French Grand Prix

French Grand Prix
Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours
Race information
Laps 70
Circuit length 4.411 km (2.741 mi)
Race length 308.586 km (191.755 mi)
Number of times held 86
First held 1906
Last held 2008
Most wins (drivers) Michael Schumacher (8)
Most wins (constructors) Ferrari (17)
Last race (2008):
Pole position Kimi Räikkönen
Ferrari
1:16.449
Podium 1. Felipe Massa
Ferrari
1h 31m 50.245s
(201.608 km/h)
2. Kimi Räikkönen
Ferrari
+17.984s
3. Jarno Trulli
Toyota
+28.250s
Fastest lap Kimi Räikkönen
Ferrari
1:16.630

The French Grand Prix (1906-1967: Grand Prix de l'ACF, 1968-2008: Grand Prix de France) was a race held as part of Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's annual Formula One automobile racing championships.

Grand Prix motor racing originated in France and the French Grand Prix, open to international competition, is the oldest Grand Prix race, first run on 26 June 1906 under the auspices of the Automobile Club de France in Sarthe, with a starting field of 32 automobiles.

The first World Championships were organized in 1925 with the French Grand Prix, the Italian Grand Prix, the Belgian Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500. The French Grand Prix was part of the Formula One championships from their inception in 1950 until 2008. It was designated the European Grand Prix four times between 1924 and 1966, when this title was an honorary designation given each year to one grand prix race in Europe.

The race has been held at various racetracks throughout France, such as the Autodrome de Montlhéry. Since 1991 its permanent home was the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. The move to Magny-Cours was an attempt to stimulate the economy of the area, but many within Formula One complained about the remote nature of the circuit.

The 2004 and 2005 races were in doubt because of financial problems and the addition of new circuits to the Formula One calendar. These races went ahead as planned, but it still had an uncertain future.

On 29 March 2007 it was announced by the FFSA, the race promoter, that the 2008 French Grand Prix was put on an indefinite "pause". This suspension was due to the financial situation of the circuit, known to be disliked by many in F1 due to the circuit's location.[1] On 31 May, Bernie Ecclestone confirmed (at the time) that the 2007 French Grand Prix would be the last to be held at Magny-Cours.[2]

However, after various negotiations, the future of the race at Magny-Cours took another turn, with increased speculation that the 2008 French Grand Prix would return, with Ecclestone himself stating "We're going to maybe resurrect it for a year, or something like that".[3] On 24 July, Ecclestone and the French Prime Minister met and agreed to possibly maintain the race at Magny Cours for 2008 and 2009.[4] The change in fortune was completed on 27 July, when the FIA published the 2008 calendar with a 2008 French Grand Prix scheduled at Magny-Cours once again.[5] The 2009 race, however, was again cancelled on 15 October 2008, with the official website citing "economic reasons".[6] A huge makeover of Magny-Cours ("2.0") was planned,[7][8] but cancelled in the end. The race's promoter FFSA then started looking for an alternative host. There were five different proposals for a new circuit: in Rouen with 3 possible layouts: a street circuit, in the dock area, or a permanent circuit near the airport,[9][10] a street circuit located near Disneyland Resort Paris,[11][12] Versailles,[13][14] and in Sarcelles (Val de France),[15] but all were cancelled. A final location in Flins-Les Mureaux, near the Flins Renault Factory was being considered[16] however that was cancelled as well on 1 December 2009.[17] In 2010 and 2011, there was no French Grand Prix on the Formula 1 calendar, although the Paul Ricard Circuit has candidated itself for 2012.[18] The French Grand Prix was not included in the released 2012 schedule, but there have been discussions about placing the event back onto the Formula 1 calendar, possibly splitting years with the Belgian Grand Prix.

Contents

Sponsors

Winners of the French Grand Prix

Repeat winners (drivers)

Embolded drivers are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season.
A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship. A cream background indicates an event which was part of the pre-war European Championship.

Number of wins Driver Years
8 Michael Schumacher 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006
6 Alain Prost 1981, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993
5 Louis Chiron 1931[2], 1934, 1937, 1947, 1949
4 Juan Manuel Fangio 1950, 1951[3], 1954, 1957
Nigel Mansell 1986, 1987, 1991, 1992
3 Jack Brabham 1960, 1966, 1967
Jackie Stewart 1969, 1971, 1972
2 Christian Lautenschlager 1908, 1914
Felice Nazzaro 1907, 1922
Georges Boillot 1912, 1913
Giuseppe Campari 1924, 1933
Robert Benoist 1925, 1927
William Grover-Williams 1928, 1929
Jean-Pierre Wimille 1936, 1948
Mike Hawthorn 1953, 1958
Dan Gurney 1962, 1964
Jim Clark 1963, 1965
Ronnie Peterson 1973, 1974
Mario Andretti 1977, 1978
Niki Lauda 1975, 1984

^ Louis Chiron won the 1931 race, but shared the win in the Bugatti with Achille Varzi.
^ Juan Manuel Fangio won the 1951 race, but shared the win in the Alfa Romeo 159-car with Luigi Fagioli.

Repeat winners (constructors)

Embolded teams are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season.
A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship. A cream background indicates an event which was part of the pre-war European Championship.

# of wins Constructor Years won
17 Ferrari 1952, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1968, 1975, 1990, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008
8 Williams 1980, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 2003
7 Lotus 1963, 1965, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1977, 1978
6 Bugatti 1926, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1936
Alfa Romeo 1924, 1932, 1934, 1948, 1950, 1951
Renault 1906, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 2005
5 McLaren 1976, 1984, 1988, 1989, 2000
4 Brabham 1964, 1966, 1967, 1985
2 Peugeot 1912, 1913
Mercedes 1908, 1914
Fiat 1907, 1922
Delage 1925, 1927
Mercedes-Benz 1935, 1938
Talbot-Lago 1947, 1949
Maserati 1933, 1957
Tyrrell 1971, 1972
Benetton 1994, 1995

By year

A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

A cream background indicates an event which was part of the pre-war European Championship.

Year Driver Constructor Location Report
2008 Felipe Massa Ferrari Magny-Cours Report
2007 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari Magny-Cours Report
2006 Michael Schumacher Ferrari Magny-Cours Report
2005 Fernando Alonso Renault Magny-Cours Report
2004 Michael Schumacher Ferrari Magny-Cours Report
2003 Ralf Schumacher Williams-BMW Magny-Cours Report
2002 Michael Schumacher Ferrari Magny-Cours Report
2001 Michael Schumacher Ferrari Magny-Cours Report
2000 David Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes Magny-Cours Report
1999 Heinz-Harald Frentzen Jordan-Mugen-Honda Magny-Cours Report
1998 Michael Schumacher Ferrari Magny-Cours Report
1997 Michael Schumacher Ferrari Magny-Cours Report
1996 Damon Hill Williams-Renault Magny-Cours Report
1995 Michael Schumacher Benetton-Renault Magny-Cours Report
1994 Michael Schumacher Benetton-Ford Magny-Cours Report
1993 Alain Prost Williams-Renault Magny-Cours Report
1992 Nigel Mansell Williams-Renault Magny-Cours Report
1991 Nigel Mansell Williams-Renault Magny-Cours Report
1990 Alain Prost Ferrari Paul Ricard Short Circuit Report
1989 Alain Prost McLaren-Honda Paul Ricard Short Circuit Report
1988 Alain Prost McLaren-Honda Paul Ricard Short Circuit Report
1987 Nigel Mansell Williams-Honda Paul Ricard Short Circuit Report
1986 Nigel Mansell Williams-Honda Paul Ricard Short Circuit Report
1985 Nelson Piquet Brabham-BMW Paul Ricard Full Circuit Report
1984 Niki Lauda McLaren-TAG Dijon Report
1983 Alain Prost Renault Paul Ricard Full Circuit Report
1982 René Arnoux Renault Paul Ricard Full Circuit Report
1981 Alain Prost Renault Dijon Report
1980 Alan Jones Williams-Ford Paul Ricard Full Circuit Report
1979 Jean-Pierre Jabouille Renault Dijon Report
1978 Mario Andretti Lotus-Ford Paul Ricard Full Circuit Report
1977 Mario Andretti Lotus-Ford Dijon Report
1976 James Hunt McLaren-Ford Paul Ricard Full Circuit Report
1975 Niki Lauda Ferrari Paul Ricard Full Circuit Report
1974 Ronnie Peterson Lotus-Ford Dijon Report
1973 Ronnie Peterson Lotus-Ford Paul Ricard Full Circuit Report
1972 Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Ford Charade Report
1971 Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Ford Paul Ricard Full Circuit Report
1970 Jochen Rindt Lotus-Ford Charade Report
1969 Jackie Stewart Matra-Ford Charade Report
1968 Jacky Ickx Ferrari 312 Rouen-Les-Essarts Report
1967 Jack Brabham Brabham BT24 – Repco Le Mans-Bugatti Report
1966 Jack Brabham Brabham BT19 – Repco Reims Report
1965 Jim Clark Lotus 25 – Climax Charade Report
1964 Dan Gurney Brabham BT7 – Climax Rouen-Les-Essarts Report
1963 Jim Clark Lotus 25 – Climax Reims Report
1962 Dan Gurney Porsche 804 Rouen-Les-Essarts Report
1961 Giancarlo Baghetti Ferrari Dino 156 Reims Report
1960 Jack Brabham Cooper-Climax Reims Report
1959 Tony Brooks Ferrari Dino 246 Reims Report
1958 Mike Hawthorn Ferrari Dino 246 Reims Report
1957 Juan Manuel Fangio Maserati 250F Rouen-Les-Essarts Report
1956 Peter Collins Ferrari D50A Reims Report
1955 Not held
1954 Juan Manuel Fangio Mercedes W196 Reims Report
1953 Mike Hawthorn Ferrari 500 Reims Report
1952 Alberto Ascari Ferrari 500 Rouen-Les-Essarts Report
1951 Luigi Fagioli
Juan Manuel Fangio
Alfa Romeo 159 Reims Report
1950 Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo 158 Reims Report
1949 Louis Chiron Talbot-Lago T26C Reims Report
1948 Jean-Pierre Wimille Alfa Romeo 158 Reims Report
1947 Louis Chiron Talbot-Lago Monoplace C39 Lyon-Parilly Report
1946
-
1940
Not held
1939 Hermann Paul Müller Auto Union 3.0L Reims Report
1938 Manfred von Brauchitsch Mercedes-Benz W154 Reims Report
1937 Louis Chiron Talbot T150C Montlhéry Report
1936 Jean-Pierre Wimille
Raymond Sommer
Bugatti T57G Montlhéry Report
1935 Rudolf Caracciola Mercedes-Benz W25 Montlhéry Report
1934 Louis Chiron Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3 Montlhéry Report
1933 Giuseppe Campari Maserati 8C-3000 Montlhéry Report
1932 Tazio Nuvolari Alfa Romeo Tipo B P3 Reims Report
1931 Louis Chiron
Achille Varzi
Bugatti T51 Montlhéry Report
1930 Philippe Étancelin Bugatti T35C Pau Report
1929 William Grover-Williams Bugatti T35B Le Mans Report
1928 William Grover-Williams Bugatti T35C Saint-Gaudens Report
1927 Robert Benoist Delage 15-S8 Montlhéry Report
1926 Jules Goux Bugatti T39A Miramas Report
1925 Robert Benoist
Albert Divo
Delage 2LCV Montlhéry Report
1924 Giuseppe Campari Alfa Romeo P2 Lyon Report
1923 Henry Segrave Sunbeam Tours Report
1922 Felice Nazzaro Fiat 804 Strasbourg Report
1921 Jimmy Murphy Duesenberg Le Mans Report
1920
-
1915
Not held
1914 Christian Lautenschlager Mercedes 18/100 Lyon Report
1913 Georges Boillot Peugeot L5 Amiens Report
1912 Georges Boillot Peugeot L76 Dieppe Report
1911
-
1909
Not held
1908 Christian Lautenschlager Mercedes Dieppe Report
1907 Felice Nazzaro Fiat Dieppe Report
1906 Ferenc Szisz Renault Le Mans Report

References

  1. ^ ITV-F1.com 2008 French Grand Prix "Pause"
  2. ^ ITV-F1.com Ecclestone Confirms Magny Cours Departure
  3. ^ ITV-F1.com Magny-Cours set for reprieve
  4. ^ BBC Sport Formula One hope for French Grand Prix
  5. ^ "FIA reveals 18-race calendar for 2008". formula1.com. 27 July 2007. http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2007/7/6548.html. Retrieved 27 July 2007. 
  6. ^ "Grand Prix de France - Formule 1 : 28 juin 2009". Gpfrancef1.com. http://www.gpfrancef1.com/. Retrieved 2011-11-27. 
  7. ^ "June 19 2008". Grandprix.com. 2008-06-19. http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns20474.html. Retrieved 2011-11-27. 
  8. ^ "automobilsport.comautomobilsport.com June 20 2008". Automobilsport.com. http://www.automobilsport.com/race-categories--24,7855,Magny-Cours-2-Projet-de-modernisation-standardisation-du-Circuit-de-Nevers-Magny-Cours,news.htm. Retrieved 2011-11-27. 
  9. ^ "June 20 2008". Motorlegend.com. 2008-06-20. http://www.motorlegend.com/actualite-automobile/la-f1-peut-etre-a-rouen/2675.html. Retrieved 2011-11-27. 
  10. ^ [1] grandprix.com June 19, 2008
  11. ^ "Euro Disney the next venue for French GP?". Asiaone.com. http://www.asiaone.com/Motoring/Motorworld/Story/A1Story20081022-95423.html. Retrieved 2011-11-27. 
  12. ^ By  Noah Joseph RSS feed (2008-11-21). "Disney Grand Prix plans shelved". Autoblog.com. http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/21/euro-disney-grand-prix-plans-shelved/. Retrieved 2011-11-27. 
  13. ^ Versailles possible for French GP
  14. ^ "december 11 2007". Grandprix.com. 2007-12-11. http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns19929.html. Retrieved 2011-11-27. 
  15. ^ "Sarcelles bidding for a Grand Prix". Grandprix.com. 2008-09-17. http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns20785.html. Retrieved 2011-11-27. 
  16. ^ "More details emerge from Flins-Mureaux". GrandPrix.com (Inside F1, Inc.). 2009-03-16. http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns21245.html. Retrieved 2010-07-29. 
  17. ^ Noble, Jonathan (2009-12-01). "French GP plans suffer fresh blow". autosport.com (Haymarket Publications). http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80392. Retrieved 2009-12-01. 
  18. ^ "Paul Ricard Confirme sa Candidature pour 2011". Autonewsinfo.com. http://www.autonewsinfo.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4473&Itemid=226. Retrieved 2011-11-27. 

External links