1906 French Grand Prix

  • Tuesday, June 26, 1906
  • Grand Prix de l'Automobile Club de France

Not the first motor race with a GP suffix – that was Pau in February 1901 – but the first international event so called. It ended with a Renault victory – the result of clever strategy, a sorted chassis with a tyre advantage and faster pitstops.

Much has changed since, of course. The race was held over two days – Tuesday and Wednesday – and covered 769 miles. Its circuit was 64.11 miles in length and short sections were wooden. And the winning car had a 13-litre engine – far from the largest in the field.

Created to circumnavigate the Gordon Bennett Trophy’s restrictive three cars-per-country rule, the GP attracted 34 entries, 32 of which started. Nine French marques, seven of which mustered three cars, faced sparse but stiff opposition from Italy (Fiat and Itala) and Germany (Mercedes).

Paul Baras in a Richard-Brasier set the fastest lap – 73.376mph from a standing start – and led for the first two, but Renault’s Ferenc Szisz controlled proceedings thereafter.

Race Results

Qualifying

Circuit - Le Mans-Circuit de la Sarthe

Country

France

Location

Le Mans, Pays de la Loire

Type

Temporary road course

Length

64.12 (Miles)

Record

Paul Baras (Brasier 105hp), 52m25.4, 73.387 mph, GP, 1906

3,413

Championships

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19,330

Results

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25,216

Drivers

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14,546

Teams

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917

Circuits

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