Christian Goethals

Christian Goethals (August 4, 1928 - February 26, 2003): A Belgian racing driver from Heule who competed in various motorsport disciplines during the 1950s and 1960s, representing Belgium in international competition. Goethals established his own racing team called Ecurie Eperon d'Or (Golden Spur Stable) to pursue his motorsport ambitions. He acquired a Cooper-Climax specifically to compete in the Formula Two class of the 1958 German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring, his sole Formula One World Championship entry. Driving the Cooper T43, Goethals' race ended early when he retired on lap 4 due to fuel pump problems, marking both his debut and final appearance in the Formula One World Championship.

Before his Formula One attempt, Goethals had been competing as an amateur in sports car racing throughout the 1950s, particularly driving a Porsche Spyder in various events. He found more success in these disciplines, as well as in hill climb competitions within Belgium, where his skills were better suited to the intimate knowledge of local circuits and the demands of Belgian motorsport venues. After his brief Formula One appearance, Goethals never returned to the World Championship, instead focusing his efforts on domestic Belgian racing where he could compete more regularly and with greater success. He continued his involvement in motorsport through the early 1960s before eventually stepping back from competition.

Goethals passed away in Kortrijk, Belgium, in 2003 at the age of 74, remembered as one of Belgium's privateer racing enthusiasts who took his chance at the highest level of the sport, representing his country at the challenging Nurburgring circuit.