Yves Aristide Marius Giraud-Cabantous (8 October 1904 – 30 March 1973) was a French racing driver who competed in Formula One during the opening years of the World Championship. Between 1950 and 1953 he took part in 13 World Championship Grands Prix, as well as numerous non-Championship Formula One and Formula Two events.
Driver Bio
| Nationality | French |
| Birthplace | St Gaudens, France |
| Born | 8 October 1903 |
| Died | 30 March 1973 |
| First Grand Prix | 1950 British Grand Prix |
| Last Grand Prix | 1953 Italian Grand Prix |
| Years Active | 1950–1953 |
| Current/Last Team | HWM |
Career
Born in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, Giraud-Cabantous had already built up considerable racing experience before the Formula One World Championship was established in 1950.
He was also an accomplished sports-car competitor, with one of his earliest major successes coming in the 1930 Bol d’Or.
When the new World Championship began in 1950, Giraud-Cabantous raced a Talbot-Lago and was among the drivers on the grid for the very first Championship event, the 1950 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
It turned out to be the best Formula One result of his career.
Giraud-Cabantous brought the Talbot-Lago home in fourth place, earning three World Championship points at the first attempt. In an era when reliability was every bit as important as outright speed, keeping the car running was often half the battle.
He continued with Talbot-Lago through 1950 and 1951, making ten World Championship appearances with the marque across the two seasons.
His second points-scoring result came at the 1951 Belgian Grand Prix, where he added another two points to his tally.
For the final stages of his World Championship career, Giraud-Cabantous switched to HWM-Alta machinery. He made three further Grand Prix appearances before his Formula One career came to an end in 1953.
Across his 13 World Championship starts, the Frenchman scored five points, with that fourth place at Silverstone in 1950 remaining his finest result.
Formula One represented only part of a much broader career, however. Giraud-Cabantous competed extensively outside the World Championship in both Formula One and Formula Two machinery, while his sports-car appearances stretched back well before the Second World War.
He died in Paris on 30 March 1973 at the age of 68 and was buried at Ivry Cemetery in Ivry-sur-Seine.
Giraud-Cabantous may not be one of Formula One’s most familiar names today, but he occupies a permanent place in its early history: a veteran French racer who was there when the World Championship began – and who finished fourth in its very first race.
Formula One World Championship results
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | WDC | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Automobiles Talbot-Darracq | Talbot-Lago T26C-DA | Talbot L6 | GBR 4 | MON DNA | 500 | SUI Ret | BEL Ret | FRA 8 | ITA | 14th | 3 | ||
| 1951 | Yves Giraud Cabantous | Talbot-Lago T26C | Talbot L6 | SUI Ret | 500 | BEL 5 | FRA 7 | GBR | GER Ret | ITA 8 | ESP Ret | 18th | 2 | |
| 1952 | HW Motors | HWM 52 | Alta L4 | SUI | 500 | BEL | FRA 10 | GBR | GER | NED | ITA | NC | 0 | |
| 1953 | HW Motors | HWM 53 | Alta L4 | ARG | 500 | NED | BEL | FRA 14 | GBR | GER | SUI | ITA 15 | NC | 0 |
