Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Grand Prix (1966 film)" in English language version.
The only race shoot that did not occur at a "live" race weekend was the film's French Grand Prix. The real French race in 1966 was held at the flat and featureless Reims circuit, and so Frankenheimer staged a mock race at Clermont-Ferrand, which allowed the luxury of time to fill in many of the story elements and flesh out some of the characters.
Frankenheimer's artistic license. . . helps to explain why McLaren's first Formula 1 car appeared in white and green – a livery not usually associated with the marque.
