Mirage at the top

The 1973 1000 km of Spa-Francorchamps was promising to be a superb battle at high speed. The weather was fair, the Circuit National of Francorchamps was packed with spectators and the teams of Ferrari, Matra-Simca, Gulf-Mirage and Alfa Romeo were ready to go.

Picture above: Derek Bell steers his Mirage M6 through Eau Rouge, Spa-Francorchamps 1973.

The two Matra-Simca MS670 of Pescarolo-Larrousse and Amon-Hill were the favourites, but no-one underestimated the chances of local hero Jacky Ickx (with Brian Redman) in his Ferrari 312PB, always a factor in the Ardennes.

In the race, all favourites took the lead at a certain moment in the race, but all ran into trouble with mechanical or tire failures, and the two Gulf Mirage M6 of Derek Bell-Mike Hailwood and Vern Schuppan- Howden Ganley took a surprising and well deserved victory (picture here-under).