“The Smiling Dane”

Tom Belso, Denmark’s first Formula One driver, has died yesterday (aged 77) following a long battle with illness.

“The Smiling Dane”, as he was known to the racing fraternity, was an excellent mechanic who happened to be a very good driver.

Belso moved from Formula Ford to FAtlantic in 1971, winning at Snetterton, Castle Combe and Mallory Park. We then saw him in F2 briefly and in F5000 (1973-1974), winning again at Snetterton.

Belso tried his luck in F1 and qualified for two of the five Grand Prix for which he was entered in Frank Williams’ Iso Marlboro, he is seen here (picture) at the 1974 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami.

His best result came in Sweden 1974, where he finished his only complete Grand Prix, in eight place. In 1977, he retired from racing to found Belso Cereals in England.