Classic Car Catalogue

VIII Grand Prix de La Baule
1932

La Baule Grand Prix
17 August 1932
25 laps x 6 km = 150.0 km

France

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Entries and results:
No. Driver: Car: Model: Engine:   Entrant: Result:
1 Henri Stoffel Mercedes-Benz SSKL 7.1 S-6 Henri Stoffel dns
2 Ferdinand Montier Montier Ford Speciale 4.1 2x4 Ferdinand Montier 6th
3 "Williams" Bugatti T54 5.0 S-8 Automobiles E. Bugatti 1st
4 Jean de Maleplane Maserati 26M 2.5 S-8 Jean de Maleplane 4th
5 Jean Celerier 2.5 Jean Celerier dns
6 Raymond Sommer Alfa Romeo Monza 2.3 S-8 Raymond Sommer dns
7 Goffredo Zehender Alfa Romeo Monza 2.3 S-8 Goffredo Zehender dna
8 Philippe Etancelin Alfa Romeo Monza 2.3 S-8 Philippe Etancelin dnf
9 Jean-Pierre Wimille Alfa Romeo Monza 2.3 S-8 Jean-Pierre Wimille dna
10 "Williams" Bugatti T51 2.3 S-8 W. Williams →3
11 Guy Bouriat Bugatti T51 2.3 S-8 Guy Bouriat 2nd
12 Jean Gaupillat Bugatti T51 2.3 S-8 Jean Gaupillat dns
14 Cohas Bugatti T35 2.3 S-8 Cohas dns
15 Marcel Lehoux Bugatti T51 2.3 S-8 Marcel Lehoux dnf
16 René Dreyfus Bugatti T51 2.3 S-8 René Dreyfus dna
17 Max Fourny Bugatti T35C 2.0 S-8 Max Fourny 8th
18 Benoît Falchetto Bugatti T51 2.3 S-8 Benoît Falchetto 3rd
19 Hans Lewy Bugatti T51 2.3 S-8 PiLeSi Rennteam dns
20 Paul Pietsch Bugatti T35B 2.3 S-8 PiLeSi Rennteam dns
21 "Mlle Helle-Nice" Bugatti T35C 2.0 S-8 Mlle Helle-Nice dnf
22 Charles Druck Bugatti T35C 2.0 S-8 Charles Druck dnf
23 Priolet Bugatti T35C 2.0 S-8 Priolet dnf
24 "Ivernel" Bugatti T35C 2.0 S-8 "Ivernel" dnf
25 Ricardo Bernasconi Bugatti T35C 2.0 S-8 Ricardo Bernasconi dnf
26 A. Ducouret Bugatti T35B 2.3 S-8 A. Ducouret 5th
27 Jacques Guerin Guyot Speciale 2.0   Jacques Guerin dns
28 Mme Odette Siko Alfa Romeo 6C-1750 1.8 S-6 Mme Odette Siko 7th
29 Lucy Schell Alfa Romeo 6C-1750 1.8 S-6 Mme L. O'Reilly-Schell nc
30 Marcel Lister Maserati 26 1.5 S-8 Marcel Lister dna
31 André Rossignol Chenard-Walcker Y? 1.5 S-4 André Rossignol nc
32 Ernst Günther Burggaller Bugatti T35/51A 1.5 S-8 Ernst Günther Burggaller dns
33 José Scaron Amilcar C6 1.1 S-6 José Scaron dna
34 Louis Desvaud Amilcar CGS 1.1 S-6 Louis Desvaud 9th
35 Maurice Mestivier Amilcar 1.1 Maurice Mestivier dnf
36 Louis Martin BNC 527 1.1 Louis Martin dnf
37 Yves Desbois Rosengart 0.75 Yves Desbois dnf

 
Motor SportSeptember 1932
GRAND PRIX de la BAULE.

FOR some years now the Grand Prix de Ia Baule has attracted considerable attention among French motorists, but only once has it been won by an Englishman, in 1927, when G. E. T. Eyston was victorious at the wheel of a Bugatti. The race is similar to the Southport 100 Mile Race, and is run off over a 6 kilometre circuit on the sands at the French sea resort of La Baule. The distance to be run was 300 kilometres, divided into two stages, held on August 16th and 17th. This year there were 35 entries, ranging in size from Stoffel's 8-litre Mercedes to Desbois' Rosengart of 750 cc. Interesting entries were a 6½-litre Montier Special, with two engines mounted in tandem, Williams at the wheel of a 4.9 Bugatti, Etancelin, Wimille and Zehender on 2.3 Alfas, and Guerin on one of the old 2-litre Guyot Specials.
As it turned out, a violent storm swept over La Baule on the first day, inundating the sands, so that the organisers wisely decided to cancel the day's racing and add the prize money to that for the following day's sport.
Luckily, the 17th was a fine day, and before an immense crowd Maurice Benoist, winner of the race in 1924, gave the signal to start.
From the first it was apparent that Williams, with the only 4.9 Bugatti in the race, was going to take a lot of beating, and at the end of the first lap led from Lehoux, Fourny, Bouriat, all on Bugattis, and Etancelin (Alfa Romeo). Lehoux had a spot of trouble, and dropped back to 4th place, and on the 6th lap retired.
Passing was difficult owing to showers of sand and spray sent up by the back wheels of cars in front, and in this way, of course, Williams scored over his rivals. Bouriat pushed ahead of Fourny, and began to chase Williams, but although he gained considerably on the corners, the superior acceleration of the 4.9 car kept Williams comfortably in the lead.
Etancelin retired with gear-box trouble, and Fourny began to drop back, letting Benoit (Bugatti) and De Maleplane (Maserati) up into 3rd and 4th places. Only mechanical trouble could stop Williams now, but his 4.9 Bugatti continued to lap with amazing regularity at about 144 k.p.h., once going up to 147 k.p.h., a new record for the course. The flag was waved once more, and Williams came home a winner, 2½ minutes ahead of Bouriat (Bugatti), who in turn led Benoit (Bugatti) by 2 minutes. The first Alfa Romeo to finish was that driven by Mme. Siko, who drove a very good race to finish 7th, breaking the Ladies' record set up in 1931 by Mlle. Helle-Nice.
RESULTS.
1. Williams (Bugatti 4,900 c.c.), 1h. 1m. 57s. Averaging 145 km. 270.
2. C. Bouriat (Bugatti 2,300 c.c.), 1h. 3m. 25s.
3. F. Benoit (Bugatti 2,300 c.c.), 1h. 5m. 15 2/5s.
4. J. de Maleplane (Maserati 2,800 c.c.), 1h. 5m 45 3/5s.
5. Ducouret (Bugatti 2,300 c.c.), 1h. 13m. 30 3/5s.
6. F. Montier (Montier Special 6,450 c.c.), 1h. 14m. 26 2/5s.
7. Mme. Siko (Alfa Romeo 1,750 c.c.), 1h. 23m. 1 4/5s.