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Cuts and bruises

20. Jan 2022 
by Ziv Knoll
1495 views

Belgian ace Willy Mairesse (photo here-above) qualified his Ferrari 156 sixth for the 1962 Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, while pole position went to Graham Hill in a BRM.

During the event Mairesse and Trevor Taylor in a Lotus duelled for more than an hour, passing and re-passing a number of times each lap. Every time he crossed the start-finish line, Mairesse was cheered heartily by an enthusiastic crowd.

The two cars came together at more than 150 miles per hour in the long left-hand Blanchimont turn. Mairesse’s Ferrari went off to the left, crashed into a ditch and caught fire after flipping over (picture below). He was thrown out of his car and his shoes and the legs of his trousers were torn off.

He was conscious, despite numerous scrapes, cuts and burns. At the hospital, he was reported to be in good spirits and without any serious injuries. Two weeks later, the brave Mairesse finished fourth in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

Source: DR

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