THE GRAND PRIX DES FRONTIERS

THE GRAND PRIX DES FRONTIERES

THAT pleasantly informal little affair, the Grand Prix des Frontieres, always seems to attract one or two English amateur drivers, but so far not one of them has succeeded in winning it. Penn-Hughes tried several years ago, and was only deprived of victory by a long pit-stop. His car at that time was a 2.8-litre Alfa-Romeo, and he was substituting for the late Sir Henry Birkin.

The race is organised by the Automobile Club de Beaumont-Chimay, and is run on a circuit measuring 10.870 kilometres just outside Chimay, in Belgium. Motor-cycle races are held in the morning, with the car events in the afternoon, on the same lines as the late lamented Dieppe meeting. This year, Mathieson was the only

British driver to enter, nominating the 3.3-litre Bugatti he drove at Antwerp. This car was originally a coupe, but this body has now been discarded and a racing two-seater shell substituted.

The favourite for the over 2-litre race was Mazaud, the winner at Antwerp with his Delahaye, while Mathieson himself thought he had quite a good chance. Both of them were beaten, however, by Trintignant, with an old 2.3-litre Bugatti, which was less affected by pit-stops. Trintignant, incidentally, is the younger brother of the driver who was killed about five years ago at Picardy, and to whom there now stands a magnificent monument there. In the race for cars under 2-litres, Roese had an easy victory with his B.M.’W.,

thus repeating his success at Antwerp. He was more than 2 minutes ahead of the second man, Gubelin, who drove a similar car.

The weather, which had been brilliant during practice, broke up on the day of the races, but did not really mar them. The only accidents were those involving motor-cyclists, one of whom was killed during a training session.

RESULTS

Over 2-litres

L Trintignant (Buttatti), lb. 3m. 57s.

2. lilazstid (lleiallaye), lh. 4m. 29s.

3. ikiathieson (lIttgatti), 111. 5m. 8s. Under 2-litres

1. R00% (B.M.W.), 1h. 5m. 42s.

2. Guhelin (B.M.W.), lb. 7m. 198.

3. Oerrini (Lancia), lb. 12m. 328.