In the collective memory of Formula 1 fans, the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix held on this day 40 years ago was all about the mercurial arrival on the scene of Ayrton Senna.
The F1 legend was just one lap away from making a massive splash in the Principality's torrential rain, and snatching a remarkable win from McLaren's Alain Prost.
However, third-placed man Stefan Bellof was actually the fastest driver on the track that day when the race was red flagged due to the daunting conditions.
Driving the nimble and agile Cosworth-powered Tyrrell 012, Bellof made a mockery of the treacherous elements as he hounded down both Prost and Senna, and would have perhaps overhauled both had the race run its full distance.
"I’m sure Stefan would have passed both Senna and Prost had the race continued," remembers his team mate back then, Martin Brundle.
"He was as quick a racing driver as I’ve ever seen."
Unfortunately, motor racing as a whole and Formula 1 in particular lost out badly when Stefan Bellof was killed at the Spa 1000 km in 1985.
