Keen Competition In Long Distance Contest

Northern Advocate, 22 July 1939, Page 6 (Supplement)

Keen Competition In Long Distance Contest

The world’s greatest long-distance motor car contest, the French 24 Hours' Race on the Sarthe circuit near Le Mans, annually provides very keen competition between Continental and British sporting motorists. Forty-two started in this year's event —which is one of the classic motoring fixtures of Europe. It is restricted to touring cars of standard production and the machines have to race with folded hoods, mudguards, lamps, etc. As the race continues for 24 hours without intermission, it provides a strenuous endurance test for the drivers—two per machine—and for the cars. A few years back England won a series of these 24-Hour races through the agency of Bentley cars, but during the past few years, cars of French construction have carried off the honours. The contest decided last week gave France another success and it also saw Jean Wimille score his second victory in this strenuous event. On this occasion, Wimille (Bugatti-Dun-lop) and his relief driver, Veyran, averaged 86.85 m.p.h. for the day and night drive. The distance covered was 2083.8 miles—a fine performance around a tricky 8.4 mile road circuit and a record for the race. Another French car, a Delage, driven by Gerard and Monnerat, was second, with a tally of 2058 miles, while English drivers in Messrs Brackenbury and Dobson (Lagonda) were third with 2006 miles. Another Lagonda driven by Lord Waleran (who recently raced in Australia) finished fourth- Last year.. Messrs Chaboud and Tremoulet (Delahaye) won this event with a tally of 1976 miles (82.36 m.p.h.) while in 1937, Wimille and Benoist (Bugatti) covered 2043 miles in tlm full day, averaging 85.13 m.p.h.