The 100 Most Remembered GPs of All Time: France '61

On 2 July 1961 in Reims, France, one of the most exciting Formula 1 Grand Prix of the time took place, and one of the duels - perhaps not among the most remembered - but certainly among the most beautiful ever. The setting is the Reims circuit, the very fast Reims circuit, with its eight kilometers in length and its two hairpin bends. The average hourly travel speed of the track was close to 200km/h: it was one of the historic Formula 1 tracks.

T he starting grid could boast some excellent names: with a time of 2,24.9s, Phil Hill had taken pole position ahead of the other Ferrari driver, Wolfgang von Trips and Richie Ginther. Following were Stirling Moss, Dan Gurney, Garham Hill, John Surtees, Bruce McLaren, Jim Clark, Innes Ireland, Tony Brooks, Giancarlo Baghetti, Joe Bonnier etc.

On Sunday the weather is beautiful. Even too much. The sun shines high in the sky making the asphalt literally hot and the air suffocating. The temperatures are 39° for the air and 50° for the asphalt. Everything is ready, the cars are lined up: three, two, one, go!

At the start Phil Hill maintains the lead of the race, followed a short distance away by his German teammate. On the twelfth lap Hill was passed by von Trips who attempted a solo escape, but just five laps later he was forced to retire due to a radiator problem, thus allowing the American to regain the lead of the race.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the new arrival at Ferrari is putting on a show. In reality he is not really a rookie, since he has already raced two grand prix with the Ferrari F156F1 not valid for the Formula 1 championship, but for him this is the big day: the first Grand Prix in the top series. Having started thirteenth, within ten laps he recovered eight positions, moving close to the leaders in the small group fighting for the victory.

“It was difficult to break away from the group, the few meters gained at the exits of the corners were sucked into the long straights due to the wakes. Slowly, however, the number of possible winners dwindled. The track became more and more treacherous due to the gravel that increased with each pass: it was enough to put a wheel off the racing line and the spin was guaranteed.”

On the thirty-seventh lap the leader makes a serious mistake which leads him to lose a lot of time, and his opponents are not caught unprepared and overtake him. Ginther leads the race for three laps, but suddenly retires due to an oil leak which causes a drop in pressure. From here on it is a symphony played by just three riders: Dan Gurney, Joe Bonnier and Giancarlo Baghetti.

“Moss, Garham Hill, Clark and gradually all the others disappeared. In the final laps I was left alone to fight with the two Porsches of Bonnier and Gurney who were trying to force me to surrender by closing me on all sides. I held on, and with two laps to go it was Bonnier who gave in.”

On the last lap Baghetti decides to go all out in the last few metres.

“I changed my plan of attack.”

Baghetti allows himself to be detached just enough to fully exploit the phenomenon of the wake. He gets closer and closer. He feints to the right but throws himself to the left. The finish line is getting closer and closer, the two are close together.

“I crossed the finish line with no more than twenty centimeters of advantage, but it was enough to decree my triumph in the upper echelons of Formula 1.”

At an average speed of 192.880km/h Giancarlo Baghetti won the French Grand Prix after 52 laps, 2h 14m 17,5s, becoming the first and only rookie so far to triumph on his debut in the top series (obviously excluding the winner of the first race at Silverstone and the winner of the first Indianapolis 500).

Spanish GP 1996 – The Kaiser's premiere in red

Argentine GP 1953 – Ascari Dominates in Drama

Australian GP 2005 – Physique Against All

Monaco GP 1972 – Beltoise Under the Flood

Monaco GP 1984 – The comeback of Senna and Bellof

French GP 1979 – The Epic Duel between Villeneuve and Arnoux

Monaco GP 1988 – Senna's Inexplicable Mistake

Japanese GP 1988 – Ayrton's World Joy

Japanese GP 1989 – The Race of Discord

Japanese GP 1990 – Senna's Revenge

European GP 1993 – Ayrton's Masterpiece Under the Flood

Italian GP 1970 – Rindt's Tragedy and Regazzoni's Revelation

South African GP 1977 – The Tragedy of Tom Pryce

Mexican GP 1964 – Surtees in Extremis

Matteo Bramati.