John Surtees won the 1966 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, his first victory since 1964, in a race heavily disrupted by adverse weather.
Key Facts
- Race winner
- John Surtees (Ferrari 312)
- Circuit
- Spa-Francorchamps, 14.1 km
- Race distance
- 395 km over 28 laps
- Winning margin
- 42 seconds over Jochen Rindt
- Championship round
- Race 2 of 9
- Third place
- Lorenzo Bandini (Ferrari 246)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 1966 Formula One season introduced new three-litre engine regulations, prompting teams to source new power units. Adverse weather at Spa-Francorchamps severely affected the field in the opening laps, eliminating many competitors and dramatically reducing the number of finishers.
John Surtees, the 1964 world champion, drove his Ferrari 312 to victory at the 26th Belgian Grand Prix on 12 June 1966. Jochen Rindt finished second in a Cooper T81, recording his first podium and the first for the new Cooper-Maserati pairing, while Surtees' Ferrari team mate Lorenzo Bandini took third place.
Surtees' win, combined with Bandini's third place, elevated Bandini to the lead of the Drivers' Championship by one point over Surtees and Jackie Stewart. The result also confirmed the Cooper-Maserati combination as a competitive entry under the new three-litre formula.