Chris Bristow, the British future star lost at Spa and his brief career in F1.
Chrisopher ‘Chris’ Bristow was one of those racing names that never quite reached the history books but left a lasting shadow over F1.
He was born in England, Lambeth – London, he grew up during a time when Britain was producing a wave of fearless young drivers.
By his early twenties, he already got a nickname ‘ The Wild Man of British club racing’, it was not a marketing slogan, it was an honest reflection of his driving.
Rising Through the Ranks
Bristow came up the hard way, unlike other driver, well sponsored, he earned his stripes in gritty club racing and British national events.
He raed an MG Special and quickly gained a reputation for a bold, attacking style that often left spectators shocked, his name began circulating through the racing world as one of Britains brightest hopes, a natural driver with enormous car control that even veteran drivers take notice.
However, by 1959, after his great performances, he caught the eye of Ken Gregory, who managed Stirling Moss and also ran the British Racing Paternership, Britow was given his first chance in F1.
At just 21, he made his debut at the British GP in 1959, altought his result did not make headlines, insiders noted his pace and aggression, the talent was clearly there and it only needed time.
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The Promise of 1960
1960 for the new season Bristow joined the Yeoman Credit Racing team, another private outfit running Coopers, it was an opportunity to prove himself against the best.
During non championship races, Bristow began showing flashes of brilliance, at the Monaco GP in 1960, he qualified ahead of several experienced drivers.
Lost at Spa
Spa 1960 Spa-Francorchamps race remains a dark day in F1 history, the track, set through the forests of Ardennes, was breathtakingly fast and frighteningly dangerous.
Long straight and blind corners with little or no barriers maeant that a single mistake could be fatal, that June weekend saw not just one but two young drivers lose their lives, Chris Bristow and Alan Stacey.
Even before the race began, tragedy had already struck, Moss suffered serious injuries in practice after terrifying crash that destroyed his Lotus, Mike Taylor was also badly hurt, yet the race went ahead as planned.
On Lap 20, Bristow locked in a fierce fight for position with Ferrari’s Wolfgang von Trips and Belgian driver Willy Mairesse.
The three were charging into Burnenville, one of the Spa’s most treacherous corners and a long, sweeping right-hander taken flat out at nearly 140mph.
Most agree that Bristow’s Cooper went wide, some witnesses believed he and Mairesse may have touched wheels, others though Bristow simply carried too much speed, whatever the cause, his car lost control, struck a low embankment and flipped.
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Bristow lost his life, the impact was horriffic, Jim Clark who was rookie in his third GP, was among those who came around the corner seconds later, passed by close of Bristow’s body.
Later Clark said that he never liked racing at Spa again, and Bristow’s death was one the reasons why.
Five laps later in lap 25 after Bristow crash, another British promising young driver, Alan Stacey lost his life, according to many, he was hit by a bird in his face and he crashed.
Remembering Chris Bristow
Bristow was only 22 years old, he had entered just 4 races in F1, but in that short time he left an impression on everyone who saw him drive.
He was unpredictable and very quick, a raw diamond who never got the chance to be polished.
Today, the British Racing Drivers’ Club, honors his name with the Chris Bristow trophy, awarded to promising young British drivers.
If fate had been kinder, Chris Bristow might have been one of the greats, instead, he became something else, a symbol of what might have been, and a haunting chapter in history of F1’s most dangerous years.
