The Citroën Entries
Car 87 Lucien Bianchi and Jean Claude Ogier leading the way in Australia in their Citroën DS 21
Photo courtesy Bill Kneipp (c)
"Citroën cars were almost stock standard compared to many of the other cars. Citroën believed that if their 2.2 litre engine that developed 115 bhp at 5,750 revs., and capable of 112 miles per hour could not win a rally, they should give motor manufacturing away.

The Marathon Citroëns had no rear bumper bars and luxury extras to reduce their weight by 160 lbs., however the weight saved was lost by the addition of extra fuel tanks that held 48 gallons and protective guards under the car. The Citroëns' fuel consumption ranged from 10 miles per gallon in rough going, to 26 miles per gallon on the open road.

Lucien had won the Tour de France four times, in 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1964, and was overall winner of the Monte Carlo Rally in 1963. He also won the Le Mans 24-hour race in 1965 as well as taking fifth place in the East Africa Safari."
Alan Sawyer

The most talked about finish in the Marathon was the cruel twist of fate that denied Lucien Bianchi and Jean Claude Ogier of a very impressive win.

Leading more than comfortably in the last, and non-competitive stage of the Marathon, they were robbed of victory when a Mini crashed head on into them near Nowra, less than 100 miles from the finish at Warwick Farm, an outer Sydney suburb.
In yet two other strange twists of fate, on the 30th. March 1969, only three months after the finish of the Marathon, Lucien Bianchi died. He was killed during a practice run at Le Mans, France, when an Alfa Romeo T33, 3 litre sports car he was driving spun into a telegraph pole at 190 miles per hour near the end of the Mulsanne straight.

After the Marathon, Jean Claude Ogier married Belgian Lucette Pointet, who was the co-driver with Rosemary Smith who drove car 93 a Ford Lotus Cortina for Henry Ford of Ireland. They participated in the 1970 Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo in a Citroën DS 21.
Bianchi and Ogier flying through the Australian outback
Photo courtesy John Waterhouse
Car 74  Sponsored by Citroën Cars, Citroen DS 21. Robert Neyret and Jacques Terramorsi
The mangled wreck of the leading car in the Marathon - less than 100 miles from the finish. Trapped inside was Lucien Bianchi (sleeping at the time) in the passengers seat.
This pic shows the horrific nature of the crash that robbed Lucien Bianchi and Jean Claude Ogier of their well deserved victory.
In the foreground is the Mini Minor that collided with the Citroën.
Photo courtesy John Smailes and David McKay
In happier times through Australia's Flinders Ranges
Photo courtesy John Smailes and David McKay
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Three Citroën DS 21's participated in the Marathon - only one of them finished.

Two were factory entered DS 21 Citroëns in the Marathon, the third was a private entry sponsored by the Automobile Club of France.

Car 74.  Sponsored by Citroën Cars France, Citroën DS 21, Robert Neyret and Jacques Terramorsi
Car 87.  Sponsored by Citroën Cars France, Citroën DS 21, Lucien Bianchi and Jean Claude Ogier.
Car 94.  Sponsored by Automobile Club de France, Citroën DS 21, J.K. Lemerle, O. Turcat and P. Vanson.
Lucien Bianchi and Jean Claude Ogier arrive in Bombay.
Photo courtesy Jon Mauleon