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MONACO G. P.
MANNFRED VON BRAUCHITSCH WINS WONDERFUL RACE FOR MERCEDES AT 63.27 M.P.H.
SUNDAY NIGHT
The ninth Grand Prix of Monaco was run off in the streets of the famous town on Sunday, August 8th. Mercedes-Benz not only repeated their success of last year but made it a real grand slam, all four cars finishing in first, second, third and fifth places, and setting up a staggering new lap record of 1 min. 461 secs. (12 seconds faster than the previous record set up in 1935) also by Mercedes Benz.
The driving throughout was of an exceedingly high standard, and the duel throughout the race between Caracciola and von Brauchitsch was worth coming a long way to see.
The opening lap was marred by an accident to Hasse (Auto-Union), but fortunately his injuries are not of a serious nature.
Practising took place during the three days preceding the race, and immediately one got an idea of the terrific pace at which the race would be run. On Friday afternoon von Brauchitsch went round in 1 min. 50 secs.—the highest speed mentioned in the speed table of the official programme ; while on Saturday morning no fewer than five drivers reduced this time—Caracciola being best of all with 1 min. 47i secs. (66.168 m.p.h.), so he held the inside front position at the start. The cars being lined up as follows : 1st Row : Rosemeyer von Brancilitsch Caracciola (Auto-Union) (Mercedes) (Mercedes) 2nd Row : Kautz Stuck (Mercedes) (Auto-Union) 3rd Row : Farina Zehender Hasse (Alfa-Romeo) (Mercedes) (Auto-Union) 4th Row: Ituesch Pintacnda (Alfa-Romeo) (Alfa-Romeo) 5th Row : Hartmann Sommer BrIvlo (Maserati) (Alfa) (Alfa) 6th Row : Biondetti Sott4c0.1 (Maserati) (Maserati)
Kautz was driving in place of Lang, and Seaman did not appear, still being in Adenau Hospital recovering from his smash in the German G.P., but one was pleased to hear he was almost entirely recovered.
CONTENTS
International Trophy, The Water Sport ••• Rumblings
Campbell Circuit Meeting … Letters from Readers • • 325 327 329 333 335 Twice limes 24 339 Another Club Meeting at Donington 341
147.A .S.A. 342 Truly Remarkable Value •.• 344 London Grand Prix … •.• 346
Club News … 348 German G.P. ••• 350
T, T. Entries … 352
12 Hours Race at Donington Park … 355
Nnvolari, too, was an absentee, still being at Monza for the trials of the new Alfa-Romeo, as nothing is being left undone in an effort to have one car ready for the Coppa Acerbo.
The only definite non-starter was Pietsch whose Maserati developed a serious oil leakage, and very rightly, in view of last year’s multiple smash, the organisers decided he should not be allowed to start.
A huge crowd had been flocking into Monaco all the morning and every conceivable view point appeared to be occupied on a perfect sunny day. Lord Howe made a ceremonial lap in an open four-seater Lagonda to officially close the road—a great tribute to this fine sportsman, and one to which the crowd showed their appreciation by giving his Lordship a great reception right round the course. As the flag fell the ears got away to a good start, with a terrific display of acceleration, and at the tricky Sainte Devote corner about 250 yards from the start Caracciola was first, ahead of von
Brauchitsch and Rosemeyer, followed by the pack. Already the first incident had occurred, Hasse coming out of the Tunnel on his first lap skidded right round, crashed and was taken off by the speedboat ambulance only slightly injured. Soffietti was only able to do two laps with a very sluggish car, and then he gave up.
The pace was terrific, and just as we were all preparing for a titanic MercedesBenz-Auto-Union struggle Rosemeyer slowed right down at the gasworks hairpin and walked back to the pits-the steering having seized after only nine laps. So Mercedes seemed to be in a winning position very early in the race, all their cars running well, while two out of the three Auto-Unions were out of it. Brakes were giving trouble, and both Pintacuda, and Stuck came in before twenty laps had been run to have theirs adjusted and throughout the race various stops were made for brake adjustments. Brivio came in to retire with a split radiator, apparantly he’d crashed into the back of Hartmann’s Maserati on a far part of the course. Brauchitsch was driving superbly, and seeming to be putting more effort into his work than all the others. He clocked 1 min. 49A secs., for one lap, but soon after this, Caracciola got round in 1 min. 48 secs., holding the lead at thirty laps by 10} secs. from von Brauchitsch, who in his turn was 2 mins. 85 secs. ahead of Zehender with Farina fourth, Kautz fifth, Sommer sixth, Stuck seventh, Ruesch eighth, and the race was continued at a terrific pace, with the fight between Caracciola and von Brauchitsch for the lead. Then the Auto-Union team decided to let Rosemeyer have the wheel of Stuck’s car, losing one minute during the change over. Just before half distance Caracciola came in for a schedule pitstop. At fifty laps (half-distance) the order was :— order was :—
1. Von Brauchitsch (1 h. 33m. 27.1s.).
2. Caracciola (111. 35m. 26.7s.).
3. Zehender (1h. 36m. 21.9s.). 4. Farina. (1h. 37m. 271s.)
5. Kautz.
6. Rosemeyer.
7. Sommer. S. Ruesch.
9. Hartmann.
10. Pintacuda.
Still the struggle went on between “Carrach” and von Brauchitsch. On the sixty-fourth lap Caracciola clocked 1 min.. 47.9 secs. and then von Brauchitsch came in to fill up, taking 1 min. 30 secs., whereas Caracciola had already taken 2 mins. 15 secs. for his stop and plug change, so the net gain was 45 secs. Hartmann could not restart his car after a pit-stop and had to retire. Caracciola was still driving like one possessed and at three-quarter distance put
The Auto-Union piloted by Stuck and Rosoneyer, which went exceedingly well towards the end of race to finish 4th. in the record lap for the race with 1 min. 46f secs. (66.75 m.p.h ) but eyen so after eighty laps he was only } of a sec. ahead of von Brauchitsch, whom he had just overtaken, and after being in the lead but two laps, again came into the pits, and waved on von Brauchitsch. The end of a wonderful struggle between two wonderful drivers on absolutely equal cars, with von Brauchitsch first home, and the last few laps gave Mercedes a grand victory. Of the others Kautz in particular drove an excellent race,
leaning so far out of the car on every corner one often felt he’d fall out-he never made a mistake. Zehender. too drove a fine steady race on his first appearance for Mercedes.
Farina as usual put up an astounding performance on a much slower car.
Once again the organisation was a model of superb efficiency. M. Noghes and his helpers again did their jobs as they really should be done-but how few if any, can compare with them. RESULTS
I. Von Brauchitsch (Mercedes) 3b. 7m. 23.9s. (63.27 m.p.h.).
2. Caracciola (Mercedes) 3h. 8m. 48.2s.
3. Kautz (Mercedes), two laps behind leader.
4. Rosemeyer, driving Stuck’s Auto-Union, three laps behind leader. 5. Zehender (Mercedes), three laps behind leader,
6. Farina (Alfa-Romeo), three laps behind leader.
7. Sommer (Atfa-Romeo), five laps behind leader.
8. Rueseh (Alfa-Romeo), eight. laps behind leader.
9. Pintacuda (Alfa-Romeo), thirteen laps behind leader.