The first Grand Prix
The technical regulations established АКФ for first Grand Prix (if to be exact this Big Prize was not the first for in 1901 the competitions named Grand Prix de Pau) have been spent, limited the maximum weight of not filled car with батарейным ignition in 1000 kgs, and with ignition from магнето or a dynamo - 1007. Differentiation on ignition systems has been made to stimulate distribution of the second system on purpose.
1906
Application forms for participation in draw of the first Grand Prix which start has been appointed to 6 o'clock in the morning on June, 26th, 1906, submitted 34 racers on cars of 13 marks representing top of development of racing "race cars" with 4-cylinder motors of huge volume - from 7,4 l (Gregoire) to 18,2 l (Panhard-Levassor).
As the most high-speed cars were considered 110-strong Brasier. It proved to be true on the first circle - Pierre Bara showed the first, officially registered Fastest lap (that is the maximum speed of passage of one circle during races) - 52 minutes 25,4 seconds that corresponded to average speed of 118,1 km at an o'clock.
However at both stages struggle for a victory went between the racer of firm of Renault François Zizom and Italian Feliche Natstsaro representing FIAT. Cars of both marks (and also Brasier and Itala) had a novelty of the company of brothers of Mishlen - wheels with the demountable rims, allowing to reduce time for change of tyre covers from 10-15 minutes to 1 minute 15 seconds it is an innovation and turned a race outcome.
The Frenchman of a Magyar origin François (Ференц) Ziz which have spent for passage of all distance of 12 hours of 14 minutes of 7 seconds (average speed - 101,2 km at an o'clock) and outrun Natstsaro for 32 minutes became the winner of the first Big Prize. Albert Klemana's third place on car Clement-Bayard, not having wheels with demountable rims, but nevertheless lagged behind all for 3 minutes from the Italian crew became sensation of competitions.
1907
The second Grand Prix de l'ACF has been spent on July, 2nd, 1907 on a 76,9-kilometre line under Deppom. For these competitions АКФ entered the racing formula which has limited only norm of fuel consumption - 30 liters on 100 km of a distance. This time competitions ended with a victory of Feliche Natstsaro, almost for 7 minutes of outrun last year's "offender" of François Ziza. It is interesting that on termination of races in a tank of the car of the winner 11 more liters of gasoline, and in Renault Ziza - 30 liters lapped.
The big Prize ACF of 1907 became remarkable that cars starting in it (and them was 38 sixteen marks) had the coloring corresponding to their national identity - the Italian cars were red color, French - dark blue, German - white, Belgian - yellow etc. (attempts to appropriate to racing cars national "окрас" became even in draws International Cup 1900 and 1904 but then this undertaking had no development).
1908
And, in spite of the fact that French crews was almost half, competitions ended with their full defeat and, unexpected for many, triumph of Germans - it is enough to tell that on finish from the first 7 cars 6 were German. Christian Lautenshlager on 135-strong Mercedes won, behind it with 9-minute backlog finished Victor Emeri and Ren Anrio on 150-strong Benz. The reputation of the French cars was rescued partially by Victor Rigalja's 4 place on Clement-Bayard. But further again followed Mercedes, Opel, Benz.
Competitions of 1908 have been marked by occurrence by racing cars of motors with combustion chambers клинового sections (Benz, FIAT, Mors, Lorraine-Dietrich), and also the engine with the top cam shaft (OHC), developed by designers Clement-Bayard.
As well as 14 years ago, Americans did not presume to lag behind to themselves the Frenchmen who have organized new type of automobile competitions. November, twenty eighth, 1908 on a 40,43-kilometre line near to port small town Savanna (pieces Georgia) prepared 20 racers to measure swords for possession American Grand Prize.
In these competitions, perhaps, in internal struggle the best for the first time converged American (Acme, Buick, Chadwick, Lozier, Nation) racing cars. The match Europe - the USA ended with shattering defeat of owners - any American car could not reach finish. Lui Wagner on FIAT, all for 16 seconds outrun Victor Emeri in German Benz was the first of 10 finished competitions of participants. Fastest lap the American racer Ralf де the Palm tree on FIAT - showed 21 minutes 36 seconds = 119,51 km at an o'clock.
In these competitions for the first time on lines Grand Prix started the car with the motor supplied with a centrifugal supercharger. It was Chadwick which debuted in 1907 in mountain races Great Despaire Hill Climb. Before competitions in Savanna compressor Chadwick already could win a victory - in Wilkes Barre Hill Climb, and its founders hoped for success in American Grand Prize, but it is vain - because of breakage of the engine the car withdrew on 4th circle. Three circles later Renault descended from a line of the Big Prize also - as it appeared, almost for 70 years.
Two successively defeats of Frenchmen in races as which they considered primordially as the, generated the first (but it is far not last) crisis in the history of the Big Prizes. In the autumn of 1908 representatives of 13 firms participating in draw Grand Prix (7 French, 3 Belgian, one Italian and two German), concluded the gentleman's agreement on which any of them should not appear on start of the Big Prizes until somebody from concluded the convention will ignore these competitions.
1911
The contract led to that among the French racing commands in the beginning of 10th years there was full "a change of sentries". When in 1912 the Big Prize АКФ has been revived, any automobile mark starting in competitions of the beginning of the century, did not accept participation in its draw. But it concerned only Frenchmen. The German participants of the convention (Mercedes and Benz), not for a moment without doubting, broke off, when it became necessary for them, this agreement. FIAT in general counted unreasonable to connect any obligations and did not participate in "arrangement 13".
Italians continued to act on transatlantic races, hoisting the successes prestige of the Turin firm in a New World. In days of the first crisis of the Big Prize value organized in 1905 magazine L'Auto of races on the Cup of small cars (Сoupe de voituretes) - some kind of a prototype of modern Formulas 2 and 3 increased.
First these competitions did not cause a particular interest neither in spectators, nor at racers, but with the termination of carrying out of competitions Grand Prix their popularity started to grow steadily and in 10th years they began to pass not only in France, but also in next Italy and Spain. In races of small cars Peugeot, Bugatti, Sunbeam - the marks, which steels glorified on sports lines in 10 - achieved 20th years the first victories of mark Delage.
The cars starting in Coupe de voituretes, gave many constructive novelties - an independent suspension of wheels (Sizaire-Naudin 1906), five-high-speed gear boxes (Delage 1911), engines with the top cam shaft etc. In 1911 Moris Sizer started to experiment installation on the car of a centrifugal supercharger.
A year later designers Hispano-Suiza tried to use for increase of capacity a piston supercharger. However scattered on pieces during tests the motor so frightened its founders that they stopped the further works on a supercharger, and this novelty appeared on cars Grand Prix only in 10 years. The big Prizes in Europe began to revive in 1911.
Then with the permission of ACF regional Automobil Club de la Sarthe et de l'Ouest spent on a 54,2-kilometre line near Le Mans races on the Big Prize of France (not to confuse with Grand Prix de l'ACF!). These competitions became history under the name "Grand Prix des vieux tacots" (the Big Prize of old ruins) for from 14 cars starting in them only three 110-strong Rolland-Pilain, yes small (weight only 310 kg) Bugattis-13 could be called as new models.
Other participants took off by cars GP of release of 1906-1908, but, they, set the fashion to all race. Emeri on FIAT became the winner, but the second place (though and lagged behind on 2 circles at a distance of competitions in 12 circles) Ernest Fridriha on 1,33-litre Bugatti-13, outrun French veteran Gabriel on 6,1-litre Rolland-Pilain became sensation.
1912
The big Prize ACF has been revived in 1912. The unique restriction imposed on the cars, admitted to these competitions, was them... The minimum width - 1750 mm. It gave the chance to involve in draw Grand Prix de l'ACF 12 cars of marks Excelsior, FIAT, Lorraine-Dietrich, Peugeot and Rolland-Pilain. Besides, the Big Prize was spent together with races on Coupe de voituretes in which 42 cars with engines of a working volume to 3 liters took part. Thus, on start it was possible to assemble solid enough quantity of participants.
The competitions spent to two stages (on June, 25-26th) on a line under Deppom (in the same place where draw Grand Prix de l'ACF 1907 was spent and 1908), became a turning point in the history of motor racing for in them "crossed swords" two design directions - old, continuing to increase capacity of motors first of all at the expense of increase in their working volume, and new, other engineering decisions searching for this purpose.
7,6-litre Peugeot L76 created by Swiss engineer Ernest Anri in commonwealth with the French racers George Buallo and Polem Tsukkarelli was the representative of new school. It had the 4-cylinder engine with 4-klapannoj a head, two top cam shafts (DOHC), tent combustion chambers and a 5-basic bent shaft, allowed to increase number of revolutions on 1500 in comparison with motors of old designs.
Thanks to all innovations, it was possible to "squeeze out" 175 h.p. of the 7,6-litre unit (that is 23,0 h.p. from volume liter). For comparison - 14,1-litre FIAT (with one top cam shaft) developed 200 h.p. that corresponded to liter capacity in 14,3 h.p. Among other things, Peugeot L76 had also other technical novelty - wheels of type Rudge Whitworth with the central fastening nut, reduced to a minimum time for their replacement.
The second place, lagging behind Buallo more than for 13 minutes, Lui Wagner on FIAT S74 occupied. This result became possible only thanks to that other two Peugeots which Zhjul Gu and Pol Tsukkarelli steered, withdrew because of fuel system breakage. English 3-litre Sunbeam, starting in offset Coupe de voituretes, finished on 3-5 places, outrunning twice big on volume Excelsior and Rolland-Pilain.
The success of the car of Peugeot repeated in races on the Big Prize of France, spent on September, 9th on a line near Le Mans. Zhjul Gu on finish was the first, and Buallo, passing a circle with a speed of 128,80 km at an o'clock, established a line record.
1913
For 1913 ACF again returned to fuel consumption restriction - 20 liters on 100 km of a way.
To competitions the cars supplied with a 2-seater body and a cylindrical fuel tank in length not less 1,0 m, established for seats were supposed. To close a tank an aerodynamic panel it was forbidden. Besides, motors should have not less than 4 cylinders. In the conditions of enough rigid limit of fuel designers of Peugeot reduced a working volume of the engine to 5,65 liters (model EX3) that entailed drop of capacity to 124 h.p.
As it appeared later, fears of engineers of the French firm were vain - upon termination of competitions in a tank of the car of winner George Buallo remains 22 more, and in the car finishing to the second Zhjulja Gu - 28 liters of fuel. The third place was won by the veteran of motor racing Jean Shassan on 5,75-litre Sunbeam - the English firm replaced the Formula 2 with the First formula. Fastest lap Pierre Bablo on 6,25-litre Delage which shortly promised to become the terrible competitor for Peugeot showed.
The tandem of Bablo-Delage won a victory in the last till 1949 the Big Prize of France. On a line near Le Mans Bablo passed the distance reduced to 10 circles with average speed of 123,65 km at an o'clock and considerably improved Fastest lap, shown in last year - 132,83 km at an o'clock.
Small detail - in these competitions started last cars of class Grand Prix which had a chain drive gear. It were 3 cars Mercedes supplied with three various types of the engine - 6-cylinder, 7,6-litre and two 4-cylinder in 9,25 and 8,9 liters.
1914
Motors of all cars of 13 marks starting in competitions, had tent combustion chambers. Ten firms preferred 4-klapannym to heads of cylinders, and one - Bugatti. Swiss Piccard-Pictet used бесклапанный system Knight engine. Cars Schneider for the first time in history had steering of valves (that is the gear of compulsory closing of valves). Cars of 4 marks - Delage, Peugeot, Piccard-Pictet and FIAT - were supplied with brakes on all wheels.
Results of two last seasons installed confidence of success of "native" cars in Frenchmen - it seemed to all that if suddenly does not win Peugeot Grand Prix precisely wins Delage. Similar moods reigned and among owners of these firms. But from the first kilometers of a distance Max Zajler on Mercedes, the last circle with the best time of day - 06 seconds Behind it as if hounds for a hare directed racers of Peugeot and Delage, headed by George Buallo forward escaped 20 minutes. Tactics of command Mercedes also consisted in it - Zajler by "life" of own car should impose to contenders such rate which would appear deadly to their race cars. And the plan of Germans went right completely.
On 6th circle shrouded in clubs of smoke Mercedes of Zajlera gauging on a road shoulder, but also the motor of Peugeot of Buallo which have headed race starts to work with faults. And at this time forward are put forward keeping in the midpoint "peletona" three white cars Lautenshlagera, Wagner and Zaltsera. On a penultimate circle George Buallo's car because of breakage of the valve withdraws, and the German command celebrates a threefold victory. Best of Peugeot on finish only fourth (Zhjul Gu), and unique remained on line Delage - the eighth.
It is less than a month later after competitions near Lyons the First World War burst, and for long 5 years Europe forgot about motor racing.
The technical regulations established АКФ for first Grand Prix (if to be exact this Big Prize was not the first for in 1901 the competitions named Grand Prix de Pau) have been spent, limited the maximum weight of not filled car with батарейным ignition in 1000 kgs, and with ignition from магнето or a dynamo - 1007. Differentiation on ignition systems has been made to stimulate distribution of the second system on purpose.
1906
For carrying out of the first Big Prize the small town Le Mans known before to general public only for an ancient town hall has been chosen. The line representing in the plan a triangle, had length more than 100 km. The distance of races - 12 circles - broke into 2 stages, on passage of each of which one day was taken away. In an interval between stages cars were put in closed for access of participants park as all operations on repair and refueling should be made only during competitions by forces of the driver and the mechanic.
Application forms for participation in draw of the first Grand Prix which start has been appointed to 6 o'clock in the morning on June, 26th, 1906, submitted 34 racers on cars of 13 marks representing top of development of racing "race cars" with 4-cylinder motors of huge volume - from 7,4 l (Gregoire) to 18,2 l (Panhard-Levassor).
As the most high-speed cars were considered 110-strong Brasier. It proved to be true on the first circle - Pierre Bara showed the first, officially registered Fastest lap (that is the maximum speed of passage of one circle during races) - 52 minutes 25,4 seconds that corresponded to average speed of 118,1 km at an o'clock.
However at both stages struggle for a victory went between the racer of firm of Renault François Zizom and Italian Feliche Natstsaro representing FIAT. Cars of both marks (and also Brasier and Itala) had a novelty of the company of brothers of Mishlen - wheels with the demountable rims, allowing to reduce time for change of tyre covers from 10-15 minutes to 1 minute 15 seconds it is an innovation and turned a race outcome.
The Frenchman of a Magyar origin François (Ференц) Ziz which have spent for passage of all distance of 12 hours of 14 minutes of 7 seconds (average speed - 101,2 km at an o'clock) and outrun Natstsaro for 32 minutes became the winner of the first Big Prize. Albert Klemana's third place on car Clement-Bayard, not having wheels with demountable rims, but nevertheless lagged behind all for 3 minutes from the Italian crew became sensation of competitions.
1907
The second Grand Prix de l'ACF has been spent on July, 2nd, 1907 on a 76,9-kilometre line under Deppom. For these competitions АКФ entered the racing formula which has limited only norm of fuel consumption - 30 liters on 100 km of a distance. This time competitions ended with a victory of Feliche Natstsaro, almost for 7 minutes of outrun last year's "offender" of François Ziza. It is interesting that on termination of races in a tank of the car of the winner 11 more liters of gasoline, and in Renault Ziza - 30 liters lapped.
The big Prize ACF of 1907 became remarkable that cars starting in it (and them was 38 sixteen marks) had the coloring corresponding to their national identity - the Italian cars were red color, French - dark blue, German - white, Belgian - yellow etc. (attempts to appropriate to racing cars national "окрас" became even in draws International Cup 1900 and 1904 but then this undertaking had no development).
1908
Regulations GP de l'ACF were 1908 more difficult in comparison with previous and limited the minimum weight of racing cars in 1100-kgs, and the maximum area of all buckets 750th sq. Competitions see again passed on a line under Deppom and assembled on start of 48 racers by cars of 17 marks (from them 9 cars were German, 6 - English, 6 - Italian, 3 - Belgian, one - American marks Thomas and 23 - French).
And, in spite of the fact that French crews was almost half, competitions ended with their full defeat and, unexpected for many, triumph of Germans - it is enough to tell that on finish from the first 7 cars 6 were German. Christian Lautenshlager on 135-strong Mercedes won, behind it with 9-minute backlog finished Victor Emeri and Ren Anrio on 150-strong Benz. The reputation of the French cars was rescued partially by Victor Rigalja's 4 place on Clement-Bayard. But further again followed Mercedes, Opel, Benz.
Competitions of 1908 have been marked by occurrence by racing cars of motors with combustion chambers клинового sections (Benz, FIAT, Mors, Lorraine-Dietrich), and also the engine with the top cam shaft (OHC), developed by designers Clement-Bayard.
As well as 14 years ago, Americans did not presume to lag behind to themselves the Frenchmen who have organized new type of automobile competitions. November, twenty eighth, 1908 on a 40,43-kilometre line near to port small town Savanna (pieces Georgia) prepared 20 racers to measure swords for possession American Grand Prize.
In these competitions, perhaps, in internal struggle the best for the first time converged American (Acme, Buick, Chadwick, Lozier, Nation) racing cars. The match Europe - the USA ended with shattering defeat of owners - any American car could not reach finish. Lui Wagner on FIAT, all for 16 seconds outrun Victor Emeri in German Benz was the first of 10 finished competitions of participants. Fastest lap the American racer Ralf де the Palm tree on FIAT - showed 21 minutes 36 seconds = 119,51 km at an o'clock.
In these competitions for the first time on lines Grand Prix started the car with the motor supplied with a centrifugal supercharger. It was Chadwick which debuted in 1907 in mountain races Great Despaire Hill Climb. Before competitions in Savanna compressor Chadwick already could win a victory - in Wilkes Barre Hill Climb, and its founders hoped for success in American Grand Prize, but it is vain - because of breakage of the engine the car withdrew on 4th circle. Three circles later Renault descended from a line of the Big Prize also - as it appeared, almost for 70 years.
Two successively defeats of Frenchmen in races as which they considered primordially as the, generated the first (but it is far not last) crisis in the history of the Big Prizes. In the autumn of 1908 representatives of 13 firms participating in draw Grand Prix (7 French, 3 Belgian, one Italian and two German), concluded the gentleman's agreement on which any of them should not appear on start of the Big Prizes until somebody from concluded the convention will ignore these competitions.
1911
The contract led to that among the French racing commands in the beginning of 10th years there was full "a change of sentries". When in 1912 the Big Prize АКФ has been revived, any automobile mark starting in competitions of the beginning of the century, did not accept participation in its draw. But it concerned only Frenchmen. The German participants of the convention (Mercedes and Benz), not for a moment without doubting, broke off, when it became necessary for them, this agreement. FIAT in general counted unreasonable to connect any obligations and did not participate in "arrangement 13".
Italians continued to act on transatlantic races, hoisting the successes prestige of the Turin firm in a New World. In days of the first crisis of the Big Prize value organized in 1905 magazine L'Auto of races on the Cup of small cars (Сoupe de voituretes) - some kind of a prototype of modern Formulas 2 and 3 increased.
First these competitions did not cause a particular interest neither in spectators, nor at racers, but with the termination of carrying out of competitions Grand Prix their popularity started to grow steadily and in 10th years they began to pass not only in France, but also in next Italy and Spain. In races of small cars Peugeot, Bugatti, Sunbeam - the marks, which steels glorified on sports lines in 10 - achieved 20th years the first victories of mark Delage.
The cars starting in Coupe de voituretes, gave many constructive novelties - an independent suspension of wheels (Sizaire-Naudin 1906), five-high-speed gear boxes (Delage 1911), engines with the top cam shaft etc. In 1911 Moris Sizer started to experiment installation on the car of a centrifugal supercharger.
A year later designers Hispano-Suiza tried to use for increase of capacity a piston supercharger. However scattered on pieces during tests the motor so frightened its founders that they stopped the further works on a supercharger, and this novelty appeared on cars Grand Prix only in 10 years. The big Prizes in Europe began to revive in 1911.
Then with the permission of ACF regional Automobil Club de la Sarthe et de l'Ouest spent on a 54,2-kilometre line near Le Mans races on the Big Prize of France (not to confuse with Grand Prix de l'ACF!). These competitions became history under the name "Grand Prix des vieux tacots" (the Big Prize of old ruins) for from 14 cars starting in them only three 110-strong Rolland-Pilain, yes small (weight only 310 kg) Bugattis-13 could be called as new models.
Other participants took off by cars GP of release of 1906-1908, but, they, set the fashion to all race. Emeri on FIAT became the winner, but the second place (though and lagged behind on 2 circles at a distance of competitions in 12 circles) Ernest Fridriha on 1,33-litre Bugatti-13, outrun French veteran Gabriel on 6,1-litre Rolland-Pilain became sensation.
1912
The big Prize ACF has been revived in 1912. The unique restriction imposed on the cars, admitted to these competitions, was them... The minimum width - 1750 mm. It gave the chance to involve in draw Grand Prix de l'ACF 12 cars of marks Excelsior, FIAT, Lorraine-Dietrich, Peugeot and Rolland-Pilain. Besides, the Big Prize was spent together with races on Coupe de voituretes in which 42 cars with engines of a working volume to 3 liters took part. Thus, on start it was possible to assemble solid enough quantity of participants.
The competitions spent to two stages (on June, 25-26th) on a line under Deppom (in the same place where draw Grand Prix de l'ACF 1907 was spent and 1908), became a turning point in the history of motor racing for in them "crossed swords" two design directions - old, continuing to increase capacity of motors first of all at the expense of increase in their working volume, and new, other engineering decisions searching for this purpose.
7,6-litre Peugeot L76 created by Swiss engineer Ernest Anri in commonwealth with the French racers George Buallo and Polem Tsukkarelli was the representative of new school. It had the 4-cylinder engine with 4-klapannoj a head, two top cam shafts (DOHC), tent combustion chambers and a 5-basic bent shaft, allowed to increase number of revolutions on 1500 in comparison with motors of old designs.
Thanks to all innovations, it was possible to "squeeze out" 175 h.p. of the 7,6-litre unit (that is 23,0 h.p. from volume liter). For comparison - 14,1-litre FIAT (with one top cam shaft) developed 200 h.p. that corresponded to liter capacity in 14,3 h.p. Among other things, Peugeot L76 had also other technical novelty - wheels of type Rudge Whitworth with the central fastening nut, reduced to a minimum time for their replacement.
All it also defined a struggle outcome for the Big Prize ACF. After the first stage with a small separation from George Buallo American David Bruce-Brown on FIAT S74, representing old design school was in the lead. In the beginning of the second stage Bruce-Brown has been disqualified that made refuelling of the car out of limits боксов, and Buallo became the winner. However, in the general opinion of experts, disqualification did not affect in any way distribution of places - Peugeot confidently overtook FIAT the American and should bypass it in first half second day of competitions.
The second place, lagging behind Buallo more than for 13 minutes, Lui Wagner on FIAT S74 occupied. This result became possible only thanks to that other two Peugeots which Zhjul Gu and Pol Tsukkarelli steered, withdrew because of fuel system breakage. English 3-litre Sunbeam, starting in offset Coupe de voituretes, finished on 3-5 places, outrunning twice big on volume Excelsior and Rolland-Pilain.
The success of the car of Peugeot repeated in races on the Big Prize of France, spent on September, 9th on a line near Le Mans. Zhjul Gu on finish was the first, and Buallo, passing a circle with a speed of 128,80 km at an o'clock, established a line record.
1913
For 1913 ACF again returned to fuel consumption restriction - 20 liters on 100 km of a way.
To competitions the cars supplied with a 2-seater body and a cylindrical fuel tank in length not less 1,0 m, established for seats were supposed. To close a tank an aerodynamic panel it was forbidden. Besides, motors should have not less than 4 cylinders. In the conditions of enough rigid limit of fuel designers of Peugeot reduced a working volume of the engine to 5,65 liters (model EX3) that entailed drop of capacity to 124 h.p.
As it appeared later, fears of engineers of the French firm were vain - upon termination of competitions in a tank of the car of winner George Buallo remains 22 more, and in the car finishing to the second Zhjulja Gu - 28 liters of fuel. The third place was won by the veteran of motor racing Jean Shassan on 5,75-litre Sunbeam - the English firm replaced the Formula 2 with the First formula. Fastest lap Pierre Bablo on 6,25-litre Delage which shortly promised to become the terrible competitor for Peugeot showed.
The tandem of Bablo-Delage won a victory in the last till 1949 the Big Prize of France. On a line near Le Mans Bablo passed the distance reduced to 10 circles with average speed of 123,65 km at an o'clock and considerably improved Fastest lap, shown in last year - 132,83 km at an o'clock.
Small detail - in these competitions started last cars of class Grand Prix which had a chain drive gear. It were 3 cars Mercedes supplied with three various types of the engine - 6-cylinder, 7,6-litre and two 4-cylinder in 9,25 and 8,9 liters.
1914
Per 1914 ACF established the regulations limiting the maximum working volume of the engine in 4,5 liters at weight of the car, not exceeding 1100 kg. Application of superchargers was forbidden. Races on Grand Prix de l'ACF, passing on July, 5th (that is a week later after murder to Sarajevo эрцгерцога Ferdinand), assembled on a line near Lyons rather strong structure of participants.
Motors of all cars of 13 marks starting in competitions, had tent combustion chambers. Ten firms preferred 4-klapannym to heads of cylinders, and one - Bugatti. Swiss Piccard-Pictet used бесклапанный system Knight engine. Cars Schneider for the first time in history had steering of valves (that is the gear of compulsory closing of valves). Cars of 4 marks - Delage, Peugeot, Piccard-Pictet and FIAT - were supplied with brakes on all wheels.
Results of two last seasons installed confidence of success of "native" cars in Frenchmen - it seemed to all that if suddenly does not win Peugeot Grand Prix precisely wins Delage. Similar moods reigned and among owners of these firms. But from the first kilometers of a distance Max Zajler on Mercedes, the last circle with the best time of day - 06 seconds Behind it as if hounds for a hare directed racers of Peugeot and Delage, headed by George Buallo forward escaped 20 minutes. Tactics of command Mercedes also consisted in it - Zajler by "life" of own car should impose to contenders such rate which would appear deadly to their race cars. And the plan of Germans went right completely.
On 6th circle shrouded in clubs of smoke Mercedes of Zajlera gauging on a road shoulder, but also the motor of Peugeot of Buallo which have headed race starts to work with faults. And at this time forward are put forward keeping in the midpoint "peletona" three white cars Lautenshlagera, Wagner and Zaltsera. On a penultimate circle George Buallo's car because of breakage of the valve withdraws, and the German command celebrates a threefold victory. Best of Peugeot on finish only fourth (Zhjul Gu), and unique remained on line Delage - the eighth.
It is less than a month later after competitions near Lyons the First World War burst, and for long 5 years Europe forgot about motor racing.