Between 2009 and 2017 there was no French Grand Prix, which was a huge insult to the history of motor racing. Why you may ask? If you look back, France basically gave us this sport.
The first competitive motor race took place between Paris and Rouen in 1894. The first Grand Prix was run in 1906 by the Automobile Club de France and took place in Sarthe, not that far from where the Le Mans 24 hour race now takes place.
France held a Grand Prix in the first season of the World Championship in 1950, with a race a Reims won by Fangio.
The 1951 race has two winners listed, Fangio and Fagioli. Fagioli was obliged to swap cars with Fangio as the Argentine's car had developed a misfire. They shared the points for the win and Fagioli promptly quit Grand Prix racing on the spot having been required to give his car to Fangio.
Porsche took their one and only F1 win in 1962 with Dan Gurney driving round Rouen.
Jean-Pierre Jabouille won the first ever race for a turbocharged F1 car in 1979 at Dijon. A race more often remembered for the wheel banging battle between Gilles Villeneuve and Rene Arnoux at the end of the race.
Alain Prost took his first ever Grand Prix win at the 1981 race in Dijon.
Michael Schumacher has won the race an astonishing 8 times
And finally, statistically the best Grand Prix driver never to take part in a world championship race, Jean-Pierre Wimille, won the French race in 1936 and 1948.
I've impressed myself as I haven't mentioned the nausea inducing painted run off areas at the modern Paul Ricard circuit until the very end. Max won last year. This year we have 53 laps to get through. Let's hope it's better than previous races at this circuit.
Enjoy
The first competitive motor race took place between Paris and Rouen in 1894. The first Grand Prix was run in 1906 by the Automobile Club de France and took place in Sarthe, not that far from where the Le Mans 24 hour race now takes place.
France held a Grand Prix in the first season of the World Championship in 1950, with a race a Reims won by Fangio.
The 1951 race has two winners listed, Fangio and Fagioli. Fagioli was obliged to swap cars with Fangio as the Argentine's car had developed a misfire. They shared the points for the win and Fagioli promptly quit Grand Prix racing on the spot having been required to give his car to Fangio.
Porsche took their one and only F1 win in 1962 with Dan Gurney driving round Rouen.
Jean-Pierre Jabouille won the first ever race for a turbocharged F1 car in 1979 at Dijon. A race more often remembered for the wheel banging battle between Gilles Villeneuve and Rene Arnoux at the end of the race.
Alain Prost took his first ever Grand Prix win at the 1981 race in Dijon.
Michael Schumacher has won the race an astonishing 8 times
And finally, statistically the best Grand Prix driver never to take part in a world championship race, Jean-Pierre Wimille, won the French race in 1936 and 1948.
I've impressed myself as I haven't mentioned the nausea inducing painted run off areas at the modern Paul Ricard circuit until the very end. Max won last year. This year we have 53 laps to get through. Let's hope it's better than previous races at this circuit.
Enjoy
