Bugatti Plans.
Bugatti Plans.
Bugatti is definitely running a team, composed of Varzi, Williams, Dreyfus and Divo throughout the season. We are informed by no less an authority than M. Ettore Bugatti himself that the cars will be of 2.8 litres engine capacity, but he is unable as yet to divulge any further particulars, although these may be annum-iced any day now. The entry of two 5-litre unnamed cars for Le Mans by Guy Bouriat is significant. Bouriat is still associated with Bugatti, and it is possible that these cars will be en le red for the T.T. as well. **
Chiron’s 1933 Bugatti.
Frederic Toselli, the Nicois driver, who last year competed in French races at the wheel of a 1-i litre Bugatti, has sold this and is now the proud owner of the double camshaft
2.3 litre Bugatti raced throughout the season by Louis Chiron.
Louis Trintignant.
Another onetime 1 litre Bugatti owner, Louis Trintignant, has also forsaken this model for a doublecamshaft “2.3.” Trintignant is regarded by many French sportsmen as one of the most promising Continental drivers.
Incidentally, he wishes to dispose of his 1i litre Bugatti, and also a 1i litre Miller.
Chiron (Alfa Romeo).
For some time after Chiron had severed his connection with Bugatti last autumn, it was commonly thought that he would race a Bugatti privately in 1933. But this is not so, for it is now rumoured fairly widely that the famous Monagesque driver will pilot a 2.3 litre Alf aRomeo next season, and will actually make his first appearance at the
wheel of the Italian car in the Grand Prix of Pau on February 19th. Meanwhile, Louis Chiron is enjoying the winter sports in Austria.
The Alfa Romeo Bombshell.
It came as a great shock to everyone to hear that the Alfa Romeo concern will not race next season. This bad news was considerably alleviated when another rumour came through that the usual team of ” monopostos,” with Nuvolari, Caracciola and Borzacchini would be raced by the Alfa racing manager, Aldo Giovanni. But this respite was not to last, for the latest news is that the sleek red monoposto cars will languish in the Alfa works all next season. They will not be raced, they will not be sold, they will not be lent, and it is unlikely that any of the three official drivers will take the trouble to race 2.3 litre models privately.
A Mysterious Offer.
No sooner was the news of the Alfa Romeo retirement from racing made known than a rumour was heard that Nuvolari had been offered the sum of 150,000 tires (roughly £2,300) from a large, but unnamed, Italian firm to race a new sports model in the Targa Florio, the Monaco Grand Prix, and the Coppa Ciano.
Each of these three races abounds in corners, and there are practically no long straights. All were won in 1932 by Nuvolari, the fastest being the Monaco G.P. in which he averaged 55 m.p.h. The Montenero circuit, on which the Coppa Ciano is run, is so tortuous that the cars were dispatched at minute intervals.
So far the name of the firm has been withheld, but it is known that the car will be a sports production model, and not a specialised racing car. Its chances of success in these races must be considered favourable, for if it were only required to finish (in any position) it would not be necessary to engage such an invincible, and at the same time expensive driver, as Nuvolari.
What is it ? S-s-s-h-h : A Fiat !
Plenty of Maseratis.
When Ruggeri was killed at Montihery in December in the 16-cyl. Maserati, everyone condoled with the Italian firm on the second severe loss it had sustained within a year, for the founder of the firm, Alfieri Maserati, died not long ago. The brother of Alfieri, however, Ernesto, has kept the name of Maserati to the fore in the racing world, and for next season the team will be composed of that remarkably brilliant driver Fagioli, supported by Minozzi and Brivio, while Ernesto Maserati will drive himself when time allows.
Then there will be the two new 3-litre cars to be raced as a team by Raymond Sommer and Freddy Zehender, who will take part in all the most important races during the season.
Arnilcars for 1933.
For many years now Jose Scaron has kept the Amilcar flag flying in road races, and has innumerable 1,100 c.c. class wins to his credit. For 1933 he will continue to represent the Amilcar concern, and is Preparing two single seater roller
bearing cars which he will enter for most of the big races.
The cars will be brought to Montihery shortly for final preparations, and a speed of 125 m.p.h. is confidently expected.
Minerva to Race ?
There is a strong rumour on foot that the Belgian firm of Minerva may re-enter the racing field next season. It will be remembered that the marque’s last appearance was in the Belgian 24-Hours Race a few years ago.
A New Delage Touring Car ?
It is rumoured that the Delage concern are shortly to produce a 13.9 h.p. 4 cylinder car, and that the tests of an experimental model have now been completed. If this should transpire, the vogue of the light ” six ” will have received another severe blow, for many manufacturers are returning to the 4-cylinder unit for cars of medium dimensions. The 12.8 h.p. Delage and the 13.9
sports model enjoyed great popularity several years ago. With modern improvements of carburation and engine balance the newcomer should be a worthy descendant of these famous cars.
A New Classification.
With a view to ensuring that the entries of races on the Italian calendar shall be of uniform quality, the Royal Automobile Club of Italy has decided to segregate drivers into three groups, Expert, First Class, and Amateur. In addition, there will be two championships, one for experts and one for amateurs, the former being allowed to compete only in races where the first prize amounts to 30,000 lires or more.
The qualification for an ” Expert ” is that a driver must since 1928 (a) have won an Italian championship, (b) have won an international prize, or (c) have been placed well in several international races. The following drivers fulfilled these demands :—Battaglia, Biondetti, Borzacchini, Brivio, Cagno , Campari, Clerici, Conelli, D’Ippolito, Fagioli, Gazzabini, Ghersi, Marinom, Maserati, Minoia, Minozzi, Morandi, Nazzaro, Nuvolari, Pastore, Premoli, Ramponi, Rosa, Scarfiotti, Salamano, Seven, Silvani, Strazza, Tadini, Taruffi, Trossi, Varzi, Zehender.
To be a “First Class” driver merely necessitates the holding of an international licence, while an ” Amateur ” is one who does not race for money, and who is not connected in any way with a firm.
The races which count towards the two championships are as follow : Open: Circuit Bordino, Prix Royal of Rome, Pontedecimo-Giovi Hill Climb, Italian Grand Prix, SusaMontcenies hill climb, Coppa Ciano, Coppa Acerb°, and the Monza Grand Prix. Amateur : 1,000 Miles Race, Circuit of Spezia, Coppa Ascoli, Lassi-Superga hill climb, Coppa Sila, Varese-Campo hill climb, Circuit of the Prince of Piemont, Targa Abruzzi, Coppa Gran Sasso, and the Coupe des Trois Regions.
Death of a Famous Veteran.
Everyone who has followed the sport of motoring since pre-War days will deeply regret the death of one who has been in the forefront of French sportsmen for many years, namely Paul Bablot. His first performance of note was in the Coupe des Voitures Legeres in 1911, which he won on a 3 litre Delage, on the circuit of Boulogne at an average speed of about 56 m.p.h. In 1913 he followed this up with another Delage victory in the A.C. de l’Ouest’s race on the Sarthe circuit. After the War Bablot will be chiefly remembered for his magnificent victory in the Georges Boillot Cup race at Boulogne in 1922, when despite heavy rain and a violent storm which caused all his rivals to retire, he finished alone at an average speed of 65 m.p.h. on an Hispano-Suiza.
From then on his activities were confined to organising, and it was largely owing to his efforts that the famous Miramas track, in Provence, was constructed.
The French Grand Prix.
As announced in the January issue of MOTOR SPORT, the French Grand Prix will be run at the LinasMontlhery circuit on June 11th, making the fourth time the French classic has been held at the famous Paris autodrome. Incidentally, no other circuit has this figure to its credit, although both Le Mans and Dieppe have seen three races.
The race will be run over a distance of 500 kilometres, or 40 circuits of the autodrome.