1996 French Grand Prix
The 1996 French Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Circuit de Nevers, Magny-Cours, France on 30 June 1996. It was the ninth race of the 1996 Formula One World Championship.
| 1996 French Grand Prix | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Race 9 of 16 in the 1996 Formula One World Championship
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| Race details | |||||
| Date | 30 June 1996 | ||||
| Official name | LXXXII French Grand Prix | ||||
| Location | Circuit de Nevers, Magny-Cours, France | ||||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||||
| Course length | 4.250 km (2.641 miles) | ||||
| Distance | 72 laps, 305.814 km (190.024 miles) | ||||
| Weather | Dry | ||||
| Pole position | |||||
| Driver | Ferrari | ||||
| Time | 1:15.989 | ||||
| Fastest lap | |||||
| Driver | Jacques Villeneuve | Williams-Renault | |||
| Time | 1:18.610 on lap 48 | ||||
| Podium | |||||
| First | Williams-Renault | ||||
| Second | Williams-Renault | ||||
| Third | Benetton-Renault | ||||
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Lap leaders | |||||
The 72-lap race was won by Briton Damon Hill, driving a Williams-Renault, after he started from second position. German Michael Schumacher took pole position in his Ferrari but failed to start the race after his engine blew on the warm-up lap, leaving Hill to lead from start to finish except for the pit stops. Hill's teammate, Canadian Jacques Villeneuve, finished second, with local driver Jean Alesi third in a Benetton-Renault.
This was the last Grand Prix where a Forti car started the race as they would fail to qualify for the remaining Grand Prix they would enter, however both cars were forced to retire.