1000km de Paris 1961 poster – Linas Montlhéry – Michael Beligond

1000km de Paris 1961 poster – Michael Beligond The 1000km de Paris was an endurance race, mainly for sports cars, which was held at the Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry in France from 1956 to 1995. The artist Michel Beligond was selected to design the 1000km de Paris 1961 poster which was to advertise and promote the event. Beligond’s superb image offers a dramatic image of a Ferrari 250 GTO tussling it out for first place against, what looks like, a blue Porsche RS-61, on the high banked curve of the Linas-Montlhery racetrack. At the foot of the poster the text reads: With the Total and Le Parisian competitions. Le Parisian is a French Daily newspaper company and Total are one of the worlds largest petrol, oil and energy company’s in the world. Each of the two companies sponsored a race during the day’s events. The 1000km de Paris 1961, Linas Montlhéry 1000km de Paris 1961 was an automobile endurance race that was held on the Circuit de Linas-Montlhery in France. The race was held just fourteen times over a thirty-five year period between 1956 and 1995. The inaugural race, called the “Grand Prix de l’Automobile Club de l’Île-de-France”, was held in 1956. The race was won by the French pairing of Jean Behra and Louis Rosier, in a Maserati 300S. The pair completed the 1000 kilometer of Paris race in 6h 41m 3s recording an average race speed of 150km/h. It would be three years later when the race became a permanent fixture. The 1000km race was then held annually between 1960 and 1971 with the exception of 1963 and 1965. The final 1000km race was held in 1972. It was not however staged at Monthléry. Instead, it was held at a motor racing circuit in Orival, near Rouen in France at the Circuit de Rouen-Les-Essarts. The Paris 1000 Kilometres race 1961 The 1961 1000km de Paris race was still organised by l’Automobile Club de l’Île-de-France. The 1961 motor racing competition was held on the 22nd September 1961. The race was organised at the request of the Federation International de l’Automobile (FIA). The race was the thirteenth and final race of the 1961 season in the FIA Cup. Once again the race was held on the 7.784 kms long Monthlery race circuit. Forty-one cars entered, 34 of which qualified. The race was attended by six car manufacturing companies. Ferrari entered 12 racers, Porsche 7, DB Panhard 4, and Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo and Fiat Abarth entering three drivers each. Seven nations were represented. There were 28 French drivers, 9 British, Italian and Belgian, 5 German pilots and 2 Mexicans with 2 Chilean drivers completing the field. The race was dominated by Ferrari. Thirteen of the thirty-seven cars that started the race were the company’s 3-litre, Ferrari 250 GT. At the end of the race, the first 13 places all went to Ferrari, with the exception of the 6th and 9th places that went to Aston Martin and their DB4 GT. The Porsche 356B Carrera’s then took the places from 21st to 27th before the rest of the field rolled in. The race was won by the Mexican racing brothers Pedro and Ricardo Rodriguez. It was their first major international victory. They completed the 129 laps, a distance of 1004km, at an average speed of  153.595 km/h. Second place was taken by the Belgian racing team of Willy Mairesse and Lucien Bianchi with French driver Maurice Trintignant paired with the Italian Nino Vaccarella. How much is an original 1961 1000km de Paris poster worth? Original copies of this 1960’s motor racing poster haven’t yet become as collectible as much earlier motorsport prints. Which, if you are looking for an original is great news, because it means that they can currently (2021) be picked up fairly reasonably. Orignals can be purchased for between £750-£1000 which brings them into the starting price list for budding collectors who wish to start their collection of original prints. Of course, if you can find an original copy and can afford to buy it, you’re on to a winner. There’s nothing like owning an original vintage poster and they often make a great investment. Chances are in just a few years you’ll be able to sell it for more than you paid for it. Unfortunately, for most of us, an investment, even at the entry-level prices of the collectible poster, isn’t even close to being a possibility. This is where our stunning high-quality reproductions come into their own. They cost a fraction of an original and look absolutely fantastic when they’re framed and hung on your living room wall. If you’re a fan of motor racing, or the art of Michael Beligond then this wall art print is a must-have. It’s certain to add a sense of drama to your pit wall, mancave, living room or kitchen. So if you’re looking for a unique and stylish way to show your love for motorsports, and this poster gets your motor running and your heart racing, put yourself in pole position and order one today.