- Belgian Grand Prix
Tyrrell benefits in Belgium
After playing a leading part in a protest by drivers to have the troublesome track declared unfit for racing, Jackie Stewart won the Belgian Grand Prix in his Tyrell Ford.
In warm weather, in front of a moderate crowd reduced by the possibility of cancellation, Stewart took the lead from Emerson Fittipaldi after 25 of the 70 laps after the Brazilian developed fuel pressure problems.
As the Tyrrell took over the lead, Fittipaldi dropped back further and was overtaken by the recovering Cevert leaving the Lotus third ahead of Andre de Adamich (Brabham), Niki Lauda's BRM and the Tecno of Chris Amon.
The surface, which had caused problems before the race was blamed for a number of accidents and no fewer than eight cars slid into crash barriers, fortunately none with any serious consequences. Denny Hulme went off on the sandy verge and had trouble with grit in his throttle slides as a result. Ronnie Peterson had his third crash of the day joining the line of disconsolate drivers who went to the pits on foot.
Chris Amon, who finished sixth in a Tecno, had to be lifted from the cockpit afterwards as his car had overheated considerably - an hour after the finish he was still lying in the paddock in a state of dehydration.
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