In 1985, Thierry Boutsen created an iconic moment in F1 history. During the Imola GP, the Belgian crossed the finish line in third place – on foot, no less. Forty years later, Boutsen (67) returns to the circuit, where on Saturday afternoon, in the run-up to the Emilia-Romagna GP in Imola, he will symbolically push his Arrows-BMW A8 across the finish line once again. “I find it very exciting.”
This coming weekend in Imola, history will come alive again when you are reunited with the 1985 Arrows, thanks to Arie Ruitenbeek of BMW Dusseldorp and Ernest Knoors of Parabolica, who have restored the car.
“I must confess, I find it very exciting. And wonderful at the same time, because I had so much fun with this car. So many beautiful memories, especially in Imola. I finished third, but was eventually classified as second because the initial winner Alain Prost was disqualified. It was my first podium in Formula 1. And then also an iconic finish. I pushed the car the last fifty meters. Whether I’m going to do that again? That’s the plan. I’m going to try…”
Saving Fuel
How exactly did that pushing happen in 1985?
“Back then, we only had one button in the cockpit for the boost pressure, and a tachometer. That’s it. We had no idea how much fuel we were consuming. I remember driving as slowly as possible throughout the entire race to save fuel, knowing that fuel consumption in Imola is always very high. That approach worked perfectly. Until fifty meters before the finish line…”
And then? Unbuckle the seatbelts and start pushing?
“Absolutely! It was all intentional. I knew the rules and understood that the driver was not allowed to push the car, except if the car was in a dangerous position. When the car stalled, I deliberately left it on the track instead of parking it on the grass, so I could push it. I had this scenario in my mind during the final lap. And the trick worked, call it a spontaneous strategic decision.”
