Jim Clark's dominant Grand Slam victory at Clermont-Ferrand reinforced his status as the leading driver of the 1965 Formula One season.
Key Facts
- Race length
- 40 laps
- Winner
- Jim Clark (Lotus 25, Climax engine)
- Championship round
- Race 4 of 10
- Clark's season wins
- Third win in four races
- Second place
- Jackie Stewart (BRM)
- Third place
- John Surtees (Ferrari)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 1965 Formula One season was underway with Jim Clark and Lotus dominating the field. Clark had already accumulated victories in the preceding races, establishing himself as the frontrunner in both the Drivers' Championship and the Manufacturers' Cup heading into the French Grand Prix.
On 27 June 1965, the French Grand Prix was held at the Circuit de Charade near Clermont-Ferrand. Jim Clark qualified on pole, led every one of the 40 laps, and set the fastest lap, completing a Grand Slam. Jackie Stewart finished second for BRM and John Surtees third for Ferrari.
Clark's second Grand Slam of the season and third win in four races strengthened his dominant position in the 1965 World Championship of Drivers. The result also boosted Lotus in the International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers, underlining the Lotus-Climax combination's superiority that year.
Result
at Circuit de Charade, Clermont-Ferrand