French GP
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Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours (2003–2008) |
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| Race information | |
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| Number of times held | 86 |
| First held | 1906 |
| Last held | 2008 |
| Most wins (drivers) |  Michael Schumacher (8) |
| Most wins (constructors) |  Ferrari (17) |
| Circuit length | 5.842 km (3.630 mi) |
| Last race (2008) | |
| Pole position | |
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| Podium | |
| Fastest lap | |
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The French Grand Prix (French: Grand Prix de France), formerly known as the Grand Prix de l'ACF, is a race held as part of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's annual Formula One automobile racing championships. It is one of the oldest motor races in the world. It ceased shortly after its centenary in 2008 with 86 races having been held, a victim of finances and unfavourable venues. The race is scheduled to return to the Formula One calendar in 2018 at the established Circuit Paul Ricard.
Unusually even for a race of such longevity, the location of the Grand Prix has moved frequently with 16 different venues having been used over its life, a number only eclipsed by the Australian Grand Prix of the older races. It is also one of four races (along with the Belgian, Italian and Spanish Grands Prix) to have been held as part of the three distinct Grand Prix championships (World Manufacturers' Championship (late 1920s), European Championship (1930s), Formula One World Championship (since 1950)).
The Grand Prix de l'ACF was tremendously influential in the early years of Grand Prix racing, leading the establishment of the rules and regulations of racing as well as setting trends in the evolution of racing. The power of original organiser, the Automobile Club de France, established France as the home of motor racing organisation.
Grand Prix motor racing originated in France and the French Grand Prix, open to international competition, is the oldest Grand Prix race, first run on 26 June 1906 under the auspices of the Automobile Club de France in Sarthe, with a starting field of 32 automobiles. The Grand Prix name ("Great Prize") referred to the prize of 45,000 French francs to the race winner. The franc was pegged to the gold at 0.290 grams per franc, which meant that the prize was worth 13 kg of gold. The earliest French Grands Prix were held on circuits consisting of public roads near towns through France, and they usually were held at different towns each year, such as Le Mans, Dieppe, Amiens, Lyon, Strasbourg, and Tours. Dieppe in particular was an extremely dangerous circuit- 8 people (4 drivers, 2 riding mechanics, and 2 spectators) in total were killed at the 3 French Grands Prix held at the 79 km (49-mile) circuit.
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