1956 French Grand Prix

The 1956 French Grand Prix was held on July 1. It was the fifth race of the 1956 Formula One Season, and was held at the Reims-Gueux circuit. A race of attrition led to an exciting battle between the two surviving s of Peter Collins and Eugenio Castellotti, which was thwarted 10 laps from the end when the team ordered the drivers to hold place with Collins in front, eventually winning by 0.3 seconds. Almost a minute and a half later came third place finisher Jean Behra in a , the only other car on the lead lap.
==Background==
This race was notable for the only appearance of the 251. Powered by an oversquare Inline eight engine, mounted transversely behind the driver. The car was entrusted to Maurice Trintignant, but the lack of development and funding was painfully obvious, and he retired it after 18 laps.
==Entry List==
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No.	Driver 	Entreat 	Constructor	Chassis	Engine	Model 	Tyre
2 	Stirling Moss 	Officine Alfieri Maserati	 	250F 	 	250F1 L6 2.5	
4 	Jean Behra 	Officine Alfieri Maserati	 	250F 	 	250F1 L6 2.5	
6 	Cesare Perdisa 	Officine Alfieri Maserati	 	250F 	 	250F1 L6 2.5	
8 	Piero Taruffi 	Officine Alfieri Maserati	 	250F 	 	250F1 L6 2.5	
10 	Juan Manuel Fangio 	Scuderia Ferrari 	 	D50 	 	DS50 V8 2.5 	
12 	Eugenio Castellotti 	Scuderia Ferrari 	 	D50 	 	DS50 V8 2.5 	
14 	Peter Collins 	Scuderia Ferrari 	 	D50 	 	DS50 V8 2.5 	
16 	Alfonso de Portago 	Scuderia Ferrari 	 	D50 	 	DS50 V8 2.5 	
22 	Harry Schell 	Vandervell Products 	 	VW 2 	 	254 L4 2.5 	
24 	Mike Hawthorn 	Vandervell Products 	 	VW 2 	 	254 L4 2.5 	
26 	Colin Chapman 	Vandervell Products 	 	VW 2 	 	254 L4 2.5 	
28 	Maurice Trintignant 	Automobiles Bugatti 	 	T251 	 	L8 2.5 	
30 	Robert Manzon 	Equipe Gordini 	 	T32 	 	25 L8 2.5 	
32 	Hermano da Silva Ramos	Equipe Gordini 	 	T32 	 	25 L8 2.5 	
34 	André Pilette 	Equipe Gordini 	 	T16 	 	23 L6 2.5 	
36 	Louis Rosier 	Ecurie Rosier 	 	250F 	 	250F1 L6 2.5	
38 	Luigi Villoresi 	Luigi Piotti 	 	250F 	 	250F1 L6 2.5	
40 	Francisco Godia-Sales 	Officine Alfieri Maserati	 	250F 	 	250F1 L6 2.5	
42 	André Simon 	Privateer 	 	250F 	 	250F1 L6 2.5	
44 	Olivier Gendebien 	Scuderia Ferrari 	 	D50 	 	DS50 V8 2.5 	
==Practice Overview==
==Qualifying==
===Report===
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos.	No.	Driver 	Constructor	Time 	Gap
1 	10 	Juan Manuel Fangio 	 	2:23.3	
2 	12 	Eugenio Castellotti 	 	2:24.6	+1.3s
3 	14 	Peter Collins 	 	2:24.9	+1.6s
4 	22 	Harry Schell 	 	2:26.1	+2.8s
5* 	26 	Colin Chapman 	 	2:26.8	+3.5s
6 	24 	Mike Hawthorn 	 	2:27.0	+3.7s
7 	4 	Jean Behra 	 	2:27.8	+4.5s
8 	2 	Stirling Moss 	 	2:29.9	+6.6s
9 	16 	Alfonso de Portago 	 	2:32.8	+9.5s
10 	38 	Luigi Villoresi 	 	2:33.3	+10.0s
11 	44 	Olivier Gendebien 	 	2:34.5	+11.2s
12 	36 	Louis Rosier 	 	2:34.5	+11.2s
13 	8 	Piero Taruffi 	 	2:35.3	+12.0s
14 	32 	Hermano da Silva Ramos	 	2:35.9	+12.6s
15 	30 	Robert Manzon 	 	2:36.0	+12.7s
16 	6 	Cesare Perdisa 	 	2:36.4	+13.1s
17 	40 	Francisco Godia-Sales 	 	2:40.4	+17.1s
18 	28 	Maurice Trintignant 	 	2:41.9	+18.6s
19 	34 	André Pilette 	 	2:46.8	+23.5s
20 	42 	André Simon 	 	2:57.9	+34.6s
** Colin Chapman qualified 5th as he crashed and injured and did not take the start of the race.
===Grid===
==Race==
===Report===
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos.	No.	Driver 	Constructor	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	14 	Peter Collins 	 	61 	2:34:23.4 	3 	8
2 	12 	Eugenio Castellotti 	 	61 	+ 0.3 	2 	6
3 	4 	Jean Behra 	 	61 	+ 1:29.8 	7 	4
4 	10 	Juan Manuel Fangio 	 	61 	+ 1:35.1 	1 	4
5 	6 	Cesare Perdisa 	 	39 	+ 2 Laps 	16 	1
5 	6 	Stirling Moss 	 	20 	+ 2 Laps 	16 	1
6 	36 	Louis Rosier 	 	58 	+ 3 Laps 	12 	
7 	40 	Francisco Godia-Sales 	 	57 	+ 4 Laps 	17 	
8 	32 	Hermano da Silva Ramos	 	57 	+ 4 Laps 	14 	
9 	30 	Robert Manzon 	 	56 	+ 5 Laps 	15 	
10 	24 	Mike Hawthorn 	 	10 	+ 5 Laps 	16 	
10 	24 	Harry Schell 	 	46 	+ 5 Laps 	16 	
11 	34 	André Pilette 	 	55 	+ 6 Laps 	19 	
Ret 	42 	André Simon 	 	41 	Engine 	20 	
Ret 	8 	Piero Taruffi 	 	40 	Engine 	13 	
Ret 	44 	Olivier Gendebien 	 	38 	Clutch 	11 	
Ret 	38 	Luigi Villoresi 	 	23 	Brakes 	10 	
Ret 	16 	Alfonso de Portago 	 	20 	Gearbox 	9 	
Ret 	28 	Maurice Trintignant 	 	18 	Throttle 	18 	
Ret 	2 	Stirling Moss 	 	12 	Gearbox 	8 	
Ret 	22 	Harry Schell 	 	5 	Engine 	4 	
DNS 	26 	Colin Chapman 	 	Practice accident	Practice accident	Practice accident	
==Milestones==
* Colin Chapman's first and only race entry, but did not start due to an accident in practice.
==Standings==
Category:1956 Grands Prix
Category:French Grand Prix
Category:Formula One races in France