Porsche Team driver Timo Bernhard has paid a touching tribute to his hero and former Spa 1000kms winner Stefan Bellof.
Bernhard will be racing in a replica Bellof helmet which depicts the famous design which incorporates the national German colours. Bellof used the design for the majority of his professional career from 1980-1985.
“Stefan was my idol and a hero in Germany,” says Bernhard. “I was just a little too young to remember him racing but I remember the day he died very clearly. This tribute is just my way of getting people to remember what he achieved as we approach the 30th anniversary of his death.
“I actually have got to know his family quite well and some of them will be here this weekend. This will be very nice,” continued Bernhard. “He is still a champion in their eyes and also in many German race fans' eyes too. I hope we get a good result this weekend so we can complete the tribute in that good way.”
Bellof took victory at Spa in 1984 racing a works Porsche 956 with Derek Bell on his way to claiming the World Championship. The German was running concurrently in F1 with the Tyrrell team and at the 1985 Spa 1000kms was racing for the Brun team. While challenging Jacky Ickx for the lead into Eau Rouge Bellof crashed, fatally.
Just 27 years of age when he died, Bellof left a thrilling legacy in endurance racing, including setting an incredible 6m11.13s lap record of the Nurburgring in 1983 aboard a works Porsche 956.
Respected motorsport journalist Michael Cotton, who covered most of Bellof’s sportscar races, remembers Bellof well and believes he possessed a remarkable talent.
“I have good memories of Stefan, he was a fearless competitor and very, very talented,” recalls Cotton. “He was also a very nice and friendly man, who was very popular with his team. He would have been Germany’s first F1 champion, I have no doubt about that.”
Sam Smith
