1972 Belgian Grand Prix

The 1972 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Nivelles on 4 June 1972. It was race 5 of 12 in both the 1972 World Championship of Drivers and the 1972 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers. The 85-lap race was won by Lotus driver Emerson Fittipaldi after he started from pole position. François Cevert finished second for the Tyrrell team and McLaren driver Denny Hulme came in third.

1972 Belgian Grand Prix
Race details
Date	June 4, 1972
Location	Nivelles-Baulers, Nivelles, Belgium
Course	Permanent racing facility
Course length	3.72 km (2.314 miles)
Distance	85 laps, 316.2 km (196.69 miles)
Pole position
Driver	Emerson Fittipaldi	Lotus-Ford
Time	1:11.43
Fastest lap
Driver	Chris Amon	Matra
Time	1:12.12 on lap 66
Podium
First	Emerson Fittipaldi	Lotus-Ford
Second	François Cevert	Tyrrell-Ford
Third	Denny Hulme	McLaren-Ford
Lap leaders

Reigning World Champion Jackie Stewart was a notable absence – his gruelling schedule of racing in Formula 1, Can-Am and European touring cars, plus promotional events for Tyrrell sponsors Elf and Ford, as well as a sideline of sports commentating on television in the US led to what was originally diagnosed as an ulcer, but was later confirmed as gastritis. Under doctor's orders, he took about three weeks off from everything, canceled his involvement with the Can-Am series and US TV for the remainder of 1972, and was restricting his schedule of everything else.