1961 Belgian Grand Prix

The 1961 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 18 June 1961 at Spa-Francorchamps. It was race 3 of 8 in both the 1961 World Championship of Drivers and the 1961 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers.

1961 Belgian Grand Prix
Race details
Date	18 June 1961
Official name	XXI Grote Prijs van Belgie
Location	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Spa, Belgium
Course	Street circuit/Racing facility
Course length	14.1 km (8.761 mi)
Distance	30 laps, 423.0 km (262.8 mi)
Weather	Sunny
Pole position
Driver	Phil Hill	Ferrari
Time	3.59.3
Fastest lap
Driver	Richie Ginther	Ferrari
Time	3.59.8 on lap 20
Podium
First	Phil Hill	Ferrari
Second	Wolfgang von Trips	Ferrari
Third	Richie Ginther	Ferrari
Lap leaders

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 Marsh and Seidel, who had decided not to race. The race was completely dominated by the Ferrari team, with the four works drivers finishing 1-2-3-4. This was the last time any constructor achieved this score in a F1 race.[1] While Graham Hill took the lead at the start from sixth on the grid, he could not hold off the Italian cars and all had passed him by the end of the first lap. Hill fought with John Surtees for fifth place until he retired with an oil leak on the 24th lap.