Sunday 30th June 1963

Jim Clark took the lead at the start from Richie Ginther in the BRM at the French Grand Prix at Reims. 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. However, Hill was awarded no championship points for his third place after his push start.