Long straights and a sticking throttle

The 1959 French Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on the longer and faster 8.348km Reims circuit. The race was won from pole position by British driver Tony Brooks, driving a Ferrari 246 F1.

Picture above: Tony Brooks, Ferrari 246F1, winner at Reims, 1959. Superb shot by Bernard Cahier, taken at turn 1 called “Calvaire”, where Brooks’ teammate, Luigi Musso, sadly died in 1958.

Brooks dominated the race, leading all 50 laps and winning by 27 seconds over his American Scuderia Ferrari teammate Phil Hill. Brooks said after the race: “It was not as easy as it seemed, a sticking throttle in the closing laps made it complicated, but I am delighted to bring it home.”

The win was the first of the season for Scuderia Ferrari and moved Brooks into second place overall, five points behind Jack Brabham – here-under in second position behind Brooks – and his rear-engined Cooper-Climax.