Jean Pierre Beltoise died today aged 77 http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/117273. He is mostly remembered for his win in the 1972 Monaco GP, often described as the 'wettest GP ever'
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Jean Pierre Beltoise died today aged 77 http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/117273. He is mostly remembered for his win in the 1972 Monaco GP, often described as the 'wettest GP ever'
Anyone watching JPB's total domination at Monaco 72 could assume it portended more victories to come. Although he stayed with BRM for another 2 years and had a 2nd, this was to be it for F1. This was also BRM's last win, so the fault did not lie with JPB.
Sad to see time catching up to many GP drivers of that era.
Those were the days when it took real balls to drive those cars at the limit on the tracks of the time. The notice of his death made me find a video of the drive at Monaco. Incredible!!
Regarding J-P Beltoise F1 career - an enigma?
What he did reminds a bit of Panis to be honest. Panis achieved his solitary F1 win in the same way - a great drive in wet conditions at Monaco. I know Panis was lucky that day with multiple retirements in front of him, but his drive/performance/speed itself was nonetheless very good given the machinery (midfield Ligier).
I think it's a very fair comparison; also, Panis would, I feel, have achieved much more in F1 had it not been for his injury — just like Beltoise. And you're right, it was a super drive at Monaco in '96, though we're in danger of drifting off-topic.Quote:
Originally Posted by jens
I'm embarrassed to have only known til recently and to miss this thread. RIP.