Reassessing Stefan Bellof - 30 years on
Stefan Bellof lost his life in a sportscar race at Spa 30 years ago this week. GARY WATKINS analyses his reputation and asks whether he would have reached the top in Formula 1
The laptimes defied logic, and Derek Bell sidled up to the Nurburgring pitwall. He suggested it might be time to hang out the 'HOLD' board to his mercurial young team-mate.
Porsche's management didn't agree and minutes later Stefan Bellof crashed out of the lead in spectacular fashion after taking off at Pflanzgarten.
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Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 33rd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 80 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.
Gary, who also writes for Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton close to the former workshops of the Cooper Formula 1 team but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.
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