18th, Giuseppe Campari Clinches Alfa Romeo's Win over Sunbeam's Segrave
It meant an early start on central France’s eastern fringe – but the reward justified the effort. A local newspaper reported a record crowd, with more than 100,000 people lining a 14.38-mile course described in The Brooklands Gazette as “comparatively short”…
With cars due to assemble at 8.30am, half an hour before the start, a crepuscular invasion was essential.
Timed qualifying having yet to be invented, Henry Segrave drew pole for Sunbeam in a pre-race ballot and led away a strong, 20-car field representing the cream of France (Bugatti, Delage, Rolland-Pilain), Italy, (Fiat, Alfa Romeo), Britain (Sunbeam) and America (Miller): blue vs red vs green vs white.