1987 Belgian Grand Prix

Infobox Grand Prix race report
Type = F1
Country = Belgium
Grand Prix = Belgian
Official name = Grand Prix de Belgique
Date = May 17
Year = 1987
Race_No = 3
Season_No = 16
Location = Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Francorchamps, Belgium
Course = Permanent racing facility
Course_mi = 4.312
Course_km = 6.940
Distance_laps = 43
Distance_mi = 185.429
Distance_km = 298.420
Weather = Cloudy and cool
Pole_Driver = Nigel Mansell
Pole_Team = Williams-Honda
Pole_Time = 1:52.026
Pole_Country = UK
Fast_Driver = Alain Prost
Fast_Team = McLaren-TAG
Fast_Time = 1:57.153
Fast_L

Fast_Country = France
First_Driver = Alain Prost
First_Team = McLaren-TAG
First_Country = France
Second_Driver = Stefan Johansson
Second_Team = McLaren-TAG
Second_Country = Sweden
Third_Driver = Andrea de Cesaris
Third_Team = Brabham-BMW
Third_Country = Italy

The 1987 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on May 17, 1987 at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Francorchamps. It was the 3rd race of the 1987 Formula One season.

Race summary

Qualifyings saw the two Williams taking the front row, with Nigel Mansell on pole,nearly 1.5 seconds faster than Nelson Piquet, while Ayrton Senna took the third place in his Lotus, ahead of the two Ferraris of Gerhard Berger and Michele Alboreto.

The race required two starts: at the first start Mansell took the lead ahead of Senna, Piquet and Alboreto; at the back of the grid René Arnoux and Andrea de Cesaris tangled, whilst Thierry Boutsen hit Berger's spinning Ferrari. A more serious accident befell Philippe Streiff who crashed heavily at the Eau Rouge before the wreckage was hit by teammate Jonathan Palmer; both were unhurt but their Tyrrell were reduced to scrap.

At the second start, Senna led Mansell away, but during lap 1 the British tried to overtake the Brazilian: the two controversially tangled, leading to the retirement of the Lotus; Mansell rejoined the race at the back, until the damage sustained in the collision finally forced him to retire, on lap 17. Mansell subsequently visited the Lotus garage where harsh words were exchanged and punches were thrown.

Berger retired on lap 3 with a broken piston whilst on lap 10 second place Michele Alboreto's wheel bearing broke and Nelson Piquet retired with a broken turbo pipe, handing the lead to Alain Prost from Teo Fabi and Stefan Johansson. The pitsops changed little in the situation, and he maintained this to win easily by 25 seconds, despite concerns with his fuel consumption due to a faulty gauge.

This was Prost's 27th win, equalling Jackie Stewart's record with team-mate Johansson making it a McLaren 1-2. Andrea de Cesaris drove superbly to finish 3rd for Brabham despite having to push his car over the line with Eddie Cheever, Satoru Nakajima and Arnoux taking the remaining points.

Classification

Numbers in brackets refer to positions of normally-aspirated entrants competing for the Jim Clark Trophy.

Notes

*27th victory for Prost, record equalizer.

References

* "Unless otherwise indicated, all race results are taken from cite web |title=The Official Formula 1 website |url=http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1987/281/ |accessdate=2007-07-08

F1 race report
Name_of_race = Belgian Grand Prix
Year_of_race = 1987
Previous_race_in_season = 1987 San Marino Grand Prix
Next_race_in_season = 1987 Monaco Grand Prix
Previous_year's_race = 1986 Belgian Grand Prix
Next_year's_race = 1988 Belgian Grand Prix