For the 1966 Formula 1 season Grand Prix cars would be very different. Engine capacity was doubled, allowing units of up to three litres. Inevitably, some teams were better prepared than others. Ferrari adapted a trusted sports car unit for the task, while Brabham commissioned the Repco company to modify a Chevrolet block.
BRM were developing a complex H16 engine, which Lotus would try as well. Cooper had to resort to using a Maserati unit which was almost prehistoric in origin. Lotus, among other teams, also had to make do with an enlarged customer Coventry Climax engines, as the company had withdrawn from Grand Prix racing.
Stewart and BRM Win Monaco Grand Prix
Jim Clark was on pole at Monaco, but John Surtees was the early leader in his Ferrari. The Englishman eventually dropped out with transmission failure, which left the way clear for Jackie Stewart to win for BRM. Lorenzo Bandini finished second in another Ferrari, with Graham Hill third in his BRM. Bob Bondurant was fourth and Ritchie Ginther fifth, although a number of laps behind.
Surtees and Ferrari First in Belgian Grand Prix
The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps started in tricky conditions and many drivers were caught out by standing water on the first lap. Mike Spence, Jo Bonnier, Jo Siffert, Denny Hulme, Jim Clark, Hill and Bob Bondurant all went off and had their races ended. Stewart also crashed out and had to be rescued from his BRM by fellow drivers using tools borrowed from a spectator’s car. The Scotsman would be out of action for a while.
The race continued and, for many laps, Austrian youngster Jochen Rindt led in his Cooper. Eventually he was passed by Surtees and had to settle for second, but it had been an impressive performance. Third place went to Bandini, with Jack Brabham fourth and Ginther fifth. The Spa weekend saw the first appearance of Dan Burney’s Eagle car, although it was powered by a Climax engine while the Weslake unit was completed.
Brabham Victorious at Reims
Surtees was in a Cooper for the French Grand Prix, having had one disagreement too many with Ferrari team manager Eugenio Dragoni. It was Bandini who claimed pole, ahead of Surtees and Formula 1 debutante Mike Parkes in a Ferrari. Clark missed the race after being injured in qualifying, when he was hit in the face by a bird.
Bandini led the race, only for his Ferrari to develop a throttle problem. Brabham, who started the race from fourth, came through to win. Parkes impressed everyone by finishing second, while Hulme was third in the other Brabham. Rindt was fourth, Gurney fifth and John Taylor sixth.
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