The Grand Prix of Geneva.

he Grand Prix of Geneva,

7 fri. P. H. WIN BY LEROUX AND HIS 13UGATTI.

WHILE Achille Varzi was defending the Bugatti colours in Rome, Louis Chiron, the other crack of the Molsheim team, was due to take his racer to Geneva for the Grand Prix, which was run off on the same day, 7th June. Unfortunately, however, his car was crashed in an accident shortly before the race, and Chiron came to Geneva without it to apologise for his absence from the starting line by loud-speaker to the assembled throng of spectators. With Chiron out of it, however, there were still plenty of more or less amateur Bugattisti to defend the honour of the marque, in which they were distinctly successful.

The racing started with a series of eliminating races over a distance of 150 kilometres for cars up to 1,500 c.c., up to 2 litres and above that limit. In the smallest class Veyron on a Bugatti took the lead from the outset, followed by Roux and Gaupillat on similar cars. On the fifth lap, however, the last-named was forced to retire, and his place was taken by Kersler on an Alfa-Romeo. Avondet on a Bugatti was fourth, Httrani (Alfa-Romeo) fifth, Wimille (Bugatti) sixth, and Augwerd, also on a Bugatti, seventh. The 2-litre class provided a duel between Bugatti and Alfa-Romeo, the former cars, driven by de Maleplane and

Minangoy, however, getting home first, in front of Rusca Pesato and Pirola on the Alfas. The Bugatti contingent in the biggest class consisted of Lehoux and Lumachi on 2,300 c.c. machines, both of whom succeeded in beating Caflisch on his 7-litre Merced s and Klinger on a 2i-litre Maserati. The final consisted of a race for 250 kilometres, and included all those who had qualified in the eliminating races. Lehoux, after his previous success, took the lead from the first, though hotly pursued by the other Bugattisti, Lumachi and de Maleplane, and by Klinger on the Maserati. Unfortunately, at this point the race was marred by an accident when Count Czaikowski’s Bugatti skidded while passing another competitor, left the road and killed one of the spectators. Czaikowski himself got off :with a broken rib and a nasty wound in the right leg, but although the race was being run with official sanction, he was held responsible by the Swiss authorities and kept under

observation in the hospital to which he was taken. In the meantime Veyron (Bugatti), the winner of the 1,500 c.c. class, had been forced to retire, and he was soon followed by de Maleplane on the 2-litre Bugatti and Klinger on thelMaserati. Thereupon Caflisch with the big Mercedes moved up into third place behind Lumachi and Kersler on the 1,500 c.c. Alfa-Romeo became fourth. However, there was no catching Lehoux, who finally crossed the line the winner by nearly five minutes. The final result was as follows :—

1. Lehoux (Bugatti), 1h. 47m. 42s. Average, 87.7 m.p.h.

2. Callisch (Mercedes), 2h. lm. 16s.

4. Kersler (Alfa-Romeo), 2h. 4m. 02-5s.

5. Pirola (Alfa-Romeo), 2h. 5m. 24s. The Grand Prix for 1,100 c.c. cars was run over 200 kilometres, and was notable for the appearance/of one of the little Bugattis, which it may be remembered were built some years ago. At the start Mallet on a Salmson took the lead, but on the sixth round he was forced to retire, and victory went to Benoit on an Amilcar, who was followed home by the Bugatti. The final order was as follows :—

1. Benoit (Amilcar), lb. 47m. 308.

2. Romano (Bugatti), lb. 50m. Os.

3. Dourel (Amilcar), 1h. 55m. 45s.