JEK
Senior Insider
In August 1976, 44 years ago, French filmmaker Claude Lelouch adapted a gyroscope camera to fit on the front of a Ferrari 275 GTB, and asked a friend, a professional Formula 1 driver, to make an early morning drive through the heart of Paris as quickly as possible - the entire journey would be filmed.
The driver was told the trip should last about 10 minutes with the route would go from Porte Dauphine through the Louvre to the SacreCoeur basilica. Lelouch did not get permission to close any streets on the dangerous journey.
The driver actually completed the circuit in less than 9 minutes, reaching up to 260 kph at times. The film shows him passing red lights, dodging pedestrians, scaring off pigeons, and driving down one-way streets at dawn.
Claude Lelouch was arrested soon after the film was first shown to the public, but to this day, he's never revealed the name of the Formula 1 driver. It is speculated to have been either René Arnoux or Jean-Pierre Jarier, two of the top French F1 drivers of the era.
The film was subsequently banned and could only be seen in underground theaters. If you haven't seen it yet, hold your breath and take 10 minutes to experience the excitement of driving through Paris in a Ferrari 275 GTB. It's worth it, especially with headphones
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgPoiKiMRFQ
The driver was told the trip should last about 10 minutes with the route would go from Porte Dauphine through the Louvre to the SacreCoeur basilica. Lelouch did not get permission to close any streets on the dangerous journey.
The driver actually completed the circuit in less than 9 minutes, reaching up to 260 kph at times. The film shows him passing red lights, dodging pedestrians, scaring off pigeons, and driving down one-way streets at dawn.
Claude Lelouch was arrested soon after the film was first shown to the public, but to this day, he's never revealed the name of the Formula 1 driver. It is speculated to have been either René Arnoux or Jean-Pierre Jarier, two of the top French F1 drivers of the era.
The film was subsequently banned and could only be seen in underground theaters. If you haven't seen it yet, hold your breath and take 10 minutes to experience the excitement of driving through Paris in a Ferrari 275 GTB. It's worth it, especially with headphones
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgPoiKiMRFQ