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Gurney masters Spa

04. Mar 2022 
by Ziv Knoll
7058 views

The 1967 Belgian Grand Prix was held at Spa-Francorchamps on 18 June 1967. The 28-lap race was won by Eagle driver American Dan Gurney, after he started from second position. It was the first ever Formula One win for an USA-built car (besides at the Indianapolis 500).

Early on, Gurney (Picture above) had to come into the pits for a spark plug change, losing valuable time. Stewart (BRM) was now leading but his gearshift was faltering.

Dan Gurney set a new lap record to catch and pass him 8 laps from the end and gain a maiden victory for the beautiful magnesium and titanium Eagle car he had built.

The lightweight and advanced aerodynamics of the car made it very fast, and in the capable hands of the American, shattered Tony Brooks’ record Grand Prix average of 143 mph (set 8 years earlier in a Vanwall), on his way to victory.

The Eagle was timed at 196 mph (315 km/h) on the back straight, an extraordinary speed for a car with an engine (the Weslake) producing something less than 400 bhp.

Picture below: Gurney crossed the finishing line 1 min 03 sec ahead of Stewart (BRM) and Chris Amon (Ferrari).

 

Source: DR

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