Speed, oversteer but no armco
The 1970 French Grand Prix was held at the Circuit de Charade, Clermont-Ferrand on 5 July 1970. It was race 6 of 13 in the 1970 Formula 1 World Championship. This was the last F1 race to be held on public roads with no Armco lined around the circuit. When F1 returned to the Charade circuit in 1972, Armco had already been installed, which made this fast circuit, slightly less dangerous.
Picture above: Championship leader, Jochen Rindt, beautifully controls his oversteering Lotus 72, en route to another Grand Prix victory.
Twelve cylinder engines were at ease on this beautiful and difficult Charade circuit. Logically then, Jacky Ickx (Ferrari – flat 12) and Jean-Pierre Beltoise (Matra V12) locked the front row in qualifying. First Cosworth (V8) engines were in second row with the March’s of Chris Amon and Jackie Stewart.
Gradually, the challenge of all 12-cylinder engined cars faded away in the race, and Jochen Rindt (Lotus 72-Cosworth) won, after he started from sixth position, while Chris Amon (March 701-Cosworth) finished once more second.
Picture below: Jochen Rindt, Lotus 72 and future winner, leads Henri Pescarolo, Matra MS120, who finished fifth and only 12-cylinder car to cross the finish line.
