Emeryson cars of Bianchi and Mairesse were also damaged beyond repair in practice, but they competed by using the older Lotus 18s of March and Seidel, who had decided not to race. The race was completely dominated by the Ferrari team. While Graham Hill made an amazing start to the lead from the third row, he could not hold off the Italian cars and all had passed him by the end of the first lap. There was some excitement for fifth place, with Graham Hill and Surtees passing each other for the position until Hill had to retire with an oil leak on the 24th lap.

Classification

Notes

* Pole position: Phil Hill - 3:59.3
* Fastest L
Richie Ginther - 3:59.8
* Lap Leaders: Phil Hill 20 laps (1, 3-5, 8, 11-13, 15, 17-18, 21-23, 25-30); Olivier Gendebien 3 laps (2, 6-7); Wolfgang von Trips 7 laps (9-10, 14, 16, 19-20, 24).

F1 race report
Name_of_race = Belgian Grand Prix
Year_of_race = 1961
Previous_race_in_season = 1961 Dutch Grand Prix
Next_race_in_season = 1961 French Grand Prix
Previous_year's_race = 1960 Belgian Grand Prix
Next_year's_race = 1962 Belgian Grand Prix