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Massive pole!

27. Feb 2021 
by Ziv Knoll
8128 views

These were the days when a driver could show talent and bravery on a difficult, long and dangerous track, like here on the great Nürburgring of 22 km length, and make a huge difference.

On Saturday, conditions were so poor, with visibility down to 10 yards, that the organisers scheduled an additional practice session on Sunday ahead of the race. Still so many drivers slid off the track during the morning session.

Eventually, Belgian Jacky Ickx took pole position (in Fridays session) by a full 10.9 seconds (!) from second placed Chris Amon, both in a Ferrari. A performance unthinkable nowadays.

Picture above: Jacky Ickx and Chris Amon (Ferrari) share the front row with Jochen Rindt (Brabham-Repco).

At the time, Ickx became the youngest driver ever to sit on pole at the age of 23, a record beaten 14 years later when Andrea de Cesaris (Alfa Romeo) achieved pole position at the 1982 US Grand Prix West at Long Beach.

The race was won by Jackie Stewart (Matra-Ford). Ickx finished only fourth, having so much trouble with his fogged up visor that he tore it off (picture below), but that was less than ideal. Nevertheless, he would score two Grand Prix victories on this fantastic track, in 1969 in a Brabham-Ford and 1972 in a Ferrari.

Source: DR

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