Tom Belsø (27 August 1942 – 12 January 2020) was a Danish racing driver who made history as the first driver from Denmark to compete in the Formula One World Championship. Although his time in Formula One was brief, Belsø enjoyed a successful career across touring cars, Formula Two, Formula 5000 and sports car racing, becoming one of Scandinavia’s leading drivers during the 1970s.
Driver Bio
| Nationality | Danish |
| Birthplace | Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Born | 27 August 1942 |
| Died | 11 January 2020 |
| First Grand Prix | 1973 Swedish Grand Prix |
| Last Grand Prix | 1974 British Grand Prix |
| Years Active | 1973–1974 |
| Current/Last Team | Frank Williams Racing Cars |
Early Career
Belsø began his racing career in touring cars and made an immediate impact by winning his very first race. His early success continued throughout the decade, culminating in the 1969 Scandinavian Touring Car Championship, where he established himself as one of the region’s top competitors.
In 1972, he stepped up to the highly competitive European Formula Two Championship. His strongest result came at the Albi Grand Prix, where he finished fourth, helping him secure 17th place in the final championship standings.
The following season saw Belsø expand his racing programme by competing in Formula 5000 with a Lola chassis. He also gained valuable experience in non-championship Formula One events, recording seventh place in the 1973 Race of Champions and eighth in the 1973 BRDC International Trophy. Although later appearances in the 1974 BRDC International Trophy and the 1975 Race of Champions both ended in retirement, he continued to build his reputation as a versatile single-seater driver.
Belsø remained a regular competitor in Formula 5000, contesting the 1974 Rothmans Formula 5000 European Championship. He claimed victory at Snetterton and finished eighth overall in the championship. Later, he returned to the category in the 1977 Shellsport 5000/Libre series, finishing fifth in the standings driving a Radio Luxembourg-sponsored Lola T330-Chevrolet.
Formula One Career
Belsø’s first Formula One opportunity came at the 1973 Swedish Grand Prix, where he qualified an Iso-Marlboro for Frank Williams Racing Cars. However, despite earning a place on the grid, he was unable to start the race after expected sponsorship funding failed to arrive, preventing his participation.
He returned to Formula One in 1974 and attempted to qualify for four World Championship Grands Prix with the Frank Williams again. Belsø successfully made the grid twice, at the South African and Swedish Grands Prix.
His South African Grand Prix ended almost immediately when the clutch on his car failed on the opening lap, forcing an early retirement. Later that season, at his home Scandinavian event in Sweden, Belsø completed his only full Formula One World Championship race, finishing eighth and becoming the first Danish driver to take the chequered flag in a Formula One Grand Prix.
Legacy
Although Tom Belsø’s Formula One career consisted of only a handful of race weekends, he broke new ground for Danish motorsport by becoming the country’s first Formula One World Championship driver. His achievements in touring cars, Formula Two and Formula 5000 demonstrated his versatility, while his pioneering role paved the way for future generations of Danish drivers to reach the pinnacle of international motorsport.
Complete Formula One results
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | WDC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Frank Williams Racing Cars | Iso-Marlboro IR | Cosworth V8 | ARG | BRA | RSA | ESP | BEL | MON | SWE DNS‡ | FRA | GBR | NED | GER | AUT | ITA | CAN | USA | NC | 0 |
| 1974 | Frank Williams Racing Cars | Iso-Marlboro FW | Cosworth V8 | ARG | BRA | RSA Ret | ESP DNQ | BEL | MON | SWE 8 | NED | FRA | GBR DNQ | GER | AUT | ITA | CAN | USA | NC | 0 |
Teammates & Qualifying Head-to-Head
| Teammate | Years | Races | Qualifying H2H |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howden Ganley | 1973 | 1 | – |
| Arturo Merzario | 1974 | 4 | – |
| Richard Robarts | 1974 | 1 | – |
