French GP 1971

French GP, 1971

The new Circuit Paul Ricard at Le Castellet was a new generation race track with advanced safety features and an impressive pit building. It was a the shape of the things to come. The teams traveled straight to the new track from Holland and so there were no major changes, although a bandaged Emerson Fittipaldi had recovered from his road accident and was back in action for Lotus. The gas turbine car was out of action because of damage done to it in Holland. Also missing was Mario Andretti who had flown off to the United States to race USAC cars at Pocono. Andrea de Adamich was back at the wheel of the March-Alfa Romeo after Nanni Galli had had two races in the car and because Cosworth engines were in short supply Ronnie Peterson was running one in his factory March.. There were two new faces in private Marches: Francois Mazet driving for Jo Siffert and Jean Max driving a second car for Frank Williams.

Jackie Stewart took pole position in the Tyrrell with Clay Regazzoni and Jacky Ickx alongside in their Ferraris. The second row featured Graham Hill's Brabham and Pedro Rodriguez's BRM while Siffert was on row three in his BRM, alongside Francois Cevert (Tyrrell) and Jean-Pierre Beltoise (Matra). Team Lotus was again off the pace with Reine Wisell 15th and Fittipaldi 17th.

At the start Stewart went into the lead with Regazzoni chasing. Ickx was in trouble with his engine and dropped quickly back to retire while there was a battle for third place between Rodriguez and Beltoise. On the 19th lap Peterson's Alfa Romeo engine blew up and Regazzoni spun off on the oil. Hill had a similar accident but was able to get going and pit for repairs. This left Rodriguez in second place but seven laps later his ignition failed. By then Cevert had moved into third and so he found himself promoted to second place behind Stewart, giving Tyrrell a 1-2. Third place went to Fittipaldi who had driven a good race to come up through the field.

POSNODRIVERENTRANTLAPSTIME/RETIREMENTQUAL POS
11 Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Cosworth 003 55 1h46m41.680s  
12 Francois Cevert Tyrrell-Cosworth 002 55 1h47m09.800s  
Emerson Fittipaldi Lotus-Cosworth 72D 55 1h47m15.750s  17 
14 Jo Siffert BRM P160 55 1h47m18.850s  
20 Chris Amon Matra Simca-Matra MS120B 55 1h47m22.760s  
Reine Wisell Lotus-Cosworth 72D 55 1h47m57.700s  15 
21 Jean-Pierre Beltoise Matra Simca-Matra MS120B 55 1h47m58.610s  
22 John Surtees Surtees-Cosworth TS9 55 1h48m06.590s  13 
10 Peter Gethin McLaren-Cosworth M19A 54  19 
10 16 Howden Ganley BRM P153 54  16 
11 24 Rolf Stommelen Surtees-Cosworth TS9 53  10 
12r Tim Schenken Brabham-Cosworth BT33 50 Engine 14 
13 34 Francois Mazet March-Cosworth 701 50  23 
nc 28 Jean Max March-Cosworth 701 46  22 
27 Henri Pescarolo March-Cosworth 711 45 Gearbox 18 
Graham Hill Brabham-Cosworth BT34 34 Mechanical 
19 Andrea de Adamich March-Alfa Romeo 711 31 Engine 20 
15 Pedro Rodriguez BRM P160 27 Coil 
Clay Regazzoni Ferrari 312B2 20 Spin 
17 Ronnie Peterson March-Alfa Romeo 711 19 Engine 12 
Denny Hulme McLaren-Cosworth M19A 16 Ignition 11 
Jacky Ickx Ferrari 312B2 Engine 
18 Alex Soler-Roig March-Cosworth 711 Fuel Pump 21 
ns 33 Giovanni Galli March-Cosworth 711  Car Raced By Soler-roig 24