On 31st August, Formula One history delivered high drama, heartbreak, and turning points. In this episode of Chequered Past, we revisit the 1980 Dutch Grand Prix — The Dutch Duel That Tightened the Title — where Nelson Piquet seized his second career victory at Zandvoort to close Alan Jones’ championship lead and set up a tense run-in to the season’s finale.
We also celebrate the birth of Raymond Sommer, the French endurance legend who conquered Le Mans, fought in the Resistance, and delivered Ferrari’s first major Grand Prix victory. We look back at the career of Luca di Montezemolo, the Ferrari president whose leadership ushered in golden eras with both Niki Lauda and Michael Schumacher. We pause to remember Anthoine Hubert, whose tragic death at Spa in 2019 sent shockwaves through the racing world, and we revisit the cancelled 2003 Belgian Grand Prix — a story of politics, sponsorship, and the compromise that brought Spa back to the calendar.
From title duels and historic milestones to legacies of leadership and loss, Episode 92 shows why the 31st of August is one of motorsport’s most remarkable days.
Cover image: Piquet at 1980 Dutch Grand Prix - Pereira, Fernando / Anefo / neg. stroken, 1945-1989, 2.24.01.05, item number 930-9905 - CC BY-SA 3.0 NL
Music by #Mubert Music Rendering
