1987 French Grand Prix

Infobox Grand Prix race report
Type = F1
Country = France
Grand Prix = French
Official name = Grand Prix de France
Date = July 5
Year = 1987
Race_No = 6
Season_No = 16
Location = Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet, France
Course = Permanent racing facility
Course_mi = 2.369
Course_km = 3.813
Distance_laps = 80
Distance_mi = 189.543
Distance_km = 259.584
Weather = Sunny and hot
Pole_Driver = Nigel Mansell
Pole_Team = Williams-Honda
Pole_Time = 1:06.454
Pole_Country = UK
Fast_Driver = Nelson Piquet
Fast_Team = Williams-Honda
Fast_Time = 1:09.548
Fast_L

Fast_Country = Brazil
First_Driver = Nigel Mansell
First_Team = Williams-Honda
First_Country = UK
Second_Driver = Nelson Piquet
Second_Team = Williams-Honda
Second_Country = Brazil
Third_Driver = Alain Prost
Third_Team = McLaren-TAG
Third_Country = France

The 1987 French Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on July 5 1987 at the Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet. It was the 6th race of the 1987 Formula One season.

Race summary

For the first time since the 1986 Mexican Grand Prix, a non-Honda powered car was on the front row in the shape of Alain Prost's McLaren-TAG, who qualified second. The pole position was taken once again by Nigel Mansell on Williams, while the second row was occupied by Ayrton Senna's Lotus and Nelson Piquet's other Williams. The fast nature of the circuit clearly suited the turbo cars: the best placed nonturbo driver was Ivan Capelli in 22nd place, about 6 seconds off the pace and 50 km/h (30 mph) slower on the main straight.
At the lights, Michele Alboreto jumped the start, whilst his Ferrari teammate Gerhard Berger stalled. Nigel Mansell led away and was joined by teammate Nelson Piquet at the front after he passed Prost on the Mistral Straight. Eddie Cheever retired on lap 1 after accidentally setting off the fire extinguisher whilst attempting to adjust turbo boost. Andrea de Cesaris then collided with Stefan Johansson, the McLaren requiring a pit stop for a damaged nosecone; the debris of his car caused some trouble to Mansell who ran into them.
Mansell, Piquet and Prost were engaged in a gripping battle for the lead, separated by just 2 seconds. On lap 19, Piquet spun and Prost passed him for 2nd. Meanwhile, Senna was holding onto a creditable 4th place. On lap 30, Piquet pitted for new tyres, followed 2 laps later by Senna. Meanwhile, Thierry Boutsen retired with electrical failure. Both Mansell and Prost came in for new tyres on lap 36, handing the lead to Piquet. Mansell completed his stop and closed rapidly on Piquet, breaking fastest lap records. On lap 46, at the Le Beausset corner, Piquet made an error and Mansell passed him on the inside to take a lead he would not lose. On lap 65 Piquet made a second stop which went wrong when the engine stalled, delaying him by an additional 8 seconds. After exiting the pits, he caught and passed Prost (who was dealing with an electrical problem) on lap 67.
Piquet was about 20 seconds behind Mansell, but on the final laps he was gaining at 2 seconds a lap. With seven laps to go, the gap was reduced to just 13 seconds, but Mansell paced himself to win by 7.7 seconds. Johansson had fought courageously up to 6th place after two pit stops to repair damages on his McLaren, but retired just 5 laps from the chequered flag.
Prost took the final podium place, with Senna 4th ahead of Teo Fabi's Benetton in fifth. Philippe Streiff drove a superb race to take his first World Championship point and the victory for the Jim Clark trophy.

Classification

Numbers in brackets refer to positions of normally-aspirated entrants competing for the Jim Clark Trophy.

References

* "Unless otherwise indicated, all race results are taken from cite web |title=The Official Formula 1 website |url=http://www.formula1.com/results/season/1987/284/ |accessdate=2007-07-08

F1 race report
Name_of_race = French Grand Prix
Year_of_race = 1987
Previous_race_in_season = 1987 United States Grand Prix East
Next_race_in_season = 1987 British Grand Prix
Previous_year's_race = 1986 French Grand Prix
Next_year's_race = 1988 French Grand Prix