After trying for many years, the Automobile Club Normand at last succeeded in wresting the French Grand Prix away from the Automobile Club du Champagne, and this year’s race was held on the wonderful natural road circuit of Rouen-Les Essarts. This circuit is without question the finest in France and approaches the Spa circuit for the ultimate in Grand Prix courses.
In the past it has only been lack of organising finance that has prevented the French Federation letting the Grand Prix of their country be run at Rouen, but this year the problem was solved and the French Grand Prix became a Grand Prix in the true sense of the words, rather than a flat-out blind as happens at Reims.
Situated a few miles south of Rouen, in the forest of Les Essarts, the 6.542-kilometre circuit contains everything from tight hairpins to 150mph corners, steep uphill sections, and a wonderful 100-120mph series of downhill swerves of the type that really sorts out the men from the boys in Grand Prix cars.
