1985 Spa crash Bellof - Ickx

Stefan Bellof crashes to death trying to overtake Ickx in the famous Eua Rouge corner at Spa in 1985

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Stefan
• Bellof
• Spa
• 1985
• Ickx

[WindmillStalker]

Wasn't really anyone's fault...it's racing on the edge....one might argue Bellof tried to hard to get a line in on Ickx, but that's what racing drivers do.

It's just tragic.

[JeanAlesi90]

yep the latest F1 racing magazine says that Bellof tried to pass Ickx going through eau rouge. He must have had massive courage. RIP

[pauloararaquara]

I think it's strange that at 0:15 you realizes that Ickx remained on the left, preparing to tangent perfectly the Eau Rouge, but suddenly, at 0:18 he brings to the car sharply to the right as if he knows that Bellof would overtakes him and he remains well to the right until the end of Down Hill, completely out of the ideal trajectory, and again brings the car to the left abruptly at 0:20, as if he wanted to close the passage of Bellof, rather than brakes and leaving it overtake!

[Kayisadj]

@mrgiokay1 because it is eau rouge where they touch. Raidillon is the righthander leading uphill

[MissEgasMoniz]

No fault on Ickx - still hard to believe this crash was fatal for Bellof.

[imakeumadLOL]

A shame really, what a true talent Bellof was. You can't blame this crash on anyone. Just hard racing with cars that were tin cans. These group C cars hauled ass, but with materials used to make them lighter and the lack of research into crush points on cars and walls it made this impact 100x more serve. It's hard to say this about the Group C cars, as they produced great racing but they were too fast for their time. The raw power was incredible, everything else was thrown out the window.

[MrGiokay1]

Why does everyone calls it eau rouge? it's Radion xS I go there 2 or 3 times a year!

[Kinneballer36]

This is racing. Going on a track with a lot of cars that reach speeds over 150 mph with uphill corners and driving close to each other is dangerous. A slight error is enough to get yourself and/or someone else killed. That's the risk of this sport.

I doubt he would take such a risk for himself to try to crash him.

[TheColinChapman]

Anyone trying to blame Jacky Ickx for risking this crash deliberately should bear in mind - how could Jacky have known in advance that a crash at 260 would only kill his opponent? The result of this crash could as well end up in killing Jacky instead of Stefan (or both of them).

[TheColinChapman]

@FreeYourMind911 This is true. Sad but true. But I tend to think that - if Stefan had not died that day, he would have killed himself in motor racing in 1986 or 1987 or 1988 or some other day. Keep in mind that back in these days F1 racing was not safe either, just remember Elio de Angelis' death in 1986 in a Brabham. De mortibus nihil nisi bene, but Stefan probably was a bit too fearless considering the poor safety standards at that time.

[FreeYourMind911]

@TheColinChapman

Anyway... was it Ickx fault or not, it doesn't bring Belof back.

What a shame, what a talent RIP Stefan

[FreeYourMind911]

@TheColinChapman

yes right, but look how much place ickx have at moment he start to spins and how agressive he whell to to the left like in scooter.

very strange raceline (wide to right and than sharp left) and especialy for someone who knows that there is very fast car so close behind you