  
XXII° TARGA FLORIO
Grande Circuito delle Madonie - Palermo (I), 10 May 1931.
4 laps x 146.0 km (90.4 mi) = 584.0 km (362.9 mi)
Varzi against the rest! Nuvolari wins the 22nd Targa Florio for Alfa Romeo
by Hans Etzrodt
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In 1931, the Targa Florio was still recognized as the hardest race in Europe. Poor road conditions this year made the progression of the race more difficult. René Dreyfus
was the only foreigner in this Italian event where just 13 cars arrived at the start. The Alfa Romeo factory entered five drivers the Maserati works just three and only one
potent Bugatti was present, Varzi's personal car. Four independents with Alfa Romeos, a Bugatti and a Salmson filled the remaining places. On a dry road, Varzi immediately
established a strong lead, which he sustained for three laps while the five Alfa team cars relentlessly hounded him. The Maseratis of Fagioli and Biondetti ended in the ditch
early on, whereas Dreyfus' racecar was retired after ¾ race in hopeless position. Rain had started on lap two and after three laps torrential downpours turned some of the
mountain roads into mud pools, resulting in the downfall of the grand prix racers like Varzi. Most cars of the Alfa Romeo team had front fenders fitted before the race to
keep the splashing mud away from drivers, faces and goggles. It ended as a great success for Alfa Romeo who for the first time this year were victorious at one of the major
races. Nuvolari and Borzacchini finished in the first two places, followed by the disenchanted Varzi in third place, car and driver almost unrecognizably covered in mud.
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The regulations for the XXII International Targa Florio were very much the same as in the prior years. Published at the beginning of February, the event called for racecars without any subdivision of
different classes or engine capacity. Five laps had to be driven over the 108 km Medium Madonie Circuit, a total of 540 km. However, on February 22 and 23, a cyclone in northern Sicily had caused
large floods, destroying long stretches of the 108 km Medium Madonie Circuit. Landslides had destroyed the entire road between Polizzi and Collessano, including a bridge that had collapsed.
Cavalliere Vincenzo Florio together with members of the Department of Public works examined the road damage. According to their decision a repair of the damaged road sections before the race
would have been entirely impossible. In order not to eliminate the May 10 race, the only possible way out was to settle on the longer and more difficult 148.823 km "Grande Circuito delle Madonie",
on which races had been held from 1906 until 1911. The organizers were convinced of the suitability of this new 40 km longer circuit after they completed a detailed study of this route, which branched
off over Petralia Sottana, Geraci and Castelbuono and returned again over Collessano and Campofelice to the old circuit. This stretch was new to the drivers who had to complete four laps of this long
course now changed to 146 km in length, a total distance of 584 km, where they were unable to relax for one moment. Corner after corner followed one another with opposing turns, sharp inclines and steep
declines. It was a continuous hard work, requiring nerves of steel and the most capable machines. Those who finished the race on Sunday would have executed something like eight-thousand bends. This
year's race could not be compared with the preceding Targa Florio events because the course and length were entirely different. Even though the longer course was in good condition, the organizer,
Cavalliere Vincenzo Florio, in agreement with the public authorities, arranged for a complete final overhaul of the roadway. Accordingly, for days before the race workers and machines were still
feverishly busy with the latest improvements to the course.
The entry fee was 1000 lire per car. A total of 250,000 lire in prize money was available, of which 80,000 went to the victor, including medals from the King and the Royal Italian Automobile Club.
The second placed driver was to receive 40,000 lire, the third 20,000, the fourth 15,000, the fifth 10,000, the sixth 8,000, the seventh 7,000, the eighth 5000 lire and every other competitor who
completed the race in a mandated time received 4,000 lire. Drivers who completed at least three laps within the mandated time received 2,500 lire.
There were also several valuable cups to be distributed: "Coppa Citta di Termini" to the driver with the fastest lap time; "Coppa d'Amico" to the driver with the smallest time differences between each
lap; "Coppa Ferrario", a roving cup, to the driver who established the fastest lap in three consecutive years; "Coppa James Taglinvia" to the driver with a car under 1100 cc engine capacity, who
finished first in three races of any years; "Coppa Piglia", donated by Bugatti, to the best manufacturer team; Coppa Le Journal", at a value of 60,000 Fr., to the victorious make, with permanent tenure
after five victories by the same firm in their possession; Coppa Lepori to the independent driver with the best result in two races of any years. To be classified, every competitor had to pass the
finish line no later than 90 minutes after the winner.
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Entries:
Early predictions expected Bugatti to start with their new twin-cam 2.3-liter grand prix car, probably to be driven by last year's winner, Varzi. Official participation by the Bugatti factory seemed doubtful
but the last word had not yet been spoken. Alfa Romeo would come with their new 2.3-liter 8-cylinder racecar version, as seen at Alessandria. Maserati was determined to do their utmost to perform well at this
classical race.
The Alfa Romeo factory was well prepared for this race, arriving with their official racing team, a staff of 25 mechanics with six practice cars and five for the race for fifteen days practice. They entered
two new 2300, 8-cylinder racecars for Tazio Nuvolari and Luigi Arcangeli, both cars equipped with bucket seats, a cylindrical exposed fuel tank and two spare wheels on the back. Giuseppe Campari, the only
driver with knowledge of the old circuit from the 1914 Coppa Florio, Baconin Borzacchini, and Guido D'Ippolito were to race with the well-tried 6-cylinder 1750 cars. Ingegnere Vittorio Jano supervised the
team with help from Enzo Ferrari. This year they were well organized by using two-way radio communication between their pits main headquarter and their various service depots in the mountains. This intense
preparation and great organization by Alfa Romeo indicated their evident desire for victory. When the Alfa drivers stopped, they were able to learn about their exact positions and those of their opposition.
Two independent 6C 1750 Alfa Romeos were entered for Marco Pirandello and Costantino Magistri, while Carlo Pellegrini was to race in an older 3000 cc RL Alfa Romeo.
The official Maserati team entered three of their 2500 cc type racecars for Luigi Fagioli, Clemente Biondetti and René Dreyfus. Two independent Maserati entries were made by Landolina and ''Papillon''.
No particulars were known about the reasons for the non-appearance of the Bugatti team. But one of their contracted drivers, Achille Varzi, arrived with the only potent Bugatti, which was his own red painted
2.3-liter grand prix car that had won at Tunis and Alessandria. Independent Bugatti entries were received from Francesco Toia, Letterio Cucinotta Piccolo, Angelo Giusti and Emilio Romano. A blue Salmson was
entered by I. Castagna. Five additional drivers are shown in the list of entries. They were mentioned in the various race previews but were not assigned race numbers and evidently did not appear except
Ghersi who became reserve driver for Arcangeli.
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Practice:
Already one week before the actual race, the entire Maserati team with Ernesto Maserati, Biondetti and Dreyfus were practicing to learn the new course. Despite all of his qualities, Fagioli was somewhat
handicapped right from the beginning due to his recent hip operation. Dreyfus was known as a speed specialist and only once before in 1928 had he driven at the Madonie circuit, which was probably not the ideal
place for him. During the early practice days Dreyfus' mechanic had become sea-sick on the twisting up-and-down mountain course. Being without a mechanic, a large spare oil tank was fitted to the mechanic's
seat of his Maserati and the Frenchman would drive the race solo. The Alfa Romeo works had arrived with their large race team 15 days before the race. The two 2300 Alfa Romeo racecars with Nuvolari and Arcangeli
captured the main interest. Campari and Borzacchini were of cource also very much present. Varzi appeared with his Bugatti for official practice in the last days before the race. All pre-race activities took
place during good weather conditions. However, the passage of the cars on the dirt roads caused large dust clouds that would be very troublesome for a following car during the race.
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Race:
A flood of spectators had come from the mainland to the island. Early morning on the day of the race people crowded together and at the beginning of the battle at eight in the morning the grandstands
at Cerda were occupied to bursting capacity. The weather on Sunday was good at the starting area, but dark clouds could be seen soaring over the mountains in the east. During the entire night heavy rain
showers had come down, causing damage to parts of the circuit. Extreme conditions were awaiting the drivers. Ingegnere Vittorio Jano anticipated rain during the race and ordered the Alfa mechanics to add
front fenders to the racing cars of Nuvolari, Borzacchini and Campari. Arcangeli rejected the idea to have his new 2300 burdened with this weight. Varzi also started also without fenders.
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Cars started at intervals
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The starting order of the cars was probably once again according to lots drawn at the offices of the Auto Club di Sicilia. A starting grid did not exist since the cars were lined up in single file according
to the numbers which had been allotted to them. The drivers were released at five-minute intervals. This was an important arrangement because overtaking was unthinkable on many of the narrow parts of the
long course. The announcement of six non-starting cars reduced the field right from the beginning to 13 contenders. At 8:30 AM, under a blue sky and the sun shining, Varzi in the red #2 Bugatti started
first. After five minutes Biondetti in the #6 Maserati took off, then Fagioli (Maserati), Campari (Alfa Romeo), Dreyfus (Maserati), Nuvolari (Alfa Romeo), Borzacchini (Alfa Romeo), Arcangeli (Alfa Romeo),
Magistri (Alfa Romeo), D'Ippolo (Alfa Romeo), Pellegrini (Alfa Romeo), Piccolo (Bugatti) and Castagna (Salmson), which was the last car to start.
Castagna stopped his blue Salmson after only 19 kilometers just before Caltavutoro. The reason for his retirement was not known. W.F. Bradley wrote in The Autocar, that the engine had possibly lost power
or the driver changed his mind and attempted to swing around returning back home. Since this was against the rules, the police stopped him from driving against race direction. After just 50 kilometers
near Castellana at the bottom of a steep hill just before a bridge, Fagioli raced into a parapet, tearing up the rear axle of his Maserati. W.F. Bradley wrote: "Coming into the bridge at too high a speed,
the car had skidded outwards, the near-side rear wheel hitting with a crash which tore the axle away and bent it almost to a U." While his car was severely damaged, the Italian escaped with slight injuries
and knocked his front teeth out. Thus, the main Maserati contender was out of the race this early. The Sicilian, Magistri, retired his Alfa Romeo in the mountains when his car broke a timing gear.
Just after two hours, a muffled drone announced the imminent approach of the first car completing lap one. It was Varzi with a time of 2h03m54.8s at 70.700 km/h who held a safe lead. His time was going
to be the record of the day. Some pundits predicted hastily another victory for the new Bugatti. Soon after, the remaining nine cars arrived, which were in the following order:
| 1. | Varzi (Bugatti) | 2h03m54s |
| 2. | Borzacchini (Alfa Romeo) | 2h06m06s |
| 3. | Nuvolari (Alfa Romeo) | 2h06m11s |
| 4. | Campari Alfa Romeo) | 2h06m35s |
| 5. | D'Ippolito (Alfa Romeo) | 2h09m31s |
| 6. | Biondetti (Maserati) | 2h11m54s |
| 7. | Arcangeli (Alfa Romeo) | 2h12m22s |
| 8. | Dreyfus (Maserati) | 2h22m52s |
| 9. | Piccolo (Bugatti) | 2h39m59s |
| 10. | Pellegrini (Alfa Romeo) | 2h50m34s |
Nuvolari who was expected to not stop before the second lap, surprisingly at the end of lap one, came to a standstill at his pit to change two tires just as a precaution. Consequently he lost 2m5s. On the
second lap slight rain began to fall, which then increased progressively. Nuvolari and Borzacchini who followed right behind Varzi forced their cars with unbelievable energy. Borzacchini stopped briefly to
have spark plugs changed. Nuvolari and Campari proceeded with the chase after Varzi. Biondetti, blinded by mud and rain, arrived too fast at a corner where his Maserati bounced against a wall similar to
Fagioli's crash but with much less damage to the car. Driver and mechanic escaped with slight injuries. Varzi's second lap time was ten minutes longer than his first round and included one stop for a
plug and to change tires. Nuvolari's time for the second lap increased by just over seven minutes but Varzi still held a comfortable lead. All hopes for an Italian victory by Alfa Romeo had waned.
| 1. | Varzi (Bugatti) | 4h18m00s |
| 2. | Nuvolari (Alfa Romeo) | 4h20m04s |
| 3. | Campari Alfa Romeo) | 4h22m29s |
| 4. | Borzacchini (Alfa Romeo) | 4h25m13s |
| 5. | D'Ippolito (Alfa romeo) | 4h29m47s |
| 6. | Arcangeli (Alfa Romeo) | 4h34m02s |
| 7. | Dreyfus (Maserati) | 5h07m24s |
| 8. | Piccolo (Bugatti) | 5h08m41s |
| 9. | Pellegrini (Alfa Romeo) | 5h42m36s |
At the end of lap two, the middle of the race, all drivers stopped at their pits to refuel and change wheels. The number of helping hands was unlimited at the Targa Florio and cars were surrounded by
numerous mechanics and helpers who attended not just to the car but also to driver and mechanic in their seats with drinks, food and cigarettes. Nuvolari had all four tires changed and refueling in
1m38s while Campari required only 1m30s and Borzacchini 1m56s for the same service. Varzi received similar service but also changed his brake shoes, all in 2m07s. Pellegrini retired his Alfa Romeo.
Due to the never ending rain, the once hard surfaced roads became progressively spongy and slippery with some road sections turning muddy but the wild chase continued at a frantic pace. On the third
lap the Alfa Romeo team concentrated their whole attention on the runaway Varzi. Nuvolari and Campari lost more time on the third lap while Borzacchini cut his time down by over two minutes. Varzi's
third lap took some four minutes longer than his second round, yet he was able to maintain his two minutes advantage. Up to the third lap it was believed that Varzi would win this race. Piccolo, the
best of the independent drivers, retired his Bugatti at the end of lap three, when he realized that he was not going to finish within the time limit. According to W.F. Bradley, Dreyfus who was driving
alone, had been off the road three times, had changed 14 plugs on his Maserati and was visibly tiring. He stuck it out for three laps until he stopped behind his pits with persistent ignition problems.
In his hopeless position, now over 90 minutes behind the leader and thereby already exceeding the time limit, he had to retire in despair.
| 1. | Varzi (Bugatti) | 6h38m10s |
| 2. | Nuvolari (Alfa Romeo) | 6h40m28s |
| 3. | Borzacchini (Alfa Romeo) | 6h43m45s |
| 4. | Campari Alfa Romeo) | 6h43m57s |
| 5. | D'Ippolito (Alfa Romeo) | 6h57m09s |
| 6. | Arcangeli (Alfa Romeo) | 7h08m13s |
| 7. | Piccolo (Bugatti) | 8h09m04s |
| 8. | Dreyfus (Maserati) | 8h15m43s |
After lap three, Varzi stopped for 1m50s at his pit to change one spark plug. His once red Bugatti was now covered in yellow mud and Varzi's face, helmet and light blue overalls had also turned yellow.
After he received a clean pair of goggles, Varzi joined the race. The pitiful Arcangeli had to give up after three laps due to an injury, when a stone hit his left eye. His face was covered with mud and
his car was then taken over by Zehender who did not at all enjoy driving without mudguards. Campari stopped for just 54 seconds to have a loose mudguard tightened. Nuvolari stopped for only 43 seconds
to change a spark plug. On the fourth lap Nuvolari appeared more determined than before and after a short while he closed up to Varzi, but probably because Varzi was now losing more time. The climax
had been reached, the battle between Varzi and Nuvolari. Varzi had started 25 minutes before Nuvolari, so he could only know the relative positions of the two cars at the end of the previous lap and his
information was always an hour out of date. Nuvolari, however could be alerted to the current gap because he started behind Varzi. Additionally, he could be kept posted at several places round the circuit
due to the two-way radios, which was a very advanced initiative for racing in 1931. In this way Nuvolari could always tell if he was catching Varzi. However, Varzi would not know the up-to-date gap, so it
was impossible for him to react to Nuvolari with any certainty or precision. This was a huge advantage to Nuvolari and the Alfa Romeo team. The torrential downpours in the mountains had transformed some
of those road sections into mud and dirt pools through which the wheels drew deep furrows. Fog hung over some road sections, reducing visibility to barely 30 meters. Despite the extremely poor road
conditions and the driving rain, Nuvolari and Borzacchini were able to maintain an undiminished pace, protected by their efficient front mudguards. Varzi on the contrary struggled with mud splashed
from the open front wheels; coating car, driver and mechanic. The softened and soaked road surface impaired him so much that he decisively fell behind. W.F. Bradley wrote: "Mud and stones were flung
up by the wheels in such quantities that the bright red of the Bugatti disappeared, the numbers were obliterated; the driver and mechanic became unrecognizable. Varzi threw away his goggles. He drove
through seas of mud; he swallowed mud; he was blinded by it just when he most needed his sight, but he hung on grimly defiant." As Varzi began to fall behind, the Alfa race management informed their
drivers through their mountain depots to go as fast as possible. Varzi had taken ten minutes longer for his last lap than his prior one. Nuvolari's last round was about half a minute slower than his
third lap which placed him way ahead of Varzi. Borzacchini and Campari also lost much less time than Varzi.
The first to reach the finish on the road was Varzi, greeted with great applause. The excitement of the crowd knew no boundaries when Nuvolari arrived at the finish under pouring rain, shortly thereafter
followed by Borzacchini in second place. Varzi had lost so much time on that last lap that he fell back to third place and was nearly caught by Campari in fourth place. All received lively applause.
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Results
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Entrant | Car | Type | Engine | Laps | Time/Status | Diff |
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| 1. | 14 | Tazio Nuvolari | S.A. Alfa Romeo | Alfa Romeo | 8C 2300 | 2.3 | S-8 | 4 | 9h00m27s |
| 2. | 16 | Baconin Borzacchini | S.A. Alfa Romeo | Alfa Romeo | 6C 1750 GS | 1.8 | S-6 | 4 | 9h02m44s | + 2m17s |
| 3. | 2 | Achille Varzi | A. Varzi | Bugatti | T51 | 2.3 | S-8 | 4 | 9h07m53s | + 7m26s |
| 4. | 10 | Giuseppe Campari | S.A. Alfa Romeo | Alfa Romeo | 6C 1750 GS | 1.8 | S-6 | 4 | 9h08m11s | + 7m44s |
| 5. | 24 | Guido d'Ippolito | S.A. Alfa Romeo | Alfa Romeo | 6C 1750 GS | 1.8 | S-6 | 4 | 9h29m11s | + 28m44s |
| 6. | 18 | L. Arcangeli/G. Zehender | S.A. Alfa Romeo | Alfa Romeo | 8C 2300 | 2.3 | S-8 | 4 | 9h45m13s |
| DNF | 12 | René Dreyfus | Officine A. Maserati | Maserati | 26M | 2.5 | S-8 | 3 | gave up |
| DNF | 36 | Letterio Cucinotta Piccolo | L. C. Piccolo | Bugatti | T37 | 1.5 | S-8 | 2 | gave up |
| DNF | 26 | Carlo Pellegrini | C. Pellegrini | Alfa Romeo | RL | 3.0 | S-6 | 2 | gave up |
| DNF | 6 | Clemente Biondetti | C. Biondetti | Maserati | 26M | 2.5 | S-8 | 1 | crash |
| DNF | 30 | I. Castagna | I. Castagna | Salmson | AL3 | 1.1 | S-4 | 0 | gave up |
| DNF | 22 | Costantino Magistri | C. Magistri | Alfa Romeo | 6C 1750 | 1.8 | S-6 | 0 | valve gear |
| DNF | 8 | Luigi Fagioli | Officine A. Maserati | Maserati | 26M | 2.5 | S-8 | 0 | crash |
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Fastest lap: Achille Varzi (Bugatti) on lap 1 in 2h03m54.8s = 70.7 km/h (43.9 mph)
Winner's medium speed: 64.8 km/h (40.3 mph)
Weather: heavy rains and fog, muddy road sections.
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In retrospect:
AUTOMOBIL-REVUE reported, "The dramatic circumstances of the race equaled the announcement of the Winner. The whole of Italy, awaiting the result, was first mocked with the news of Varzi's latest victory.
This message went as far as the Swiss press. Their correspondent in Rome also succumbed to this error. He telegraphed first: Heavy thunderstorms over South- and Middle Italy came down on Sunday afternoon
and evening, which interrupted every telephone connection with Sicily around evening. Until that night at 2:00 AM only brief telegraphic news came through. It is only known about Varzi's victory."
For the first time this year Alfa Romeo succeeded in finishing as victor in a major race. The handicap, linked with the Pirelli Tire Company contract, appeared to be overcome by Alfa Romeo who had their
cars equipped with Dunlop tires. Varzi used Michelin tires on his Bugatti.
The relatively low average speed was attributed primarily to the rain and secondary to the partially unsatisfactory condition of the course.
The integrity of W.F. Bradley's Targa Florio report has to be questioned. His report was published in Autocar on May 22 and he possibly also influenced the Motor Sport report, published in the June issue.
| 1. Then of course there is his Targa Florio book, where he wrote on page 119 that Engineer Jano "had ordered a right-hand wing to be fitted to his five cars." In reality, all
factory Alfas were equipped with both front fenders, except Arcangeli's car.
2. On page 120 of his book, he wrote that Zehender in Arcangeli's car "was beyond his ability to finish within the time limit [of 90 minutes]." According to the times published in all other reports,
Zehender finished about 45 minutes after Nuvolari.
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Fifth and sixth place finishers, D'Ippolito and Zehender in Arcangeli's car, should have finished fifth and sixth but there existed disagreement in some of the reports about their classification.
The Autocar and Motor Sport both reported that these cars were still racing after the race was declared finished, so that they were not officially timed. This contradicts the results published in all other sources.
Could this possibly be one of Bradley's debatable statements? W.F. Bradley reported in The Autocar, published May 22: "Four cars and four only covered the full distance of 363 miles, for Piccolo, on a Bugatti,
stopped at the end of the third round; Dreyfus pulled in with one lap to go, and Dippolito, on an Alfa Romeo, and Zehender, on Arcangeli's Alfa, were not officially timed, although running at the end. A grim
race, a race to destruction." Motor Sport also reported that "Zehender on Arcangeli's car and d'Ippolito were still running when the race was declared finished, and were not officially timed." All other primary
sources published the final times of the six finishers.
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Primary sources researched for this article:
Allgemeine Automobil-Zeitung, Berlin
AUTOMOBIL-REVUE, Bern
AZ-Motorwelt, Brno
IL Littoriale, Roma
La Stampa, Torino
Motor Sport, London
MOTOR und SPORT, Pössneck
The Autocar, London
Special thanks to:
Gianni Cancellieri
Alessandro Silva
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VII GRAND PRIX DE PICARDIE
Péronne (F), 10 May 1931.
2 hours race on a 9.655 km (6.0 mi) circuit
Ivernel scores when his rivals fail to finish
by Leif Snellman
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No less than ten classes of race cars, sport cars and cycle cars took part in the two hour long sixth Picardie Grand Prix. The race started off with a duel between François Miquel and last year winner
Max Fourny, both in Bugattis but Miquel got hit in his face by a stone and Fourny had to retire his car as well.
That left Ivernei (Bugatti) in the lead to take the overall victory. André Vagniez with a supercharged Bugatti was the winner of the voiturette class and Mme. Siko was fastest sports car driver.
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Organized by the l'Automobil Club de Picardie-Aisne the event was held for the sixth time on the 9655m long triangular circuit connecting the little villages of Mesnil-Bruntel,
Mons-en-Chausseé and Brie. The event featured races for three classes of motorcycles, two classes of sidecars, three classes of cyclecars, three classes of sportscars and four classes of race cars.
The race was as usual two hours long.
For the benefit of the spectators a special 500-seater train left Péronne station at 12:45 p.m. to Mons-en-Chaussée and returned to Péronne at 6:33 p.m. (that railroad was closed in 1970).
There were also special bus services to the event.
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Entries:
The entry list was bigger and better than earlier years with several known names. Bugattis dominated the entry list with four cars in the Grand Prix class being Bugattis with drivers including last year
winner Max Fourny. The most numerous class wat the one for supercharged 1500cc voiturettes combined with un-supercharged 2 litre cars with nine entries, all of the Bugattis. Diego Munoz and Louis Abit racing the
2 litre cars while voiturette drivers included names like Jean-Pierre Wimille, André Vagniez, Jean Gaupillat and Emile Tedaldi. Note that Guy Marion was first entered in the sport car class with his
Bugatti but in the results he is listed in this race car class. It is not known if his race number was changed.
Among the sports car drivers Mme. Odette Seguin, racing under the pseudonym "Siko" is worth a note. A year later she would finish fourth at the Le Mans 24 hours, the best result of a female driver ever.
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Scrutineering:
The car weighing operations were carried out from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday at the weighbridge on Avenue de la Gare, in Péronne.
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Race:
Race day came with a beautiful weather and a huge crowd turned up for the event. The lines of parked cars got longer and longer as the time for the car races was approaching, the one eastwards reaching
the village of Mons en Chaussée and the one southwards covered more than 2 kilometers towards the town of Ham.
The circuit was opened at at 1:10 p.m. with a lap by Monsieur Bouvard, of the l'A.C.P.A. and at 1:30 p.m. 30 motorcycles were flagged away.
After the finish of the 1 ½ hour motorcycle race it was time for the car race. The cars were lined up two and two as seen below. 500cc, 750 cc and 1100cc cycle cars also took part in the race
for a total of ten classes.
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83
Fourny
Bugatti
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82
Miquel
Bugatti
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73
Wimille
Bugatti
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84
Ivernel
Bugatti
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74
Nebout
Bugatti
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76
Vagniez
Bugatti
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78
Tedaldi
Bugatti
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79
Munoz
Bugatti
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80
Abit
Bugatti
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Rest of grid unknown
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The start was given at 3:40 p.m. by Monsieur Rémy, president of the A.C.P.A. Miquel from his pole position took the lead of the race but at the Mons bend, at the end of the first lap he made a mistake
and went wide, giving over the lead to Fourny. However, at the Mesnil curve during the second lap Miquel took back the first position.
Grimaud retired his Soriano. The duel between Miquel and Fourny continued and Fourny put in a 4m34s lap, probably the fastest of the race. But then Miquel got hit in his face by a stone anf had to
retire. He got bandaged at the Red Cross first aid station.
With that main excitement of the race had disappeared. The competitors appeared at intervals of 15 to 20 seconds in front the crowd, belonging to ten different classes and the announcement system seems to
have broken down, leaving the spectators in the darkness over the situation.
At 5 p.m. Rémond in a 750cc cycle car rolled over into the dike at the Mons-en-Chausséc bend, creating some excitement. Fourny's Bugatti broke down and he had to stop at the Mesnil curve.
That left Ivernei alone in the 3-litre class and at the end of the two hours he took the overall victory. Vagines was the winner of the supercharged and Girod of the non-supercharged class while Jahan was fastest 1100c driver.
Mme. Siko was the winner of the sports cars while Trévoux retired in the last quarter of an hour but still was classified 13th. Treunet and Herbaux were downgraded from 6th and 8th to last because
their cars did not follow the regulations.
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Results
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Entrant | Car | Type | Engine | Laps | Distance |
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| 1. | 84 | Ivernel | R. Gauthier | Bugatti | T35B | 2.3 | S-8 | 22 | 215.229 km |
| 2. | 76 | André Vagniez | A. Vagniez | Bugatti | T37A | 1.5 | S-4 | 21 | 211.941 km |
| 3. | 78 | Emile Tedaldi | E. Tedaldi | Bugatti | T37A | 1.5 | S-4 | 20 | 201.639 km |
| 4. | 59 | Mme. "Siko" | Mme. O. Seguin | Bugatti | T43 | 2.3 | S-8 | 19 | 191.800 km |
| 5. | 61 | Guy Marion | G. Marion | Bugatti | T43 | | S-8 | 19 | 191.796 km |
| 6. | 80 | Louis Abit | L. Abit | Bugatti | T35C | 2.0 | S-8 | 18 | 180.094 km |
| 7. | 53 | Dusanter | Dusanter | Bugatti | T37 | 1.5 | S-4 | 18 | 177.840 km |
| 8. | 67 | Armand Girod | A. Girod | BNC-SCAP | 527 | | | 18 | 176.812 km |
| 9. | 69 | Louis Devaud | L. Devaud | Amilcar | C6 | | | 17 | 167.865 km |
| 10. | 47 | Gondouin | Gondouin | BNC-Ruby | 527 | | | 16 | 162.687 km |
| 11. | 50 | Iches | Iches | Salmson | | | | 16 | 160.894 km |
| 12. | 70 | Deudon | Deudon | Amilcar | | | | 16 | 159.065 km |
| 13. | 58 | Jean Trevoux | J. Trevoux | Bugatti | T43 | 2.3 | S-8 | 15 | 151.219 km |
| 14. | 65 | André Jahan | A. Jahan | Salmson-Ruby | | | | 15 | 146.206 km |
| 15. | 60 | Emile Schiffelers | E. Schiffelers | Ford | | | | 14 | 140.222 km |
| 16. | 63 | Apeness | Apeness | Senechal-Ruby | | | | 13 | 131.204 km |
| 17. | 52 | Jean Treunet | J. Treunet | BNC-Ruby | 527 | | | | 184.424 km * |
| 18. | 54 | Gerard Herbaux | G. Herbaux | Bugatti | T37 | | | | 177.940 km * |
| DNF | 83 | Max Fourny | M. Fourny | Bugatti | T35B | 2.3 | S-8 |
| DNF | 82 | François Miquel | F. Miquel | Bugatti | T35B | 2.3 | S-8 |
| DNF | 79 | Diego Munoz | D. Munoz | Bugatti | T35C | 2.0 | S-8 |
| DNF | 77 | Jean Gaupillat | J. Gaupillat | Bugatti | T37A | 1.5 | S-4 |
| DNF | 75 | François Givaudan | F. Givaudan | Bugatti | T37A | 1.5 | S-4 |
| DNF | 74 | Edmond Nebout | E. Nebout | Bugatti | T37A | 1.5 | S-4 |
| DNF | 73 | Jean-Pierre Wimille | J-P. Wimille | Bugatti | T37A | 1.5 | S-4 |
| DNF | 71 | Edmond Mouche | E. Mouche | Bugatti | T37 | 1.5 | S-4 | | |
| DNF | 68 | Ernest André | E. André | Morano Chapuis-Dornier | | | |
| DNF | 66 | Grimaud | Grimaud | Soriano-Pedroso | Ruby | | | | |
| DNF | 64 | Bila | Bila | Amilcar | | | | | |
| DNF | 56 | Kavel | Kavel | Bugatti | T37 | 1.5 | S-4 | | |
| DNF | 55 | Renald | Renald | Bugatti | T37 | 1.5 | S-4 | | |
| DNF | 49 | Mme. Terrien | Mme. Terrien | Rally | | | | | |
| DNF | 48 | Brack Papa | B. Papa | Amilcar | | | | | |
| * downgraded due to technical infringement |
Fastest lap: Max Fourny (Bugatti) in 4m34s = 126.9 km/h (78.8 mph)
Winner's medium speed 3000cc (Ivernel): 107.6 km/h (66.9 mph)
Winner's medium speed 2000cc (Vaginez): 106.0 km/h (65.8 mph)
Winner's medium speed 1500cc (Girod): 88.4 km/h (54.9 mph)
Winner's medium speed 1100cc (Jahan): 73.1 km/h (45.4 mph)
Winner's medium speed S3000cc (Siko): 95.9 km/h (59.6 mph)
Winner's medium speed S1500cc (Dusanter): 88.9 km/h (55.3 mph)
Winner's medium speed S1100cc (Gondouin): 81.3 km/h (50.5 mph)
Weather: sunny.
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In retrospect
I has been problematic to find information about this race as for some reason most French newspapers including l'Auto seem to ignore (or boycott?) the event.
For example one paper lists the driver as Girod, the other as Giraud.
Race numbers and sports cars entries are from the 1st edition of Paul Sheldon's book A Record of Grand Prix and Voiturette Racing Volume II.
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Primary sources researched for this article:
La Dépêche, Toulouse
Le Progres de la Somme, Amiens
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I GRAND PRIX DE CASABLANCA/GRAND PRIX DU MAROC
Anfa - Casablanca (F), 17 May 1931.
55 laps x 6.716 km (4.173 mi) = 369.38 km (299.5 mi)
Czaykowski wins with his new T51
by Leif Snellman
The first Casablanca Grand Prix was raced in two classes. In the bigger class Lehoux (Bugatti) in his home race held the lead until he stopped for refueling leaving over the lead to Czaykowski, who
was doing a non-stop race in his new Bugatti T51. Trying to catch Czaykowski again Lehoux overstressed his engine and had to retire. Etancelin took over second place and de Maleplane (Bugatti)
third place and that's how they finished.
In the voiturette class newcomer Galba (Bugatti) led the first part of the race. Veyron then took over but had to retire and in the end Scaron (Amilcar) was the winner with Galba finishing second.
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The Grand Prix du Maroc had been held 1925-1928 and in 1930 as a town to town handicap event, the cars going from Casablanca to Mogador, Marrakech and back to Casablanca for a total of
over 700 km. (Note 1)
For 1931 the Grand Prix du Maroc was replaced by the first Grand Prix de Casablanca, a true Grand Prix race in the style of other French North-African races like Tunis and Oran. A new 6.716 km
long course was drawn up on the roads and streets in Anfa, a suburb west of downtown Casablanca. In some books the course has been called a street circuit and even likened to Monaco, the source
for that claim is probably Motor Sport's report June 1931. When looking at the medium speeds for Monaco vs. Anfa, 87.1 km/h vs. 136.9 km/h, one can easily see that this was definitely no Monaco
and possibly not a street circuit either as maps show no houses in the west and south part of the triangle. Also Automobile Revue wrote: "On the wide straights and well built curves the drivers
could make full use of the speed of their cars. The visibility over the course was ideal for the spectators."
With modern street names the main straight with the pits and main stand was on the Boulevard Abdelkrim Al Khattabi but the name back then was just Route d'Azemmour. Then the course
followed Boulevard de la Grande Corniche, (Grande Ceinture), Rue Ibn Jafer Anfa Supérieur and Boulevard du Lido back to the main straight.
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Entries:
Count Czaykowski entered his brand new twin-cam Bugatti T51 (#51126) that had been delivered to him on 21 April by Bugatti agent Ernest Friderich in Nice. That made Czaykowski instantly the major
threat to home favourite Marcel Lehoux. The latter, who had been second in the 1930 race, had also ordered a T51 (#51128) to be delivered in May but still raced his old T35B at Anfa. Someone named
Fassi entered a T35, (#4329 ex-Čenek Junek) while Belgian Willy Longueville with his yellow T35B failed to appear at Casablanca.
Philippe Etancelin, who was waiting for his new "Monza", raced a 2 litre T35C and Jean de Maleplane raced his T35C(#4864) he had bought in October 1929. Grimaldi, an Italian racing in France, and another
unknown driver named Fleccia also entered T35Cs. Charles Montier and his son Ferdinand from Paris both entered one of their home built Montier Ford specials. Based on the A Ford they were rather square looking cars (wheelbase 263 cm) with long
bonnets, a far forward positioned radiator and a barrel formed fuel tank horisontally behind the driver seat.
René Ferrand entered his 3950 cc sleeve-valve Peugeot 174S built on an updated 1914 chassis.
There were eight Bugatti T37A drivers in the voiturette class including Jean d'Hiercourt, who had been third in the 1930 race, and Anne-Cecile Itier, who had been fourth. Other Bugatti drivers
were Mikael Angwerd, Fernande Roux , Denis Saint-Genèis Pierre Veyron , Pao, listed as "Pao Jean" in Echo d'Alger, and local Moroccan Emmanuel Galba making his race debut.
José Scaron was racing his works supported Amilcar and Emile Dourel another Amilcar. Italians "Gigi" Platé and Umberto Capello entered a 6 cylinder Alfa-Romeo each and Schlumberger
(whose first name was either Adolf or Robert) a Rally with a Salmson engine.
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Practice:
During practice Mikael Angward crashed his Bugatti and was hospitalized with what was called "serious contusions".
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Race:
Nice weather made a huge crowd gathered to see the event. Among the guests of honor were Sidi Mohammed the Sultan of Morocco, the Grand Vizier and the Resident General Lucien Saint.
The event started with a motorcycle race. The car race then followed at 2:30 p.m.
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8
Fassi
Bugatti
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6
Lehoux
Bugatti
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4
Etancelin
Bugatti
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14
Ferrand
Peugeot
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12
Fleccia
Bugatti
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10
F. Montier
Montier
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20
de Maleplane
Bugatti
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18
Grimaldi
Bugatti
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16
C. Montier
Montier
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22
Czaykowski
Bugatti
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34
Veyron
Bugatti
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32
Roux
Bugatti
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30
Dourel
Amilcar
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40
Pao
Bugatti
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38
d'Hiercourt
Bugatti
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36
Galba
Bugatti
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?
?
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44
Scaron
Amilcar
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42
Saint-Genèis
Bugatti
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Rest of grid unknown
(Note 2)
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Nice weather made a huge crowd gathered to see the event. Among the guests of honor were Sidi Mohammed the Sultan of Morocco, the Grand Vizier and the Resident General Lucien Saint.
The event started with a motorcycle race. The car race then followed at 2:30 p.m. Situation after 10 laps:
| 1. | Lehoux (Bugatti) | 29m18s |
| 2. | Czaykowski (Bugatti) | 29m19s |
| 3. | Etancelin (Bugatti) | 30m16s |
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| 1. | Galba (Bugatti) | 32m34s |
| 2. | Scaron (Amilcar) | 33m09s |
| 3. | Veyron (Bugatti) | 33m27s |
Lehoux put in a 2m50s lap but Czaykowski answered with an equally fast lap. After 20 laps Lehoux had a managed to get a 4 second gap but that was far from what he hoped for as Czaykowski was
running a non-stop race.
It is not known if Veyron and Scaron got trapped in traffic early in the race or something like that but the fact is that Veyron's speed during the first ten laps was 121.5 km/h while it was
124.5 km/h for the rest of the race while Galba kept a more consistent speed. So after some 30 laps Scaron caught and passed Galba and then Veyron came even faster to pass both Galba and
Scaron and take over the lead. Veyron however had to retire giving back the lead to Scaron.
Etancelin had already lost two minutes to the leading duo.
Lehoux made his routine pit stop for refueling, losing his lead to Czaykowski. Lehoux took up the chase but possibly overstressed his engine as he had to retire after 44 laps.
That meant that Etancelin moved up to second and de Maleplane to third.
Near the end of the race Etancelin, now a lap behind Czaykowski, lost third gear but still had no problem keeping on to his second position as the gaps between the cars were huge.
So Czaykowski won from Etancelin and de Maleplane, while Scaron did an impressive job with the little Amilcar to finish fourth overall and first in the voiturette class. Ferrand was fifth,
Galba an excellent 6th and second in the voiturette class followed by Grimaldi and Platé, who was third in the voiturette class. Nine drivers had retired but not due to any crash.
Disturbances in the cable between Morocco and France caused the race results to be delayed a bit.
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Results
Footnotes:
1. It has been claimed that 1930 race was run at Anfa as well. Contemporary newspapers don't support that.
2. Grid reconstructed from picture with thanks to Simon Davis.
3. Paul Sheldon has Dourel as DNF.
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Primary sources researched for this article:
AUTOMOBIL-REVUE, Bern
L'AUTO, Paris
L'Echo-d'Alger, Alger
L'Eclaireur de Nice, Nice
Le Figaro, Paris
Le Matin, Paris
El Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona
Motor Sport, London
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