THE 1930 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
By Hans Etzrodt
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After the 1928 and 29 World Championships had failed, the CSI delegates of the Italian, German and French Automobile Clubs had worked out the 1930 proposal at the December 10, 1929 CSI meeting to be presented to the AIACR for sanctioning the following conditions:
- The CSI organizes for the year 1930 an Automobile World Championship reserved for manufacturers and to be decided after conclusion of the following seven national Grandes Epreuves:
May 30, Indianapolis 500
July 13, German Grand Prix
July 20, European Grand Prix, Belgium
July 27, Spanish Grand Prix
August 23, British Grand Prix
September 7, Italian Grand Prix
September 21, French Grand Prix
- Of these Grands Prix only those which will be run to the regulations of the 1930 AIACR formula will count for the World Championship classification. The international formula for racecars, limiting consumption to 14 kg/100 km of fuel and oil, allowing up to 30% benzol mixed with commercial fuel; minimum engine capacity of 1.1-liter; minimum race distance 600 km - 372 mi; cars have to weigh at least 900 kg.
- The title 'World Champion 1930' will be awarded only if at least two races had taken place to the international formula and among them specifically the European Grand Prix.
- The European Grand Prix participation is mandatory; non-compliance will exclude the entrant from the Championship.
- Manufacturers have to compete in at least one other race besides the European Grand Prix.
- Only the lowest point score earned by one of the manufacturer's cars will count in each race contested.
- The manufacturer with the lowest points total will be World Champion.
- In case of points equality in the W.C. classification, the better place obtained at the European GP shall be decisive.
- The victor remains title-holder of the World Champion title until the next same title contest.
- Points score:
1 point = first place
2 points = second place
3 points = third place
4 points = all other finishers
5 points = non finishers
6 points = non starters
The seven World Championship events did not take shape as planned and turned out ending in failure bar the European one.
Indianapolis on May 30, departed from the 1.5-liter GP formula (91.5 cu in) by going up to 366 cubic inches. None of the European manufacturers or drivers entered the US race except two Maseratis with Borzacchini and Cucinotta. Only Babe Stapp appeared with his Duesenberg at Monza. Faced with the loss of the American event, the AIACR certainly lost its claim of a true World Championship.
The German Grand Prix on July 13 was cancelled in early January 1930 by the AvD (Automobilclub von Deutschland). No reason was given in the AAZ news clipping but the bad economic situation following the October 1929 Wall Street crash most probably affected the decision to exit the 1930 German Grand Prix.
The European Grand Prix on July 20 in Belgium was the first and only event of the 1930 World Championship. The race was held to the A.I.A.C.R. consumption formula but covered less than the required 600 km distance.
The Spanish Grand Prix for sports cars on July 27 was canceled due to the bad economic situation following the Wall Street crash in October 1929. However, the A.I.A.C.R. granted permission to the Royal Spanish Automobile Club to hold the Grand Prix of San Sebastian on the Lasarte circuit near San Sebastian on October 5, 1930. The international fuel formula was not applied and therefore this event did not comply with the regulations of the 1930 World Championship.
The British Grand Prix on August 23 was not held but the Tourist Trophy for sports cars took its place. This event did not comply with the AIACR regulations and was excluded from the World Championship.
The Italian Grand Prix on September 7 did not take place and the void was filled by the Monza Grand Prix, which was not run to the international formula. In any case only a national Grande Epreuve could qualify as a World Championship event.
The French Grand Prix took place as scheduled on September 21. The ACF had planned to hold its Grand Prix to the international consumption formula but then changed to formula Libre to attract more entrants for their race. Therefore the French Grand Prix did not qualify for the World Championship.
The final verdict was issued at the 1930 CSI fall conference when it was decided not to award the 1930 World Championship title since only one race took place to the international formula. (And even that failed to run the full distance.)
Source information:
1 - AUTOMOBIL-REVUE 1929 #82p3 - Sep-24 - AIACR meetg; - CSI-meetg; Grandes Epreuves CALENDAR.
2 - AUTOMOBIL-REVUE 1929 #85p2-3 - Oct-4 - AIACR meetgs & 25-year anniversary; AIACR membership.
3 - AUTOMOBIL-REVUE 1929 #89p3 - Oct-15 - GPdel'ACF; AIACR.
4 - AUTOMOBIL-REVUE 1929 #90p2 - Oct-18 - 1930 CALENDAR.
5 - AUTOMOBIL-REVUE 1929 A-R1929 #93p3 - Oct-29 - 1930 Calendar questions.
6 - AUTOMOBIL-REVUE 1929 #95p2 - Nov-5 - Indy 500 new formula.
7 - AUTOMOBIL-REVUE 1929 #96p3 - Nov-8 - 1930 CSI members.
8 - Allgemeine Automobil-Zeitung (Wien) 1929 #22p1 - Nov-15 - AIACR & CSI decisions - 1930 formula, the consumption racing formula (14 kg of fuel and oil per 100 km) allowing up to 30% benzole to be mixed with pump fuel.
9 - AZ-Motorwelt 1929 #37p8 - Nov-1929 - For 1930 same formula as 1929 & Grandes Epreuves dates for 1930.
10 - AUTOMOBIL-REVUE 1929 #103p3 - Dec-3 - 1930 French GP formula.
11 - AUTOMOBIL-REVUE 1929 #107p2 - Dec-17 - 1930 World Championship regulations detailed in articles 1 to 6.
12 - AZ-Motorwelt 1929 #38/39p8 - Dec-1929 - The AIACR announced in an official communiqué the preconditions for next year's Automobile World Championship, detailed in articles 1 to 6.
13 - Allgemeine Automobil-Zeitung (Berlin) 1930, #2p18 - Jan-11 - German GP cancelled.
14 - Allgemeine Automobil-Zeitung (Wien) 1930, #3p2 - Feb-1 - The 1930 racecar formula limiting fuel and oil to 14 liter / 100 km.
15 - AUTOMOBIL-REVUE 1930 #88p2 - Oct-17 - CSI Meetg. & CSI spec. commission; 1930 World Championship to be reviewed.
16 - Allgemeine Automobil-Zeitung (Wien) 1930, #21,p6 - Nov-1 - The CSI decided not to award the 1930 World Championship.
17 - Allgemeine Automobil-Zeitung (Berlin) 1930, #46p21 - Nov-15 - The CSI decided not to award the 1930 World Championship title since only one race took place to the International formula.
18 - Allgemeine Automobil-Zeitung (Wien) 1930, #23p5 - Dec-1 - The CSI decided not to award the 1930 World Championship title since only one race took place to the International formula.
Automobile World Championship, detailed in articles 1 to 6.
Article 1 The AIA organizes in the year 1930 an Automobile World Championship, which is reserved for the constructors and will be decided after the conclusion of the following seven races: Grand Prix of Europe (Belgium), Grand Prix of Germany, Grand Prix of Spain, Grand Prix of the Automobil Clubs of France, Grand Prix of Great Britain, Grand Prix Indianapolis, Grand Prix of Italy. Of these Grands Prix only those which will be run to the regulations of the 1930 AIACR formula will count for the World Championship classification.
Article 2 To obtain the right for classification in the World Championship it is mandatory for the competing manufacturers to participate at the Grand Prix of Europe and at one of the other above mentioned races.
Article 3 The title "World Champion 1930" will be awarded only if at least two races were held to the international formula and among them namely the European Grand Prix.
Article 4 Classification shall be done the following way: The competitors receive a certain number of points which correspond with the classification of the place obtained in each Grand Prix, namely up to three places, which means for each race the first place counts one point, the second place two points, the third place three points, the remaining competitors receive four points. The competitors who were at the start but not at the finish receive five points, the competitors that did not participate at all in the race, will be allotted six points. The makes who participated with several cars at the races receive for each car these points which were awarded to their best placed car. The points awarded at the different races will be added and to the winner of the World Championship will be declared the make which has the least amount of points.
Article 5 In case of points equality in the World Championship classification, the better place obtained in the European Grand Prix shall be decisive.
Article 6 The victor remains title-holder of the World Champion title until the next same title contest.
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