French Grand Prix 1966 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Jack Brabham claimed a landmark victory at Reims, winning in a car bearing his own name and establishing the Brabham-Repco combination as the season's surprise package. The 40-year-old Australian's astute technical decision to use the simple, reliable Repco V8 engine proved inspired, as rivals struggled with more powerful but unreliable alternatives. Brabham's victory demonstrated that experience and engineering acumen could triumph over raw horsepower.

Mike Parkes finished second for Ferrari ahead of Denny Hulme's Brabham-Repco, completing a strong result for the Australian team. The Repco engine, derived from an Oldsmobile block, produced less power than Ferrari or BRM units but offered bulletproof reliability and good fuel economy. Brabham's win at Reims announced his team as serious championship contenders, validating his conservative approach to the new regulations. The victory marked the beginning of Brabham's championship assault and demonstrated that the new 3.0-liter formula had shuffled the competitive order.