98

XLVIIe Grand Prix de l'A.C.F.

02 Jul 1961Reims431.704 km (8302 m x 52 Laps)

 Pole Position: Phil Hill, Ferrari 156, 2:24.9 (206.3 km/h) Fastest Lap: Phil Hill, Ferrari 156, 2:27.1 (203.2 km/h lap 18) Race Results: Pos Car# Driver Car Time Speed 1 50 Giancarlo Baghetti Ferrari 156 2:14:17.5 192.9 km/h 2 12 Dan Gurney Porsche 718/2 2:14:17.6 192.9 km/h 3 8 Jim Clark Lotus 21-Climax 2:15:18.6 191.4 km/h 4 6 Innes Ireland Lotus 21-Climax 2:15:27.8 191.2 km/h 5 4 Bruce McLaren Cooper T55-Climax 2:15:59.3 190.5 km/h 6 22 Graham Hill BRM P48/57-Climax 2:15:59.4 190.5 km/h 7 10 Jo Bonnier Porsche 718/2 2:17:32.9 188.3 km/h 8 42 Roy Salvadori Cooper T53-Climax -1 Lap 9 16 Phil Hill Ferrari 156 -2 Laps 10 30 Henry Taylor Lotus 18/21-Climax -3 Laps 11 46 Michel May Lotus 18-Climax -4 Laps 12 36 Masten Gregory Cooper T53-Climax -9 Laps 13 32 Maurice Trintignant Cooper T51-Maserati -10 Laps 14 38 Ian Burgess Lotus 18-Climax -10 Laps 15 18 Richie Ginther Ferrari 156 40 Oil pressure Did Not Finish: 26 Stirling Moss Lotus 18/21-Climax 31 Brakes 48 Willy Mairesse Lotus 21-Climax 27 Fuel system 14 Carel Godin de Beaufort Porsche 718 23 Overheating 28 Lucien Bianchi Lotus 18/21-Climax 21 Overheating/Clutch 20 Wolfgang von Trips Ferrari 156 18 Engine 34 Giorgio Scarlatti De Tomaso 001-OSCA 15 Engine 2 Jack Brabham Cooper T55-Climax 14 Oil pressure 52 Bernard Collomb Cooper T53-Climax 6 Engine 40 John Surtees Cooper T53-Climax 4 Suspension/Accident 24 Tony Brooks BRM P48/57-Climax 4 Overheating 44 Jackie Lewis Cooper T53-Climax 4 Overheating Did Not Start: 28 Juan Manuel Bordeu Lotus 18/21-Climax Car raced by Bianchi 46 Wolfgang Seidel Lotus 18-Climax Car raced by May Did Not Appear: 14 Hans Hermann Porsche 718 Car used by de Beaufort 46 Olivier Gendebien Emeryson 61-Maserati Car not competitive 48 Willy Mairesse Emeryson 61-Maserati Car not competitive 54 Brian Naylor JBW 61-Climax Car not ready Lap Leaders: Car# Driver Car Laps Total 16 Phil Hill Ferrari 156 1-12 32 20 Wolfgang von Trips Ferrari 156 13-17 5 16 Phil Hill Ferrari 156 18-37 18 Richie Ginther Ferrari 156 38-40 3 50 Giancarlo Baghetti Ferrari 156 41-43 7 10 Jo Bonnier Porsche 718/2 44 1 50 Giancarlo Baghetti Ferrari 156 45 12 Dan Gurney Porsche 718/2 46 4 50 Giancarlo Baghetti Ferrari 156 47 12 Dan Gurney Porsche 718/2 48-49 50 Giancarlo Baghetti Ferrari 156 50 12 Dan Gurney Porsche 718/2 51 50 Giancarlo Baghetti Ferrari 156 52 Fastest Laps: Pos Car# Driver Car Time Speed Lap 1 16 Phil Hill Ferrari 156 2:27.1 203.2 18 2 8 Jim Clark Lotus 21-Climax 2:30.1 199.1 3 3 26 Stirling Moss Lotus 18/21-Climax 2:30.4 198.7 2 4 12 Dan Gurney Porsche 718/2 2:30.8 198.2 50 5 50 Giancarlo Baghetti Ferrari 156 2:31.0 197.9 51 6 20 Wolfgang von Trips Ferrari 156 2:31.0 197.9 2 7 18 Richie Ginther Ferrari 156 2:31.2 197.7 34 8 10 Jo Bonnier Porsche 718/2 2:31.8 196.9 26 9 40 John Surtees Cooper T53-Climax 2:32.1 196.5 2 10 22 Graham Hill BRM P48/57-Climax 2:32.3 196.2 37 11 36 Masten Gregory Cooper T53-Climax 2:33.1 195.2 24 12 42 Roy Salvadori Cooper T53-Climax 2:33.7 194.5 35 13 6 Innes Ireland Lotus 21-Climax 2:34.0 194.1 12 14 4 Bruce McLaren Cooper T55-Climax 2:34.5 193.4 13 15 24 Tony Brooks BRM P48/57-Climax 2:35.6 192.1 2 16 30 Henry Taylor Lotus 18/21-Climax 2:37.2 190.1 22 17 48 Willy Mairesse Lotus 21-Climax 2:38.2 188.9 2 18 2 Jack Brabham Cooper T55-Climax 2:38.8 188.2 2 19 14 Carel Godin de Beaufort Porsche 718 2:39.1 187.9 9 20 46 Michel May Lotus 18-Climax 2:40.7 186.0 47 21 28 Lucien Bianchi Lotus 18/21-Climax 2:42.8 183.6 7 22 44 Jackie Lewis Cooper T53-Climax 2:44.3 181.9 2 23 38 Ian Burgess Lotus 18-Climax 2:44.9 181.2 41 24 32 Maurice Trintignant Cooper T51-Maserati 2:45.0 181.1 11 25 34 Giorgio Scarlatti De Tomaso 001-OSCA 2:48.0 177.9 5 26 52 Bernard Collomb Cooper T53-Climax 2:54.6 171.2 2 Qualifying Times: Pos Car# Driver Car Time Speed Entrant 1 16 Phil Hill Ferrari 156 2:24.9 206.3 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 2 20 Wolfgang von Trips Ferrari 156 2:26.4 204.1 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 3 18 Richie Ginther Ferrari 156 2:26.8 203.6 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC 4 26 Stirling Moss Lotus 18/21-Climax 2:27.6 202.5 R.R.C. Walker Racing Team 5 8 Jim Clark Lotus 21-Climax 2:29.0 200.6 Team Lotus 6 22 Graham Hill BRM P48/57-Climax 2:29.1 200.5 Owen Racing Organisation 7 40 John Surtees Cooper T53-Climax 2:29.1 200.5 Yeoman Credit Racing Team 8 4 Bruce McLaren Cooper T55-Climax 2:29.4 200.0 Cooper Car Co 9 12 Dan Gurney Porsche 718/2 2:29.6 199.8 Porsche System Engineering 10 6 Innes Ireland Lotus 21-Climax 2:29.8 199.5 Team Lotus 11 24 Tony Brooks BRM P48/57-Climax 2:29.9 199.4 Owen Racing Organisation 12 50 Giancarlo Baghetti Ferrari 156 2:30.5 198.6 Federazione Italiana Scuderie Automobilische 13 10 Jo Bonnier Porsche 718/2 2:30.5 198.6 Porsche System Engineering 14 2 Jack Brabham Cooper T55-Climax 2:31.0 197.9 Cooper Car Co 15 42 Roy Salvadori Cooper T53-Climax 2:31.2 197.7 Yeoman Credit Racing Team 16 36 Masten Gregory Cooper T53-Climax 2:31.3 197.5 Camoradi International 17 14 Carel Godin de Beaufort Porsche 718 2:31.8 196.9 Ecurie Maarsbergen 18 44 Jackie Lewis Cooper T53-Climax 2:32.0 196.6 H&L Motors 19 28 Lucien Bianchi Lotus 18/21-Climax 2:33.4 194.8 UDT Laystall Racing Team 20 48 Willy Mairesse Lotus 21-Climax 2:35.8 191.8 Team Lotus 21 52 Bernard Collomb Cooper T53-Climax 2:36.8 190.6 Bernard Collomb 22 46 Michel May Lotus 18-Climax 2:37.9 189.3 Scuderia Colonia 23 32 Maurice Trintignant Cooper T51-Maserati 2:38.8 188.2 Scuderia Serenissima 24 38 Ian Burgess Lotus 18-Climax 2:39.7 187.1 Camoradi International 25 30 Henry Taylor Lotus 18/21-Climax 2:40.3 186.4 UDT Laystall Racing Team 26 34 Giorgio Scarlatti De Tomaso 001-OSCA 2:47.1 178.9 Scuderia Serenissima 27 28 Juan Manuel Bordeu Lotus 18/21-Climax - - UDT Laystall Racing Team 28 46 Wolfgang Seidel Lotus 18-Climax - - Scuderia Colonia Not Present: 14 Hans Hermann Porsche 718 - - Ecurie Maarsbergen 46 Olivier Gendebien Emeryson 61-Maserati - - Equipe Nationale Belge 48 Willy Mairesse Emeryson 61-Maserati - - Equipe Nationale Belge 54 Brian Naylor JBW 61-Climax - - JBW Cars Wednesday Practice: Pos Car# Driver Car Time Speed 1 16 Phil Hill Ferrari 156 2:24.9 206.3 2 20 Wolfgang von Trips Ferrari 156 2:26.4 204.1 3 18 Richie Ginther Ferrari 156 2:27.4 202.8 4 26 Stirling Moss Lotus 18/21-Climax 2:27.6 202.5 5 22 Graham Hill BRM P48/57-Climax 2:29.1 200.5 6 6 Innes Ireland Lotus 21-Climax 2:30.2 199.0 7 8 Jim Clark Lotus 21-Climax 2:30.3 198.9 8 50 Giancarlo Baghetti Ferrari 156 2:30.9 198.1 9 40T John Surtees Cooper T53-Climax 2:31.2 197.7 10 42 Roy Salvadori Cooper T53-Climax 2:31.2 197.7 11 4 Bruce McLaren Cooper T55-Climax 2:31.3 197.5 12 36 Masten Gregory Cooper T53-Climax 2:31.9 196.8 13 24 Tony Brooks BRM P48/57-Climax 2:32.3 196.2 14 44 Jackie Lewis Cooper T53-Climax 2:33.0 195.3 15 40 John Surtees Cooper T53-Climax 2:33.3 195.0 16 30 Henry Taylor Lotus 18/21-Climax 2:33.8 194.3 17 52 Bernard Collomb Cooper T53-Climax 2:39.1 187.9 18 38 Ian Burgess Lotus 18-Climax 2:44.7 181.5 Thursday Practice: Pos Car# Driver Car Time Speed 1 18 Richie Ginther Ferrari 156 2:27.0 203.3 2 22 Graham Hill BRM P48/57-Climax 2:30.4 198.7 3 4 Bruce McLaren Cooper T55-Climax 2:30.4 198.7 4 6 Innes Ireland Lotus 21-Climax 2:30.5 198.6 5 50 Giancarlo Baghetti Ferrari 156 2:30.9 198.1 6 26 Stirling Moss Lotus 18/21-Climax 2:31.0 197.9 7 12 Dan Gurney Porsche 718/2 2:31.1 197.8 8 36 Masten Gregory Cooper T53-Climax 2:31.3 197.5 9 42 Roy Salvadori Cooper T53-Climax 2:31.3 197.5 10 24 Tony Brooks BRM P48/57-Climax 2:31.6 197.1 11 44 Jackie Lewis Cooper T53-Climax 2:32.0 196.6 12 40 John Surtees Cooper T53-Climax 2:32.2 196.4 13 2 Jack Brabham Cooper T55-Climax 2:33.1 195.2 14 14 Carel Godin de Beaufort Porsche 718 2:33.2 195.1 15 28 Lucien Bianchi Lotus 18/21-Climax 2:33.4 194.8 16 8 Jim Clark Lotus 21-Climax 2:33.7 194.5 17 32 Maurice Trintignant Cooper T51-Maserati 2:38.8 188.2 18 46 Michel May Lotus 18-Climax 2:40.2 186.6 19 38 Ian Burgess Lotus 18-Climax 2:40.9 185.8 20 34 Giorgio Scarlatti De Tomaso 001-OSCA 2:47.3 178.6 21 30 Henry Taylor Lotus 18/21-Climax 3:14.2 153.9 Friday Practice: Pos Car# Driver Car Time Speed 1 18 Richie Ginther Ferrari 156 2:26.8 203.6 2 20 Wolfgang von Trips Ferrari 156 2:28.7 201.0 3 8 Jim Clark Lotus 21-Climax 2:29.0 200.6 4 40 John Surtees Cooper T53-Climax 2:29.1 200.5 5 4 Bruce McLaren Cooper T55-Climax 2:29.4 200.0 6 12 Dan Gurney Porsche 718/2 2:29.6 199.8 7 6 Innes Ireland Lotus 21-Climax 2:29.8 199.5 8 24 Tony Brooks BRM P48/57-Climax 2:29.9 199.4 9 16 Phil Hill Ferrari 156 2:30.0 199.2 10 50 Giancarlo Baghetti Ferrari 156 2:30.5 198.6 11 10 Jo Bonnier Porsche 718/2 2:30.5 198.6 12 14 Carel Godin de Beaufort Porsche 718 2:31.8 196.9 13 22 Graham Hill BRM P48/57-Climax 2:32.0 196.6 14 26 Stirling Moss Lotus 18/21-Climax 2:32.3 196.2 15 2 Jack Brabham Cooper T55-Climax 2:33.0 195.3 16 36 Masten Gregory Cooper T53-Climax 2:33.0 195.3 17 28 Lucien Bianchi Lotus 18/21-Climax 2:34.2 193.8 18 42 Roy Salvadori Cooper T53-Climax 2:35.3 192.4 19 48 Willy Mairesse Lotus 21-Climax 2:35.8 191.8 20 52 Bernard Collomb Cooper T53-Climax 2:36.8 190.6 21 46 Michel May Lotus 18-Climax 2:37.9 189.3 22 38 Ian Burgess Lotus 18-Climax 2:39.7 187.1 23 30 Henry Taylor Lotus 18/21-Climax 2:40.3 186.4 24 34 Giorgio Scarlatti De Tomaso 001-OSCA 2:47.1 178.9
Starting Grid: 18 Richie Ginther 20 Wolfgang von Trips 16 Phil Hill Ferrari 156 Ferrari 156 Ferrari 156 2:26.8 2:26.4 2:24.9 8 Jim Clark 26 Stirling Moss Lotus 21-Climax Lotus 18/21-Climax 2:29.0 2:27.6 4 Bruce McLaren 40 John Surtees 22 Graham Hill Cooper T55-Climax Cooper T53-Climax BRM P48/57-Climax 2:29.4 2:29.1 2:29.1 6 Innes Ireland 12 Dan Gurney Lotus 21-Climax Porsche 718/2 2:29.8 2:29.6 10 Jo Bonnier 50 Giancarlo Baghetti 24 Tony Brooks Porsche 718/2 Ferrari 156 BRM P48/57-Climax 2:30.5 2:30.5 2:29.9 42 Roy Salvadori 2 Jack Brabham Cooper T53-Climax Cooper T55-Climax 2:31.2 2:31.0 28 Lucien Bianchi 44 Jackie Lewis 36 Masten Gregory Lotus 18/21-Climax Cooper T53-Climax Cooper T53-Climax 2:33.4 2:32.0 2:31.3 48 Willy Mairesse 14 Carel Godin de Beaufort Lotus 21-Climax Porsche 718 2:35.8 2:33.7 32 Maurice Trintignant 46 Michel May 52 Bernard Collomb Cooper T51-Maserati Lotus 18-Climax Cooper T53-Climax 2:38.8 2:37.9 2:36.8 30 Henry Taylor 38 Ian Burgess Lotus 18/21-Climax Lotus 18-Climax 2:40.3 2:39.7 34 Giorgio Scarlatti De Tomaso 001-OSCA 2:47.1
Notes: 1) de Beaufort's time (2:31.8) was set by Bonnier. 2) Weather: Very hot, Dry.
Race Review:

A fortnight after the Belgian GP the F1 teams gathered at Reims for the French GP. As the French did not bother with the restrictive invitations it was a large field of cars with a variety of unusual privateers. Ferrari had a fourth car, run in the colors of the Federazione Italiana Scuderie Automobilische and driven by 27-year-old Italian Giancarlo Baghetti who arrived at Reims undefeated in F1 races after wins in non-championship races at Syracuse in April and Naples in May. There was a new De Tomaso-OSCA which was run by Scuderia Serenissima for Giorgio Scarlatti but it was not competitive.

It was an all-Ferrari front row with Phil Hill on pole from Wolfgang von Trips and Richie Ginther with the second row being shared by Stirling Moss in his Rob Walker Lotus 18 and Jim Clark in one of the factory Lotus 21s.

Hill led from the start with Ginther and von Trips giving chase but when Ginther spun Moss was able to take third for a while before the American recovered. Further back there was an exciting slipstreaming battle between seven cars: the two Porsches of Dan Gurney and Jo Bonnier, the factory Lotuses of Clark and Ireland, Graham Hill's BRM (Tony Brooks went out early in the other car with engine trouble), Bruce McLaren's Cooper and the fourth Ferrari of Baghetti. Eventually Ginther passed Moss and Stirling dropped back into this fight because of brake trouble.

Then Ferrari faltered. von Trips, who had taken the lead under team orders, stopped with engine trouble on lap 18. Hill took over but spun on lap 38 and stalled his engine, rejoining a lap behind. Ginther lasted only three laps in the lead before he stopped with an engine problem and suddenly the seething battle for fourth place was a fight for the lead. Gradually the challengers dropped away leaving Gurney's Porsche against Baghetti's Ferrari. They changed places lap after lap and on the final lap Baghetti dived out of Gurney's slipstream to pass the American a couple of hundred yards before the finish line.

Baghetti thus became the first and, to date, only man to win his first World Championship event...