STORY OF THE DAY: A Francorchamps GTO Takes Second in France

On 20 September 1964, Claude Dubois and Philippe de Montaigu finished second in the Tour France with the number 175 Ferrari 250 GTO. Their performance added another important result to the GTO’s record in an event whose variety demanded far more than conventional circuit speed.

The Tour combined races, hill climbs, timed tests and long road sections. Success required precise navigation, rapid adaptation and careful preservation of the car between competitive venues. Dubois and de Montaigu sustained their challenge across the full itinerary, demonstrating the versatility that made the GTO such an effective road-racing machine.

The 250 GTO united a front-mounted three-litre Colombo V12 with a tubular chassis, five-speed transmission and aerodynamically developed berlinetta bodywork. Its usable torque, strong brakes and stable handling allowed it to move effectively between public roads, circuits and short timed climbs.

Dubois was a Belgian racer, team proprietor and influential Ferrari distributor with a long association with the marque. De Montaigu was a French gentleman driver active in GT competition. Together they represented Ecurie Francorchamps’ established ability to prepare and race Ferraris successfully in Europe’s most exacting events.