The Times/1906/News/Automobilism The Grand Prix – June25

AUTOMOBILISM. THE GRAND PRIX. PARIS,

The race for the Grand Prix of the French Automobile Club will be run to-morrow and on Wednesday over a vast triangle of roads to the east of Le Mans, known as the Circuit de la Sarthe. Thirty-four motor-cars have been entered for the match. The majority of the well-known manufacturers are to take part in the race, each, save for two exceptions, with three motor-cars, and each having his special number. The following is the list in starting order :-Lorraine, Dietrich, F.I.A.T., Renault, Darracq, Braiser, Mercedes, Gobron, Itala, Gregoire, Panbard-Levassor, Vulpes, Hotchkiss, and Bayard-Clement. It will be remembered that the French Automobile Club organized the present prize on account of the dissatisfaction caused in Franco by the regulations of the Gordon-Bennett cup match. In that race each country had the right to enter three automobiles. Charron won the race in 1900 and in 1901 another Frenchman, Girardot, obtained the trophy. But in 1902 Edge took the prize to England, and that is why the race of 1903 was run in Ireland. In Ireland Jenatzy was the victor for Germany. France made a desperate effort to recover the trophy, and Théry's victory in the Tarmus in 1904 transferred the cup to her. But the Automobile Club had acquired the conviction that France was unfairly treated since the regulations deprived her of making as satisfactory a show as was warranted by the superiority of her industries. The club decided therefore, to reorganize the Gordon-Bennett cup so that the other countries should have a chance of recovering the trophy, but announced that this would be the last time that France would take part in this race on the old conditions. Last year in Auvergne Théry renewed his victory.

These are the circumstances in which the Grand Prix has been organized. It is no longer each country, but each firm, that has a right to three motor-cars. Thus 25 out of the 34 are of French make. The race will be run over 1,200 kilometres in two heats of 600 kilometres each. The roads in the district in question are among the best in France, admitting of exceptional speed. In the interval between the first and seconds heats the cars will be carefully housed, and no repairs of any kind will be allowed ; moreover, whatever repairs have to be made during the race must be made by the drivers or mechanics themselves. These rigorous conditions give special interest and significance to to-morrow's match. The role of the assistants in the previous races was found to be an important element in the victory. Under the new rules the winner will really be able to boast that he has been running the best car. All the roads have been carefully prepared and tarred, and sharp corners have, as far as possible, been rounded off. No portion of the route having been neutralized, it seems certain the the present race will give the most rapid speed records of any that have been run. Already in the trial trips most of the cars have covered the circuit in about and hour in spite of the encumbrances on the road. To-morrow, therefore, it seems likely that they will be able to make 120 kilometres an hour. The start will be at 6 in the morning. The picturesque old town of Le Mans is already en fête. The price of rooms is exorbitant.—Our Correspondent.