1963 French Grand Prix
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 4 of 10 in the 1963 Formula One season | |||
 |
|||
| Date | June 30, 1963 | ||
| Official name | XLIX Grand Prix de l'A.C.F. | ||
| Location | Reims, France | ||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 8.302 km (5.159 mi) | ||
| Distance | 53 laps, 440.006 km (273.407 mi) | ||
| Weather | Sunny, then rain | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Lotus-Climax | ||
| Time | 2:20.2 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver |
 Jim Clark
|
Lotus-Climax | |
| Time | 2:21.6 on lap 12 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Lotus-Climax | ||
| Second | Cooper-Climax | ||
| Third | BRM | ||
The 1963 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Reims on June 30, 1963. It was the fourth round of the 1963 Formula One season. The race was won by Jim Clark driving a Lotus 25-Climax 1.5l V8.
Jim Clark took the lead at the start from Richie Ginther in the BRM. All Graham Hill's hard work in qualifying second despite mechanical problems in practice came to nothing when his engine died on the grid and his car had to be push started. The subsequent one-minute penalty dropped him well back. Clark led dominantly, his lead being extended when a stone pierced Ginther's radiator, forcing him into the pits. Jack Brabham took second place after a strong fight with Trevor Taylor, who also suffered mechanical problems.
Brabham then began to gain significantly on Clark as the Scot's Climax engine started to splutter, however this proved to be a sporadic fault and he had enough of a lead to maintain the position. It was Brabham himself who dropped out when a lead came adrift, handing second and third to Tony Maggs and a delighted Hill. Clark was over a minute ahead of them after yet another start-to-finish victory.
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