1976 Belgian Grand Prix

1976 Belgian Grand Prix
Race 5 of 16 in the 1976 Formula One season ← Previous race Next race →
Race details
Date	May 16, 1976
Official name	XXXIV Grote Prijs van Belgie[1]
Location	Circuit Zolder, Heusden-Zolder, Belgium
Course length	4.262 km (2.648 miles)
Distance	70 laps, 298.34 km (185.38 miles)
Pole position
Driver	Niki Lauda	Ferrari
Time	1:26.55[2]
Fastest lap
Driver	Niki Lauda	Ferrari
Time	1:25.98[3]
Podium
First	Niki Lauda	Ferrari
Second	Clay Regazzoni	Ferrari
Third	Jacques Laffite	Ligier-Matra
Lap leaders

The 1976 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Zolder, near Heusden-Zolder in Belgium on 16 May 1976. The race was the fifth round of the 1976 Formula One season. It was the 34th Belgian Grand Prix and the third to be held at Circuit Zolder. Zolder was a replacement venue as Nivelles-Baulers near Brussels was due to host the race in rotation with Zolder but the track surface at Nivelles had deteriorated and Zolder would host the race until the return of Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in 1983. The race was held over 70 laps of the 4.3-kilometre circuit for a total race distance of 298 kilometres.

The race was won by Ferrari driver, Niki Lauda driving a Ferrari 312T2, who increased his lead in the World Drivers' Championship to 29 points by doing so. His Swiss teammate, Clay Regazzoni, finished the race in second position, 3.4 seconds behind Lauda. Third was taken by French driver Jacques Laffite driving a Ligier JS5. It was Lauda's fourth win of the year in what was a dominant display by the reigning champion. Laffite's third place was his second podium after finishing second in the 1975 German Grand Prix the previous year and the first such finish for the new Équipe Ligier team.