Grand Prix Gold: 1982 Belgian GP
Formula 1 lost one of its greatest talents at Zolder, as Gilles Villeneuve was tragically killed in a massive practice accident. Amidst the sadness the race went ahead, with John Watson claiming a joyless third grand prix win
For 64 of the 70 laps at Zolder last Saturday, Keke Rosberg and the new Williams FW08 led the field over the line. At the beginning Keke was bested temporarily by René Arnoux's Renault but the Frenchman was soon in trouble. From then on, until lap 69, the tiny white car held sway on its first public appearance.
But Rosberg was in trouble for much of the race. An early challenge from Niki Lauda's McLaren faded when the Austrian's tyres began to go off, and he briefly lost second to the vastly improved Andrea de Cesaris, whose Alfa Romeo was in contention from the start, but retired at half distance with transmission failure.
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