F3 History

This 12 lap round of the French Formula 3 Championship was supporting the European 2-litre Sports Car Championship event. Jacques Lafitte took pole position in his works Martini, he was using the car usually driven by Jean-Pierre Paoli after damaging his normal chassis in a testing accident. Second fastest 0.7 seconds slower than Lafitte was Michel Leclere in the works Alpine-Renault, the sister Alpine of Alain Serpaggi was third.

The three front row men led away from the start with Lafitte and Leclere constantly swopping the lead as Serpaggi kept a watching brief in third until his Alpine lost a wheel fortunately without injury to Serpaggi. Next up were Larry Perkins and Bernard Beguin but the Cowangie Kid began to suffer from brake fade and gradually dropped away to finish sixth. Back at the front Lafitte and Leclere continued their fantastic battle for the lead with both men taking it in turns at the front but at the finish line it was Lafitte that kept the nose of his Martini in front to win by 0.3 seconds.