Belgian Grand Prix 1962 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Jim Clark announced his arrival as a championship contender with a dominant victory at Spa-Francorchamps, taming the fearsome Belgian circuit with a performance that showcased his extraordinary natural talent. The young Scot's mastery of the ultra-fast Ardennes layout was absolute, as he demonstrated the smooth, flowing driving style that would soon revolutionize Formula 1. Clark's Lotus 25 monocoque chassis, Colin Chapman's latest innovation, proved ideally suited to Spa's high-speed demands, with its lighter weight and superior rigidity giving the Scot a decisive advantage through the circuit's daunting sequence of flat-out corners. The victory marked Clark's emergence from Jim Hill's shadow and established him as the driver to beat, showcasing a level of natural ability that left rivals in awe.

Graham Hill secured a hard-fought second place for BRM, maintaining his championship challenge with another solid points finish. Phil Hill completed the podium in third for Ferrari, but the American was clearly struggling with both his car and his relationship with the Italian team following the previous year's tragic events. Clark's Spa triumph demonstrated that when his Lotus-Climax held together, he was virtually unbeatable, lapping the circuit with a fluidity and speed that seemed to defy physics. The race highlighted the championship battle shaping up between Hill's consistency in the BRM and Clark's raw speed in the fragile Lotus, a contrast that would define the season's narrative.