Tom Belsø facts for kids
| Born | 27 August 1942 Søborg, Copenhagen, Denmark |
|---|---|
| Died | 12 January 2020 (aged 77) Rushden, United Kingdom |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  Danish |
| Active years | 1973–1974 |
| Teams | Frank Williams Racing Cars |
| Entries | 5 (2 starts) |
| Championships | 0 |
| Wins | 0 |
| Podiums | 0 |
| Career points | 0 |
| Pole positions | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 0 |
| First entry | 1973 Swedish Grand Prix |
| Last entry | 1974 British Grand Prix |
Tom Belsø was a Danish race car driver. He was born on August 27, 1942, and passed away on January 12, 2020. He is known as the first Formula One driver from Denmark.
Early Racing Days
Tom Belsø began his racing journey in touring cars. These are modified road cars that race on tracks. He won his very first race in this type of car. In 1969, he became the champion of the Scandinavian Touring Car series.
In 1972, Tom moved up to Formula Two racing. This is a step below Formula One. His best finish was fourth place at the Albi Grand Prix. He also raced in Formula 5000 in 1973, which used powerful 5-liter engines. Tom also took part in some special Formula One races that were not part of the championship. He finished seventh in the 1973 Race of Champions. He also placed eighth in the 1973 BRDC International Trophy. In 1974, he won a race at Snetterton in the Rothmans 5000 European Championship.
Formula One Adventures
Tom Belsø got his chance in Formula One, the highest level of racing. He joined the Frank Williams Racing Cars team. In 1973, he tried to race at the Swedish Grand Prix. However, he could not start because his sponsorship money did not arrive.
In 1974, Tom tried four times to qualify for a Formula One race with Williams. He successfully qualified for two races. These were the South African Grand Prix and the Swedish Grand Prix. In South Africa, his car's clutch broke on the very first lap. This meant he had to stop racing early. In Sweden, he finished his only complete Grand Prix race. He crossed the finish line in eighth place.
Life After Racing
In 1977, Tom Belsø started a company called Belso Cereals. This company made breakfast cereals and was located in Peterborough, England.
Tom Belsø passed away on January 12, 2020, at the age of 77.
