1968 Belgian Grand Prix

Lore & Background

The 28-lap race was won by McLaren driver Bruce McLaren after he started from sixth position. Pedro Rodríguez finished second for the BRM team and Ferrari driver Jacky Ickx came in third. On the seventh lap Brian Redman went off the circuit when his suspension failed and he crashed into and over a concrete barrier and into a parked car. His Cooper caught fire but Redman escaped with a severely broken right arm and a few minor burns.

In Their Own Story

The rain hammered against Bruce McLaren's visor as he carved through Eau Rouge, the old Spa circuit stretching out like a grey ribbon lost in the Ardennes mist. Behind him, the roar of rivals faded; ahead lay only the treacherous tarmac and the unknown. He could feel the M7A's chassis flexing under the stress—a sensation from a design he had drawn himself. The Cosworth engine sang its high-pitched promise, a sound that had finally matured into a victory cry. Cresting the hill at Malmedy, the checkered flag didn't just signal a finish; it signaled a coronation. Bruce eased off the throttle, a rare smile breaking his concentration as the dream of a win in a car bearing his own name solidified into history.

Did You Know?

• Bruce McLaren started the 1968 Belgian Grand Prix from sixth position on the grid.
• The race was 28 laps long at the old Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
• On lap 7, Brian Redman's Cooper caught fire after a crash, but he escaped with a severely broken right arm and minor burns.
• Pedro Rodríguez finished second for BRM, and Jacky Ickx took third for Ferrari.
• This victory was the first Formula One World Championship win for the McLaren team.