1931 FRENCH GRAND PRIX.

THE FRENCH GRAND PRIX.

THE French Grand Prix is in. many ways the direct lineal descendant of the great Gordon Bennett Cup Race and thus may be regarded as the

doyen” of motor races. In recent years the event has suffered something of an eclipse by reason of the greater popularity of sports car racing, but it would seem that the event which is due to be run over the road circuit at Montlh ‘ry on 21st June next is likely to be a worthy successor to the great battles of the past. When entries closed on 15th May a total of no fewer than twenty-eight cars had been received, the countries represented being England, France, Italy and Germany. Practically all the crack drivers of Europe are due to appear, and no fewer than six makes which have won the Grand Prix before will be represented. These makes with the years in which they have won previously are as follows :—Merced4.s (1908, 1914) ; Peugeot (1912, 1913) ;

Bugatti (1926, 1929, 1930):; Sunbeam (1923) ; Delage (1925, 1927), and AlfaRomeo (1924). The chief protagonists of France will undoubtedly be the official Bugatti team of four of the new racers which are to be driven by Louis Chiron, Achille Varzi, Albert Divo and Guy Bouriat. In addition five other Bugattis have been entered and will be driven by Lord Howe, Williams, Lehoux, Gaupillat and d’Arnoux. Among the other French hopes the dashing Robert Sen’?chal will drive one of the 1,500 c.c. straight-eight Delages of the type which wan the race in 1927, Scott will probably start on a car of the same type, and a third Delage has been entered but its driver has not yet been announced. Two Peugeots have also been entered, one of which is to be driven by Fermat and, the other by a driver as yet unannounced, but who will probably prove to be Andre Boillot. Finally Edouard Brisson and Vicente Monteiro have entered cars the

identity of which is as yet undisclosed and Pesato will drive a B.N.C.

The sole British car as yet entered officially is Clive Dmifee’s Sunbeam, which will probably be of the 1925 Grand Prix type, but Kaye Don is also down to run and the type of car which he will drive is not as yet known.

The Italian entries consist of the official Alfa-Romeo team of three cars. In addition the:e will be another Italian representative ; this will be the official Maserati team, to be driven by Fagioli, Biond.etti and Rene Dreyfus, while a fourth car of the same type will be driven by Sir Henry Birldn and G. B. T. Eyston. Last, but not least, Germany will be represented by two Merced:8, one of which will be driven by Rudolf Caracciola himself and the other by Boris Ivanowski and Stoffel.

It is a list a competitors such has not been brought together for a long time.