Defending Formula 1 World Champion Jack Brabham had yet to win a Grand Prix in 1960 by the time the teams arrived for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. The Cooper driver soon made amends, and went on to record a string of Grand Prix victories.
Brabham Wins Dutch Grand Prix
The grid at Zandvoort was headed by Stirling Moss, with Brabham second fastest in his Cooper. Innes Ireland was third for Lotus and Jo Bonnier fourth in the BRM. Brabham took the lead and was chased by Moss. The leading Cooper dislodged a kerbstone which damaged Moss’s following car. The Englishman had to pit for repairs which dropped him out of contention for victory.
Alan Stacey, who raced despite having an artificial leg, was very fast in his Lotus until the car broke. Dan Gurney had an enormous accident at the Tarzan corner. Unfortunately, his airborne BRM killed a bystander. At the finish it was Brabham first and Ireland second. Graham Hill finished third, ahead of the delayed Moss. Wolfgang von Trips was fifth, ahead of his Ferrari team-mate Richie Ginther.
Tragic Belgian Grand Prix Weekend
The Spa-Francorchamps meeting got off to a bad start with two very serious accidents. Moss lost a wheel and crashed heavily, receiving serious but not life threatening injuries. Mike Taylor had the steering on his Lotus fail. His injuries were severe enough to end his career. Taylor later managed to sue Lotus for damages.
Worse was to follow in the race. Chris Bristow lost control at Malmedy and was killed instantly in a violent crash. Just minutes later Stacey was hit in the face by a bird and crashed to his death. Jim Clark drove past the accidents and later admitted that they had made him consider giving up racing altogether.
Brabham won the tragic race, ahead of his Cooper team-mate Bruce McLaren. Graham Hill was third for Lotus, ahead of Belgian racer Olivier Gendebien. Clark finished in fifth, with Lucien Bianchi taking the final World Championship point in a Cooper.
Brabham’s Third Victory of Season at Reims
Brabham started from pole in France and won the race. He was challenged for a while by Phil Hill, before the American dropped back with a transmission problem. Gendebien finished second, with McLaren third, Henry Taylor fourth, Clark fifth and Ron Flockhart sixth. Moss was absent from the weekend as he was still recovering from his crash at the Belgian Grand Prix meeting.
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