On this day in 1968, McLaren’s founder Bruce McLaren stood on top of the podium at Spa after winning the Belgian GP
Bruce McLaren clinched his team’s first championship Grand Prix victory at Spa Francorchamps in the 1968 F1 Belgian Grand Prix after a race-long duel with Pedro Rodriguez. McLaren F1 team shared a throwback video on Twitter in remembrance for the historic win which took place on this very day, 44 years ago.
McLaren raced its first Grand Prix in 1966 in Monaco and it only completed 9 laps after an oil leak on the car. The team had to wait until 1968 before getting their first taste of victory – on the top of the podium. Who else but their inspirational founder – Bruce McLaren was the one to bring home the glory!
The iconic Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium was the location. Starting the race 6th on the grid it seemed like he had a battle on his hands but Bruce persevered and 28 laps later took that chequered flag. McLaren was established as a winning team.
Interestingly, the victory came much to the New Zealand driver’s surprise. Bruce was unaware that race leader Jackie Stewart was forced to make a late stop for fuel, gifting the team their first win. McLaren became only the second driver in history to take victory driving a car carrying his own name, Jack Brabham being the first.
Bruce McLaren has left behind an unmatched legacy in the history of motorsports
Bruce McLaren’s name lives on in the McLaren team which has been one of the most successful in Formula One championship history, winning a total of 8 World Constructors’ Championships and 12 World Drivers’ Championships. McLaren cars dominated CanAm sports car racing with 56 wins, a considerable number of them with him behind the wheel, between 1967 and 1972 (and five constructors’ championships), and have won three Indianapolis 500 races, as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 12 Hours of Sebring.
Bruce McLaren passed away (aged 32) when his Can-Am car crashed on the Lavant Straight just before Woodcote corner at Goodwood Circuit in England on 2 June 1970. He had been testing his new McLaren M8D when the rear bodywork came adrift at speed. The loss of aerodynamic downforce destabilised the car, which spun, left the track, and hit a bunker used as a flag station.
The team Bruce McLaren founded in 1963 would continue on after his death and win 8 Constructors’ Championships and 12 Drivers’ Championships in Formula One.
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