1958 French Grand Prix

The 1958 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Reims on 6 July 1958. It was race 6 of 11 in the 1958 World Championship of Drivers and race 5 of 10 in the 1958 International Cup for Formula One Manufacturers.

The race was won by Mike Hawthorn driving a Ferrari 246 F1; it was his first Formula One victory since the 1954 Spanish Grand Prix and would prove to be his last. It was also the last Formula One race for five-time World Champion Juan Manuel Fangio. On the final lap, Hawthorn eased up to let Fangio, running fifth at the time, finish on the lead lap of his last race. This turned out to be a blessing, as Peter Collins ran out of fuel on the final lap, allowing Fangio to secure fourth. Collins managed to push his car to finish fifth. Finishing in tenth was Indianapolis 500 winner, American Troy Ruttman driving a Maserati 250F for Scuderia Centro Sud in what would be his only Grand Prix appearance outside of the 500. Ruttman had qualified 15 seconds away from pole position and finished five laps down on Hawthorn.

Fatalities

The F1 race was marred by Ferrari driver Luigi Musso's fatal accident at the Courbe du Calvaire. His car hurtled off course and crashed into a ditch. Musso was thrown out of the car, was critically injured and died later that day at a hospital near the track.

Of the 21 starters, six died in racing cars within the next three years. Musso died in the race itself, while Peter Collins died four weeks later in the 1958 German Grand Prix, Lewis-Evans at the Moroccan Grand Prix, Jean Behra in a support race for the 1959 German Grand Prix, Harry Schell in practice for the 1960 BRDC International Trophy, and Wolfgang von Trips and a dozen spectators died at the 1961 Italian Grand Prix.

Formula 2

The "II Coupe Internationale de Vitesse 1958" 1500cc Formula Two race was held on the same day, over 30 laps. Several current and future F1 pilots entered both events, with F2 already using Rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout cars from Cooper, and even sportscars with enveloping bodywork from Porsche and OSCA that were heavier but seemingly made up time on the long straights of Reims, a circuit similar to Le Mans. Pole (2'34.1") and victory by Jean Behra in a Porsche 718 RSK (converted central seat sportscar) ahead of Collins in a front engine Ferrari Dino 156 F2.