RACING NEWS OF THE MONTH.
RACING NEWS OF THE MONTH.
E. K. H. KARSLAKE.
Goux Champion of France.
The title of Champion of France for 1926 has been conferred on Jules Goux, whose wonderful performances with the Bugatti have well deserved him the titre. He succeeds Albert Divo, who was champion for 1925.
Many will regret the decision of Goux’s team-mate, Costantini, to abandon motor racing in future. The dashing Italian, however, evidently considers that it is better to retire at the height of his fame, than to spoil ins record by less magnificent performances in the future.
The German Grand Prix and the Niir burg Ring.
The German Grand Prix for cars of the sporting type on 17th July will not take place as formerly on the Avus track, near Berlin, which has been declared unsafe for present day speeds, but on the new road circuit which is being constructed near Adenau, and which will be known as the Niirburg Ring, from the remains of an old castle inside the course.
The project is of particular interest in connection with the road circuit which is being constructed near Brighton. In the Eifel province there has long been an area of extremely mountainous country which is quite uninhabited and put to no useful purpose. Latterly, therefore, the local authorities have had the happy idea of using it as a site for a road track. As Adenau is but 43 miles from Cologne, the new circuit will be by no means inaccessible. The course will be over 18 miles in length and will take the form of an 8. Its setting is entirely one of mountains and forests, without even a house on it. The road will be over 29 foot broad, with a special surface, which is said to be very skid-proof without being hard on tyres. The straight run on which the starts and finishes of races will take place, will be actually over 65 foot broad and three kilometres in length. This very difficult circuit will contain no fewer than 172 corners, 88 to the left and 84 to the right, and differences in altitude of over 2,150ft. Some of the gradients will
attain 1 in 6, while in one place the road ascends as steeply as 1 in 3.4. The desi,gn of the course allows four separate circuits to be used, of 1 I., 5, 13 and the full circuit of 18 miles respectively.
Two thousand men have been working on this track for more than a year—incidentally one of the objects of the originators was to provide work for the unemployed, and it is hoped that it will be ready for the opening race on 11th June.
The Grand Prix d’Endurance.
The policy of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest to encourage early entries for the le Mans 24-hour race by allowing them to be made at reduced fees, has met with considerable success, as quite a large number of cars have already been entered. For the final of the third triennial Rudge-Whitworth cup, S.A.R.A. have entered 2 cars, and Rolland-Pilain, Salmson and E.H.P. one each ; while for the first round of the fourth triennial cup, Rolland-Pilain and Fasto have entered three cars each, Salmson, E.H.P. and S.A.R.A. two each, and Steyr and Tracta one each. Aires, Th. Schneider, Excelsior and the two new firms of Gerard and Simille-Pequignot have also expressed their intention of entering at least three cars each, so that the race would seem likely to achieve its customary measure of success. Entries at ordinary fees may be made up till 28th February, and at double fees up till 30th April, so that there is still plenty of time for more names to be enrolled.
The Targa Florio. As was reported last month. Alfa-Romeo has already decided to start in the Targa Florio race on 24th April. It is now announced that the famous Milanese firm will be represented in the Sicilian race by examples of its standard 1,500 c.c. 6-cylinder super-sports models, with two overhead camshafts and a supercharger. It will be particularly interesting to sporting motorists