The History of the Grand Prix

Grand Prix racing originated in Europe. However, at itsThroughout the decade, races, for the most part, were
inception, the word 'racing' was somewhat of arun on closed circuit roads. There were three
misnomer. There were no tracks especially designedexceptions. Great Britain completed the Brooklands
for cars to run on. The first races were conductedcourse in 1907. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway
over open roads. And the condition of the roads wasopened in 1909, followed by the Autodromo Nazionale
deplorable. Consequently, the objective was survivalMonza in Italy in 1922.
not speed. Since breakdowns were frequent, theRaces conducted at this time were also very
winning criterion was the driver's ability to navigatenationalistic. It was not unusual for a country to set up
from the starting line to the finish line.its own race with its own individual rules. Then just prior
Nevertheless, car manufacturers were eager to haveto World War I, a formula of rules appeared. This was
their cars participate, as a good performance was anbased on the size and weight of the engine. However,
important selling point.it wasn't universal.
In 1887, a French publication, 'Le Velocipede', organizedThen, in 1924, the Association Internationale des
an auto race, which is considered to be the firstAutomobile Clubs Reconnus was formed with the
planned auto-racing event. However, only one driverCommission Sportive Internationale (CSI). Power to
entered.regulate Grand Prix together with others forms of
Then in 1894, a Parisian newspaper, organized a motorinternational racing was granted to the CSI.
race to be run from Paris to Rouen, a distance ofOther important changes took place prior to World
eighty miles.War II. In 1933 at the Monaco Grand Prix drivers were
In 1906, the Automobile Club de France (ACF)chosen by timed qualifying runs rather than the luck of
organized the first race to be called the Grand Prix. Ita draw. In 1925, the first World Championship was held.
was run over a 1,260-kilometer triangular shaped circuitTowards the end of the 1920's, Italian cars took over
based in Le Mans. Each lap was 105 miles and a driverthe lead from the French cars and Germany began to
had to run six laps every day. Twelve manufacturersenter unique vehicles engineered especially for racing
participated and there were thirty-two entries. Asuch as the Karl Benz 'Teardrop.'
Hungarian named Ferene Szisz won.Between 1935 and 1939, Germany won all but three of
His win was attributed to the fact that his car wasthe official Championship Grand Prix races.
equipped with detachable wheel rims that had beenCars were now single seaters, as they no longer
invented by Michelin. These dramatically reduced thecarried a riding mechanic.
amount of time spent for each tire change.