1962 Belgian Grand Prix

1962 Belgian Grand Prix
Race details
Date 17 June 1962
Official name XXII Grote Prijs van Belgie
Location Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Spa, Belgium
Course Temporary road circuit
Course length 14.100 km (8.761 miles)
Distance 32 laps, 451.200 km (280.363 miles)
Weather Sunny
Pole position
Driver BRM
Time 3:57.0
Fastest lap
Driver United Kingdom Jim Clark Lotus-Climax
Time 3:55.6 on lap 15
Podium
First Lotus-Climax
Second BRM
Third Ferrari
Lap leaders

The 1962 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Spa-Francorchamps on 17 June 1962. It was race 3 of 9 in both the 1962 World Championship of Drivers and the 1962 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. This race was notable for being the first Grand Prix win for Jim Clark, and the first of four consecutive victories at Spa for the Scotsman (despite thoroughly disliking the circuit) and Team Lotus. It was also the first win for the famous Lotus 25, and the beginning of the famous 6-year-long rivalry between Clark and Graham Hill. This race was held the same day as the 1962 FIFA World Cup Final in Santiago, Chile, but that event took place later in the day from this Grand Prix.

Ricardo Rodríguez became the youngest driver to score championship points (20 years, 123 days), a record which stood for 38 years before Jenson Button, aged 20 years, 67 days, broke it at the 2000 Brazilian Grand Prix. Trevor Taylor and Willy Mairesse were fighting for 2nd place until the 2 cars touched, crashed into a ditch and Mairesse's car landed upside down and caught fire. Both drivers were thrown out of their cars, but were unhurt.