HistoryData
general1960

1960 French Grand Prix — Formula One motor race held in 1960

July 3, 1960

Jack Brabham won the 1960 French Grand Prix at Reims-Gueux from pole position, with a Cooper-Climax sweep of the podium and Vanwall's final race appearance.

Quick Facts

Year
1960
Category
general

Key Facts

Race distance
50 laps
Winner
Jack Brabham (Cooper-Climax)
Second place
Olivier Gendebien (Cooper-Climax)
Third place
Bruce McLaren (Cooper-Climax)
Championship round
Race 6 of 10 in 1960 World Championship
Vanwall milestone
Final race for inaugural Constructors' Champions Vanwall

Location

Map of Reims, FranceMap of Reims, FranceReims, France

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

The 1960 Formula One season was underway, with Jack Brabham and Cooper-Climax dominating the field. The French Grand Prix at Reims-Gueux was the sixth round of ten in the World Championship of Drivers, providing a key opportunity for championship contenders to accumulate points on the fast French circuit.

Event

On 3 July 1960, Jack Brabham started from pole position and led the 50-lap race to victory in his works Cooper-Climax. Olivier Gendebien finished second in a Cooper-Climax entered by the British Racing Partnership, and Bruce McLaren took third in the other works Cooper-Climax, completing a clean sweep of the podium for the marque.

Consequence

Brabham's victory further consolidated his dominance in the 1960 championship. The race also marked the final appearance of Vanwall, the inaugural Formula One Constructors' Champion, ending an era for British motorsport. Cooper-Climax's podium lockout underscored the team's pre-eminence in that season.

Timeline Context

Timeline around 19601960195719581959196119621963Athletics at the 1960 Summer Olympics — athletics events at the OlympicsCounterculture of the 1960s — cultural phenomenon that developed first in the United States and United Kingdom and spread throughout much of the Western world between the early 1960s and the early 1970s1960 Summer Olympics medal tableBasketball at the 1960 Summer Olympics — olympics 1960 Competition1960s — decade of the 1960s (1960-1969)Beatlemania — intense fan frenzy for the British pop group The BeatlesHippie — person associated with 1960s counterculture1960 AFC Asian Cup — football tournament1960-french-grand-prix-formula-one-motor-race-held-in-1960-1960