Press Releases - Birth of the car racing

Birth of the car racing

Thanks to OlivierBroc for translation.

Did you know that the first car race in history took place in France?

Our beautiful country is indeed the homeland of motor sport.
This first competition took place from 19 to 22 July 1894, on the way from Paris to Rouen.
The event was open to all self-propelled vehicles, whatever the type of propeller: steam, electricity, gas, oil, and so on...

It was originally a challenge from a journalist.
Given the excessive number of entries, 102 registered, the organizers decided to minimize the finalists by opposing them, first, on 5 runs of 50 km, starting from Paris.
Only 21 vehicles will qualify for the final event.


However, it was not really a speed competition, as the trip will be made at a regulated speed of 12.5 km/h.
The start from Porte Maillot in Paris is given in the order of registration and at 30 second intervals.
The itinerary is interrupted by several mandatory stops, including a lunch break in Mantes-la-Jolie.
17 vehicles will reach Rouen.

The first departure procedure of the history took place as follows:
At 7:15 am, the first cars arrive, tidying up in order of their entry number 5 meters from each other.
7:50 a. m., 19 cars are in order.
8:01 am, departure of car No. 4, in which the Prince of Sagan, the Captain of Place, "Jean sans Terre" and Franck Lamy took place as passengers.
Next, a start every 30 seconds in registration order (qualifications were not used for yours)
At 8:10 am, the last car leaves, then after a few hundred meters, two latecomers, N°19 and N°60, arrive on boulevard Maillot and grab their competitors.

The winners:
1st prize of 5000 francs, is shared between "Panhard et Levassor" and "Les fils de Peugeot frères".
2nd prize of 2,000 francs, is awarded to "De Dion, Bouton et Cie"