1934 French Grand Prix

The 1934 French Grand Prix (formally the XXVIII Grand Prix de l'Automobile Club de France) was a Grand Prix motor race held on 1 July 1934 at Montlhéry. The race comprised 40 laps of a 12.5 km circuit, for a total race distance of 500.0 km. This race was the first outside of Germany to see the Silver Arrows of Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz, which would go on to dominate Grand Prix racing until the start of World War II.

Date 1 July 1934

Official name XXVIII Grand Prix de l'Automobile Club de France

Location Montlhéry, France

Course Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry

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1934 French Grand Prix
Race details
Date	1 July 1934
Official name	XXVIII Grand Prix de l'Automobile Club de France
Location	Montlhéry, France
Course	Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry
Course length	12.50 km (7.767 miles)
Distance	40 laps, 500.0 km (310.7 miles)
Pole position
Driver	Hans Stuck	Auto Union
Grid positions set by ballot
Fastest lap
Driver	Louis Chiron	Alfa Romeo
Time	5:06.0
Podium
First	Louis Chiron	Alfa Romeo
Second	Achille Varzi	Alfa Romeo
Third	Carlo Felice Trossi Guy Moll	Alfa Romeo

Close

The race was won by Louis Chiron driving an Alfa Romeo. Chiron lead from the start, jumping the start to lead the first lap, but was quickly challenged by the Germans. Stuck, who made a poor start, was able to take the lead on lap 3, while down the field the Mercedes' and other Alfa Romeos and Auto Unions battled for the remaining places, while the Bugattis and Maseratis showed themselves to be totally outclassed. With Stuck's Auto Union slowing, Chiron retook the lead on lap 9. This he held to the end, as although he was pressured by the Mercedes of Fagioli and Caracciola, this ultimately came to nothing, as by the end of the race not a single German car was still running.^[1]