Yves Giraud-Cabantous

Giraud-Cabantous began his long career back in 1925, and by 1927 he had won his first race, the GP des Frontières at Chimay in a Salmson. He was soon developing his own cars and in 1930 won the Bol d'Or 24-hour race in his own Caban, later successfully racing a Bugatti and a Delahaye, in which he finished second at Le Mans. After the war, Yves joined the Ecurie France team, emerging victorious at Chimay, Montlhéry and San Remo in 1947, and winning the GP de Paris in 1948. He was also involved with the infamous CTA Arsenal project, before purchasing a Talbot which he was to race extensively over the next five seasons.

In 1950 he joined the official Talbot team and by finishing fourth in the British Grand Prix became the first French driver to score World Champonship points. Financial difficulties saw the team disbanded, but Giraud-Cabantous continued on his own with the Talbot, finishing third at Albi in 1952, then joined the HWM team for a number of races in 1952-53. His 'steady-as-she-goes' approach by this time was perhaps understandable, but he did bring the car home to the finish regularly. In sports cars he was second sharing Rosier's Talbot in the Reims 12 Hours in 1953, his last full season. Yves made occasional appearances over the next few years, in the little VP and Giaur sports cars, before retiring in 1957 to concentrate fully on his transport business.