Bruce McLaren won the 1968 Belgian Grand Prix from sixth on the grid, marking a notable victory for the McLaren team at Spa-Francorchamps.
Key Facts
- Race date
- 9 June 1968
- Circuit
- Spa-Francorchamps
- Race length
- 28 laps laps
- Winner's starting position
- 6th
- Championship round
- Race 4 of 12
- Notable incident
- Brian Redman crash on lap 7, broken right arm
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 1968 Formula One season was underway, with twelve rounds contested for both the World Championship of Drivers and the International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps served as the fourth round, drawing entries from McLaren, BRM, Ferrari, and Cooper, among other constructors.
On 9 June 1968, Bruce McLaren drove his McLaren to victory over 28 laps at Spa-Francorchamps, starting from sixth position. Pedro Rodríguez finished second for BRM and Jacky Ickx third for Ferrari. On lap seven, Brian Redman's Cooper suffered suspension failure, sending him into a concrete barrier and a parked car; his car caught fire but he survived with a severely broken right arm.
McLaren secured championship points in what was a significant result for the constructor. Redman's serious crash highlighted the dangers of the high-speed Spa circuit. The results contributed to the ongoing points battles in both the Drivers' and Manufacturers' championships for the 1968 season.