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| {{InfoboxLost
| | #REDIRECT [[1961 Formula One World Championship (partially found footage of Formula One races; 1961)]] |
| |title=<center>1961 French Grand Prix</center>
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| |image=1961frenchgrandprix1.jpg
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| |imagecaption=Giancarlo Baghetti edges out Dan Gurney to claim victory in his debut World Championship race.
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| |status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
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| }}
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| The '''''1961 French Grand Prix''''' was the fourth race of the 1961 Formula One Season. Occurring on 2nd July at the Circuit de Reims, the race was ultimately won by Ferrari's Giancarlo Baghetti, in his debut World Championship event, after edging out Porsche's Dan Gurney on the final straight.
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| ==Background==
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| The ''1961 French Grand Prix'' was the 11th running of the event in the Formula One calendar,<ref name="ultimate">[https://www.ultimatecarpage.com/winners/&race=french_grand_prix ''Ultimate Car Page'' listing every French Grand Prix.] Retrieved 26th Sep '22</ref> with the race lasting 52 laps.<ref name="results">[https://www.racing-reference.info/race-results/1961_Grand_Prix_of_France/F/ ''Racing-Reference'' detailing qualifying and race results of the event.] Retrieved 26th Sep '22</ref> The 40th French Grand Prix overall,<ref name="ultimate"/> the race has been held at a variety of circuits, with the last one held at Reims occurring in 1966.<ref name="destination">[https://f1destinations.com/race-facts-french-grand-prix/ ''F1 Destinations'' detailing the history of the French Grand Prix.] Retrieved 26th Sep '22</ref> After the race was dropped from the schedule in 2009, it returned in 2018, where it has consistently been held at Circuit Paul Ricard.<ref name="destination"/><ref name="ultimate"/>
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| Heading into the race, the race organisers allowed all regulars to compete at the event, much unlike the prior [[1961 Dutch Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1961)|Dutch]] and [[1961 Belgian Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1961)|Belgian Grand Prix]].<ref name="magazine">[https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/august-1961/28/the-47th-french-grand-prix ''Motor Sport'' providing a detailed race report.] Retrieved 26th Sep '22</ref><ref name="grand">[https://www.grandprix.com/races/french-gp-1961.html ''Grand Prix'' summarising the event.] Retrieved 26th Sep '22</ref> Ferrari entered its usual cars for Hill, Wolfgang von Trips and Richie Ginther, but it would also provide a car for the privateer Federazione Italiana Scuderie Automobilische (FISA) team.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="grand"/> FISA's driver would be Giancarlo Baghetti, who was making his World Championship debut.<ref name="espn">[http://en.espn.co.uk/f1/motorsport/story/43197.html ''ESPN'' summarising the race.] Retrieved 26th Sep '22</ref><ref name="baghetti">[https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/articles/single-seaters/f1/45-1961-french-gp ''Motor Sport'' detailing Baghetti's non-championship events he won and the victory at the race.] Retrieved 26th Sep '22</ref><ref name="magazine"/><ref name="grand"/> Prior to this race, he had won non-championship Formula One events driving for Ferrari, including in Syracuse and Naples.<ref name="baghetti"/><ref name="espn"/><ref name="grand"/> This actually meant he was undefeated at Formula One events heading into the race, making him a suitable replacement for Oliver Gendebien.<ref name="grand"/><ref name="baghetti"/><ref name="espn"/> Porsche meanwhile were struggling with an underpowered and unreliable engine, in addition to seemingly abandoning their new chassis in favour of fielding the previous year's cars for Gurney, Jo Bonnier, and Carel Godin de Beaufort.<ref name="magazine"/>
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| In qualifying, while the Ferraris were initially lapping slowly for set-up purposes, with Baghetti learning the course, the drivers would soon emerge as the fastest throughout the sessions.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="espn"/><ref name="grand"/> Hill achieved pole position with a time of 2:24.9.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="espn"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="results"/> Directly behind him was von Trips, with Ginther making it a Ferrari 1-3.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="espn"/><ref name="results"/> Lotus-Climax's Stirling Moss qualified fourth with a time of 2:27.6, despite being unhappy with his Lotus' handling in the corners.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="results"/> The qualifying time was established when he harnessed the slipstream of von Trips for several laps, the German desperately trying to move away from the Brit that he accidentally prematurely exposed the Ferraris' potential, much to the dismay of his team.<ref name="magazine"/> Because of this, Ferrari were again deemed the pre-race favourites. Meanwhile, Gurney qualified fifth, while Baghetti would start 12th out of 26 competitors.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="baghetti"/><ref name="results"/>
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| ==The Race==
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| With the starting order decided, the 1961 French Grand Prix commenced on 2nd July.<ref name="results"/> The Ferraris made a strong start, with only Moss capable of hanging with them in the early stages.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="espn"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="results"/> On lap 4, Ginther was chasing von Trips, but spun-off, enabling Moss to move into third.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="baghetti"/> As Ginther spun, Cooper-Climax's John Surtees took evasive action, which resulted in him damaging his rear suspension that forced his retirement.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="results"/> Ginther began pursuing Moss, as Baghetti moved up to eighth.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="baghetti"/> Ginther passed Moss for third on lap 6, and as it was revealed based on the fastest lap information that Ferrari were not even maximising their cars' potential yet.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="grand"/> Thus, they began to move away from Moss overtime as they increased their average speed.<ref name="magazine"/> Hill however began to slow down from lap 8 onwards, not because of a mechanical issue, but due to team orders.<ref name="magazine"/> Enzo Ferrari had dictated that von Trips was to win before the race began, much to Hill's dismay.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="baghetti"/> Baghetti was now up to sixth and challenged Lotus-Climax's Innes Ireland for fifth.<ref name="magazine"/> He moved by after pushing Ireland onto the grass, and began to close-down on Moss due to superior braking.<ref name="magazine"/> On lap 13, Hill let von Trips pass him for the lead.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="baghetti"/><ref name="espn"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="results"/>
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| Baghetti made it a Ferrari 1-4, as Moss dropped down following issues with his Lotus' brakes.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="baghetti"/> He now faced challenges from both Lotus-Climax's Jim Clark and Ireland, as von Trips and Hill were ordered to "slow down" by their team, so that Ginther could catch-up.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="baghetti"/> However, Ferrari's gameplan unravelled as von Trips retired following an engine failure, letting Hill move back into first.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="baghetti"/><ref name="results"/> He now led by 10 seconds to Ginther, as Baghetti defended third from the two Lotuses, the trio re-passing one another for the final podium spot.<ref name="magazine"/> But now, the Porsches were beginning to climb the order, with Gurney moving into third by lap 28, and Bonnier to fifth.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="espn"/> A four-horse race for third now emerged, with Ireland dropping out of contention as his engine lost power.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="grand"/> Despite his lack of World Championship experience, Baghetti remained resilient in the battle, re-overtaking the Porsches on lap 35.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="espn"/>
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| On lap 38, Hill stalled his engine after spinning on wet tar, before colliding with Moss as he tried to restart it.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="espn"/><ref name="baghetti"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="results"/> The impact forced Moss to retire following suspension damage, while Hill pushed his car to restart, which should have subjected him to an instant disqualification per the new FIA regulations.<ref name="magazine"/> Ginther briefly led, but then discovered that his car was losing oil pressure.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="espn"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="baghetti"/> He made a pit stop thinking that an oil change could occur, but was forced to leave when his team informed him that was now illegal under the new regulations.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="espn"/> Despite hoping that the situation would resolve itself, Ginther decided to retire on lap 41 to preserve the engine.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="espn"/><ref name="baghetti"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="results"/> Baghetti therefore assumed the lead, but faced battles with the Porsches, while Hill re-joined the race in a distance ninth.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="baghetti"/><ref name="espn"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="results"/> Gurney and Bonnier attempted to sandwich the Ferrari on multiple occasions, but Baghetti held strong and still led by lap 50.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="espn"/>
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| Bonnier was out of contention following engine issues soon afterwards, leaving Baghetti and Gurney duelling for the win.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="espn"/><ref name="baghetti"/><ref name="grand"/> Gurney overtook Baghetti a lap before the end, but the Italian refused to give up, and as they exited the hairpin onto the final straight, the Ferrari exited from the Porsche's slipstream and attempted an overtake.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="espn"/><ref name="baghetti"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="results"/> The move proved successful, with Baghetti overtaking the American with just 300 yards to spare to claim victory in his debut race and eight points in the Drivers' Championship.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="espn"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="baghetti"/><ref name="results"/> As he exited his car, he received major acclaim from the crowd and his pit crew for achieving the win and for his performance throughout the event.<ref name="espn"/><ref name="magazine"/> This would be his sole success in the World Championship, as he never even reached the podium again for the rest of his career.<ref name="espn"/><ref name="baghetti"/> Clark and Ireland finished third and fourth respectively, Cooper-Climax's Bruce McLaren took fifth, while BRM's Graham Hill finished sixth.<ref name="magazine"/><ref name="grand"/><ref name="results"/>
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| ==Availability==
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| The race was reportedly televised partially live by several outlets, including France's ORTF and the BBC.<ref name="broadcasts">[https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?cid=8D94CC199E340254&resid=8D94CC199E340254!149 List of Formula One television broadcasts noting several outlets provided partial live race coverage.] Retrieved 26th Sep '22</ref><ref name="radio">[https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/service_bbc_television_service/1961-07-02#at-14.25 BBC Genome archive of ''Radio Times'' issues detailing the BBC's coverage of the race.] Retrieved 26th Sep '22</ref> According to Issue 1,964 of ''Radio Times'', the BBC broadcast 35 minutes of the race start, and 35 minutes of the closing stages, for a total of 70 minutes of coverage.<ref name="radio"/><ref name="broadcasts"/> The television broadcasts have yet to resurface, but footage of the race from sources such as a British documentary is publicly available.
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| ==Gallery==
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| ===Videos===
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| {{Video|perrow =2
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| |service1 =youtube
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| |id1 =MuNkWDTGruc
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| |description1 =Colour footage of the race from a British documentary.
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| |service2 =youtube
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| |id2 =ZpyEfAdLQYc
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| |description2 =Colour footage of the race.
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| }}
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| ===Images===
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| <gallery mode=packed heights=250px>
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| 1961frenchgrandprix2.jpg|The Ferraris lead the field at the start.
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| 1961frenchgrandprix3.jpg|Von Trips leads Hill and Ginther at the start.
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| 1961frenchgrandprix4.jpg|Hill ahead of von Trips.
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| 1961frenchgrandprix5.jpg|Clark ahead of Baghetti and Ireland.
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| 1961frenchgrandprix6.jpg|Baghetti ahead of the pack as Ireland ends up onto the grass.
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| 1961frenchgrandprix7.jpg|Baghetti sandwiched between two Porsches, Bonnier leading the trio.
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| 1961frenchgrandprix8.jpg|Baghetti leads the Porsches.
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| </gallery>
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| ==See Also==
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| *[[1953 British Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1953)]]
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| *[[1953 Italian Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1953)]]
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| *[[1954 British Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1954)]]
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| *[[1954 Italian Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1954)]]
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| *[[1955 Dutch Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1955)]]
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| *[[1955 Italian Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1955)]]
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| *[[1955 Monaco Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1955)]]
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| *[[1956 Belgian Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1956)]]
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| *[[1956 British Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1956)]]
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| *[[1956 French Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1956)]]
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| *[[1956 Italian Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1956)]]
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| *[[1956 Monaco Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1956)]]
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| *[[1957 British Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1957)]]
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| *[[1957 Monaco Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1957)]]
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| *[[1958 British Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1958)]]
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| *[[1958 Italian Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1958)]]
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| *[[1958 Monaco Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1958)]]
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| *[[1959 British Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1959)]]
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| *[[1959 Italian Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1959)]]
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| *[[1959 Monaco Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1959)]]
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| *[[1959 Portuguese Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1959)]]
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| *[[1960 British Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1960)]]
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| *[[1960 French Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1960)]]
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| *[[1960 Monaco Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1960)]]
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| *[[1960 Portuguese Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1960)]]
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| *[[1961 Belgian Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1961)]]
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| *[[1961 Dutch Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1961)]]
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| *[[1961 Monaco Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One World Championship race; 1961)]]
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| *[[2005 San Marino Grand Prix (partially found ITV advert break during final laps of Formula One race; 2005)]]
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| *[[Advanced Driving with Graham Hill (lost ITV motoring series; 1974)]]
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| *[[Donkey Does F1 (partially found photos of Shrek character inflatable at Formula One races; 2004)]]
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| *[[F-1 World Grand Prix III (lost build of cancelled Nintendo 64 Formula One racing game; 2000-2001)]]
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| *[[F1 2000 (lost pre-release builds of Formula One game; 2000)]]
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| *[[F1 2010 (lost pre-alpha build of Formula One game; 2010)]]
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| *[[F1 Racing Championship 2 (lost build of cancelled PC/PlayStation 2 Formula One game; 2001)]]
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| *[[Fernando Alonso's 2015 testing accident (lost footage of Formula One test session crash; 2015)]]
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| *[[Grand Prix 3 (lost build of cancelled Dreamcast port of PC Formula One racing game; 2001)]]
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| *[[Grand Prix 4 (lost build of cancelled Xbox port of PC Formula One racing game sequel; 2002)]]
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| *[[McLaren MP4-18 (lost footage of unraced Formula One car; 2003)]]
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| *[[Racing Arrows (partially found Formula One TV series; 2001)]]
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| *[[Robert Kubica's 2010 Japanese Grand Prix Q3 lap (lost audio of Formula One qualifying lap; 2010)]]
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| *[[Williams FW15C (partially found footage and lap time information of unraced CVT Formula One car; 1993)]]
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| [[Category:Lost recordings of real incidents]]
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| [[Category:Lost TV]]
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| [[Category:Partially found media]]
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| [[Category:Historic]]
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