Grand Prix de Pau 1933

Route profile

Race winner Marcel Lehoux , here in Monza in 1930

The Grand Prix de Pau 1933 was the first race of the season in 1933 and took place on February 19 on the 2.834 km road circuit in the French city of Pau . This track variant was only driven this year. The unusually early time for a European race was chosen because Pau wanted to maintain its reputation as a winter resort. The race was part of a large automobile festival week. While the training was still taking place in clear weather, it snowed on race day.

run

Almost exclusively French drivers were registered for this Grand Prix. Bugatti was the predominant brand, although only René Dreyfus was a works driver, all other drivers used their cars privately.

The training on Friday took place under mild weather conditions. The audience had the opportunity to watch the first tests for free. Ten drivers took the opportunity to get to know the new route. Marcel Lehoux and Philippe Étancelin set the fastest times with 1:56 minutes, Stanisław Czaykowski was three seconds slower. All the other drivers were unable to beat the two-minute mark. On Saturday the weather conditions changed and it became increasingly colder and rainy. Marcel Lehoux was again able to set the fastest lap of the day, but seven seconds slower than the day before. In the evening it started to snow. The heavy, wet snow quickly covered the city streets and so did the race track. The organizers were initially unsure how to proceed, but after consulting the drivers they decided to hold the race under these unreal conditions. Shortly before the start, the track was cleared of snow as much as possible and then sprinkled with salt. When the drivers took the starting positions, the thirteenth starting position, which was allocated to Jean-Pierre Wimille , remained empty because it was delayed.

At 2 p.m., the sports reporter and race director Charles Faroux lowered the starting flag for the first race at the Circuit de Pau . Due to the heavy snowfall, visibility was extremely poor and traction was zero. Nevertheless, all drivers made it to the first laps without an accident. After about two to three laps the precipitation subsided and ruts formed in the snow on the roadway. In the tracking grooves was formed melt water which formed together with snow and a slippery grit mixture. With no mudguards behind the tires, the slush whirled up and stuck to the windshield and goggles of those driving behind. The air supply to the coolers was also severely impaired. Overtaking maneuvers were avoided, the drivers had enough to do with keeping the cars on the road. Despite the unreal conditions, there was only one accident-related loss with Robert Brunet .

For Guy Moll , who was born in Algeria and finished second from pole position, this race marked the breakthrough in Grand Prix racing.

Results

Registration list

team	No.	driver	chassis	engine	tires
Count Stanisław Czaykowski	02	Stanislaw Czaykowski	Bugatti T51C	Bugatti 2.0L I8
Philippe Étancelin	04th	Philippe Étancelin	Alfa Romeo Monza	Alfa Romeo 2.3L I8 compressor
Marcel Lehoux	06th	Marcel Lehoux	Bugatti T51	Bugatti 2.3L I8 compressor	M.
Honoré Lormand	08th	Honoré Lormand	Bugatti T35C	Bugatti 2.0L I8 compressor
Raoul Miquel	10	Raoul Miquel	Bugatti T51	Bugatti 2.3L I8 compressor
Jean Delorme	12	Jean Delorme	Bugatti T35C	Bugatti 2.0L I8 compressor
Louis Trintignant	14th	Louis Trintignant	Bugatti T35C	Bugatti 2.0L I8 compressor
Pierre Félix	16	Pierre Félix	Alfa Romeo Monza	Alfa Romeo 2.3L I8 compressor
Guy minor	18th	Guy minor	Bugatti T35C	Bugatti 2.0L I8 compressor	M.
Benoît Falchetto	20th	Benoît Falchetto	Bugatti T51	Bugatti 2.3L I8 compressor
Paul Morand	22nd	Paul Morand	Bugatti T35B	Bugatti 2.3L I8 compressor
Robert Brunet	24	Robert Brunet	Bugatti T51	Bugatti 2.3L I8 compressor
Automobiles Ettore Bugatti	26th	René Dreyfus	Bugatti T51	Bugatti 2.3L I8 compressor	M.
Jean Gaupillat	28	Jean Gaupillat	Bugatti T51	Bugatti 2.3L I8 compressor
Jean de Maleplane	30th	Jean de Maleplane	Maserati 26M	Maserati 2.5L I8 compressor
Jean-Pierre Wimille	32	Jean-Pierre Wimille	Alfa Romeo Monza	Alfa Romeo 2.3L I8 compressor
Marcel Jacob	34	Marcel Jacob	Bugatti T35C	Bugatti 2.0L I8 compressor
Guy Bouriat	36	Guy Bouriat	Bugatti T51	Bugatti 2.3L I8 compressor

Race result

Item	driver	constructor	Round	Stops	time	begin	Fastest lap	Failure reason
01	Marcel Lehoux	Bugatti	80		2: 54: 06,800	16
02	Guy minor	Bugatti	80		+ 59,800	1
03	Philippe Étancelin	Alfa Romeo	80		+1: 17.400	7th	2: 01,000
04th	René Dreyfus	Bugatti	80		+1: 39,200	11
05	Guy Bouriat	Bugatti	80		+ 2: 45.200	10
06th	Louis Trintignant	Bugatti	79		+ 1 lap	15th
07th	Jean de Maleplane	Maserati	76		+ 4 rounds	3
08th	Marcel Jacob	Bugatti	75		+ 5 rounds	9
09	Jean Delorme	Bugatti	62		+ 18 rounds	5
-	Stanislaw Czaykowski	Bugatti	55		DNF	4th		Axle break
-	Pierre Félix	Alfa Romeo	55		DNF	2		mechanics
-	Paul Morand	Bugatti	50		DNF	14th		mechanics
-	Jean Gaupillat	Bugatti	50		DNF	6th		mechanics
-	Honoré Lormand	Bugatti	30th		DNF	12		Gearbox damage
-	Robert Brunet	Bugatti	30th		DNF	17th		accident
-	Benoît Falchetto	Bugatti	1		DNF	18th		mechanics
-	Jean-Pierre Wimille	Alfa Romeo			DNS	13

Web links

• Score on The Golden Era