1972 French Grand Prix

The 1972 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at the Circuit de Charade in Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne, France on 2 July 1972. It was race 6 of 12 in both the 1972 World Championship of Drivers and the 1972 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers.

1972 French Grand Prix
Race details
Date 2 July 1972
Location Circuit de Charade
Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne, France
Course Temporary street circuit
Course length 8.055 km (5.005 mi)
Distance 38 laps, 306.09 km (190.19 mi)
Pole position
Driver
Matra
Time 2:53.4
Fastest lap
Driver Chris Amon Matra
Time 2:53.9 on lap 32
Podium
First
Tyrrell-Ford
Second
Lotus-Ford
Third
  • Chris Amon
 Matra

The Circuit de Charade's natural setting around the base of an extinct volcano created safety concerns due to the dark, volcanic rocks which fell from the mountain onto both sides of the track.[1][2] Drivers who skirted the track edge would often send rocks flying into the middle of the road and into the path of pursuing competitors.[1][2] The hazard was highlighted when driver Helmut Marko suffered a career-ending injury during the race, when a stone thrown from Emerson Fittipaldi's Lotus penetrated his helmet visor and blinded him in the left eye.[1][2] The rocks also meant that tyre punctures were a perennial hazard on the circuit, as was shown when ten competitors suffered punctures during the race.[1][2] The French Grand Prix was moved to the new Circuit Paul Ricard for 1973.

Chris Amon achieved the fifth and final pole position of his career and was leading the race in his Matra until a puncture forced him to pit, leaving Jackie Stewart to win in his Tyrrell-Ford. Fittipaldi finished second, just ahead of a charging Amon, who shattered the circuit's lap record.

Classification
PosNoDriverConstructorLapsTime/RetiredGridPoints
1 4 Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Ford 38 1:52:22.5 3 9
2 1 Emerson Fittipaldi Lotus-Ford 38 + 27.7 8 6
3 9 Chris Amon Matra 38 + 31.9 1 4
4 7 François Cevert Tyrrell-Ford 38 + 49.3 7 3
5 12 Ronnie Peterson March-Ford 38 + 56.8 9 2
6 26 Mike Hailwood Surtees-Ford 38 + 1:36.1 10 1
7 2 Denny Hulme McLaren-Ford 38 + 1:48.1 2  
8 19 Wilson Fittipaldi Brabham-Ford 38 + 2:25.1 14  
9 11 Brian Redman McLaren-Ford 38 + 2:55.5 13  
10 18 Graham Hill Brabham-Ford 38 + 2:59.5 20  
11 3 Jacky Ickx Ferrari 37 + 1 Lap 4  
12 20 Carlos Reutemann Brabham-Ford 37 + 1 Lap 17  
13 30 Nanni Galli Ferrari 37 + 1 Lap 19  
14 28 Andrea de Adamich Surtees-Ford 37 + 1 Lap 12  
15 5 Jean-Pierre Beltoise BRM 37 + 1 Lap 24  
16 10 Rolf Stommelen Eifelland-Ford 37 + 1 Lap 15  
17 27 Tim Schenken Surtees-Ford 36 + 2 Laps 5  
18 6 Dave Walker Lotus-Ford 34 Halfshaft 22  
19 15 Mike Beuttler March-Ford 33 Out of Fuel 23  
NC 8 Patrick Depailler Tyrrell-Ford 33 + 5 Laps 16  
Ret 24 Reine Wisell BRM 25 Gearbox 18  
Ret 17 Carlos Pace March-Ford 18 Engine 11  
Ret 25 Helmut Marko BRM 8 Driver Injured 6  
Ret 14 Niki Lauda March-Ford 4 Halfshaft 21  
DNS 16 Henri Pescarolo March-Ford   Accident    
DNS 21 Derek Bell Tecno   Transmission    
DNS 22 Peter Gethin BRM   Accident    
DNS 23 Howden Ganley BRM   Car raced by Beltoise[3]    
DNQ 29 Dave Charlton Lotus-Ford        
Source:[4]

Notes
  • François Cevert drove and crashed the new Tyrrell 005 in practice. He was forced to drive the 002 during the race.
  • Patrick Depailler made his F1 debut.
  • Last race: Helmut Marko

Championship standings after the race
  • Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.
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References
  1. "Charade". racingcircuits.info. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  2. "The Volcanic Rush of Clermont Ferrand". speedhunters.com. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  3. "French GP, 1972". www.grandprix.com. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  4. "1972 French Grand Prix". formula1.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  5. "France 1972 - Championship • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
Previous race:
1972 Belgian Grand Prix		 FIA Formula One World Championship
1972 season		 Next race:
1972 British Grand Prix
Previous race:
1971 French Grand Prix		 French Grand Prix Next race:
1973 French Grand Prix
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