M.G. SUCCESS IN G.P. DE FRANCE

M.G. SUCCESS IN G.P. DE FRANCE Maillard-Brune (M.G.), Mestivier (Amilcar) and Sommer three car races. (Alfa-Romeo) win the

THE meeting at Montlhery, known as the Grand Prix de France, consists of a series of scratch races for cars of various capacities, none of them exceeding 90 kilometres in length. Normally it is held at the end of the season, but owing to the bad weather experienced in previous years it was decided to put forward the date to June 2nd.

The car programme opened at noon with a race for cars and cyclecars up to ‘,too c.c. Twelve laps of a 6km. 283 circuit had to be covered partly over the roadcircuit and including the speed-track. The sky was as stormy as it could possibly be, but the rain actually held off until about 4 o’clock, when a short downpour set in.

The first race was an absolute walkover for Maurice Mestivier on his “works” Amilcar. He gained a 26 seconds lead from Sandford’s three-wheeler on the very first lap, and was never challenged. His average speed was 77 m.p.h., and his fastest lap was covered at 79.5 m.p.h.

Cars and Cycle Cars, 1,100 0.0,

12 laps: 75 kin. 396.

1. M. Mestivier (Amilcar). 86 in. 18.6 sees., 124.587 k.p.h.

2. S. Sandford (Sandford), 1 lap behind.

8. F. Venot (La Pintade). 2 laps behind.

4. G. Malivoir (B.N.C.), 2 laps behind. The French spectators found a great deal to interest them in the next race, even though it resulted in as easy a victory as

the previous event. Maillard-Brune appeared with a new R type monoposto M.G. Midget, and fairly streaked away from the rest of the field. Behind him Pacheco, on an unsupercharged 1,100 C.C. Robail, lool ed as though he would be a comfortable second until he blew up on the last lap. His place was promptly filled by Gaudichet, on a Sandford, Pacheco managing to crawl into third position. Maillard-Brune’s fastest lap was accomplished at 76.6 m.p.h.

Supercharged 750 0.0. and Unsupercharged 1,100 c.c.

11 laps: 69 km. 113.

1. P. Maillard-Brune (M.G. 750), 34 m. 40 secs. 119.678 k.p.h.

2. C. Gaudichet (Sandford 750), 1 lap behind.

3. A. Pacheco (Robail 1,100), 1 lap behind.

4. R. Hup (B.N.C. 1,100), 2 laps behind.

6. J. Lemattre (E.H.P. 1,100), 3 laps behind.

b 6. P. Demarchi (Cuban 1,100), 3 laps ehind. 7. R. Danvignes (Danvignes Spe. 750), 8 laps behind. Of the seven cars which lined up for the final event on the programme, the

most favoured machines were the two monoposto A lfa-Romeos of Sommer and Ralph, and the 3-litre Maserati of Robert Brunet.

The latter was leading at the end of the first lap, followed by Sommer, G. Leoz (2.3 Bugatti), Ralph, who had made a slow getaway, E. Leoz (1.5 Bugatti), Renakli (2-litre Bugatti) and Romani (2.3 Bugatti).

On the third lap Sommer put on speed and passed Brunet, who was also passed by Ralph two laps later. Brunet’s Maserati was not running well, and he retired on the 8th circuit. R. oumani and E. Leoz had already fallen out. Sommer carried on to the finish, thus repeating his victory of 1933, when he won the race on the 2.3-litre Alfa-Romeo now raced in this country by A. P. Hamilton.

Supercharged 1,500 c.c. Cars and Unlimited.

14 laps: 87 km. 982.

1. R. Sommer (Alfa-Romeo 3 litres), 86 tn. 18.5 sees. 145.358 k.p.h. 2. R. ttalph (Alfa-Romeo 3 litres), 87 m

41.5 secs.

3. G. Leoz (Bugatti 2,800), 1 lap behind.

4. A. Renoldi (Bugatti 2,000), 1 lap behind. 5. R. Brunet (Maserati 8 litres). 4 laps

behind.

Fastest lap by Sommer: 94.37 !m.p.h.