The first Grand Prix of Monaco, 1929

On April 14th last the first Grand Prix of Monaco was run through the streets of Monte Carlo. The course was extremely tricky and included innumerable bends and two hairpins. It had to be covered one hundred times. The course was cleared just previous to the race by Prince Pierre of Monaco who drove round at the wheel of a Voisin car.

The race was notable for the terrific duel which took place between Williams (2,300 c.c. supercharged Bugatti) the ultimate winner, and Caracciola (7,000 c.c. supercharged Mercedes). Williams took the lead soon after the start hotly pursued by Caracciola. On the thirty sixth lap Caracciola passed Williams who had been in the lead all the time but Williams regained the lead on the forty-second lap. On his fiftieth lap Williams stopped at the pits for replenishments and in spite of being very quick, he naturally lost the lead again to the Mercedes. On the fifty-first lap the Mercedes came into the pits and owing to its heavy petrol consumption was some time filling up. Both rear wheels were changed also, and as a result Williams regained his leading position and increased his lead by over a lap. Both Bouriano and Philippe, on Bugattis also got ahead of the Mercedes but Phillipe held third position for only a few laps when he was passed by the Mercedes.