Timo Bernhard donned black with red and orange stripes at Spa to honour the memory of his compatriot and former F1 and sports car driver, Stefan Bellof on the 30 years after his fateful passing at Spa-Francorchamps in1985.
Arguably one of Germany greatest unfulfilled talents, Bellof won the World Sportscar Championship in 1984 whilst juggling Formula One duties in the largely uncompetitive Tyrell-Ford alongside Martin Brundle.
“I remember the 1st of September 1985,” then four-year-old Bernhard recalls. “I was playing in the living room when the news about his accident broke on TV.”
Ten years later, Bernhard took part in the Stefan Bellof memorial race where he claimed pole and finished second. At the prize giving ceremony he met Georg Bellof, Stefan’s father.
“He was great with us boys,” Bernhard remembers. “It was the 10 year anniversary of Stefan’s accident and after the race I got chatting to his dad.”
Given Bellof set the fastest lap ever on the Nordschleife configuration at the Nurburgring in 1983, it was fitting that Berhard should take pole for the 6 Hours of Spa carrying Bellof’s colours.
Watch the video to see Bernhard explain the significance of his very special Spa commemorative helmet.
Bernhard's Bellof Tribute