1 Léon Théry
France
Richard-Brasier

16 Felice Nazzaro
Italy
F.I.A.T.

10 Alessandro Cagno
Italy
F.I.A.T.

Théry wins the sixth Gordon Bennett Race for France

The 1905 Gordon-Bennett Cup race, organized by l'Automobile Club de France, was the main event of the year. The Automobile Clubs of France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Austria and America entered each three cars to race for 549.776 km around the countless twists and turns of the 137.444 km Auvergne Circuit. The fight was between France and Italy. Lancia (F.I.A.T.) led the first two laps ahead of Théry (Richard-Brasier). When the Italian ace retired on the third lap, last year's winner Léon Théry completed the four-lap distance as glorious victor, cheered by an ecstatic crowd. The two F.I.A.T. of Nazzaro and Cagno followed in 2nd and 3rd place. Caillois in the other Richard-Brasier came 4th, trailed by Werner on the best Mercedes in 5th place. The German attack failed mainly due to tire problems. Of the 18 starters 12 cars finished. Among the first 6 drivers were the 3 French cars. Of the 3 Italians, two cars finished claiming second and third place. Of the 6 Mercedes only 3 finished. England brought its 3 cars properly through and 1 of 3 Americans finished, though in last place.

Prelude: The French auto industry voiced their concern during the 1904 Salon, the Paris Motor Show, saying that the limitation of three cars per nation was intolerable. They met with the Automobile Club de France and proposed to organize a race of their own, to be called the "Grand Prix de l'Automobile Club de France". Furthermore, this event should be run simultaneously with the 1905 Gordon Bennett Cup and would allow all competing firms to participate. Additionally, they requested to hold this race thereafter every year and the ACF was not to take part in the Gordon Bennett Cup race unless the rules were revised. The ACF replied that in 1905 an Eliminating race was to take place, as had been the case in 1904 and the first 15 cars would then qualify for the Grand Prix, organized by the ACF. Additionally, other countries were allowed to enter cars, three each for Austria, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland and USA; six each for Germany and Great Britain; a minimum of 15 cars for France. This triggered outrage, criticism and protests from all the competing Nations. The ACF then agreed to stage the 1905 Gordon Bennett Cup race to the existing rules and said the Grand Prix would take place two weeks later. They also made it quite clear that from 1906 on the Grand Prix was to take place and the limitation of cars permitted from each Nation would be reviewed. The sixth Gordon Bennett Cup race in 1905 was for teams of not more than three cars from each national automobile club, the cars build entirely in the country they represented and were not to exceed the 1,000 kg weight limit (2205 lb.) and 7 kg (15 lb.) allowed in case of magneto while the minimum weight was 650 kg. France would be defending the Gordon Bennett Cup against Germany, England, Italy, Austria and America. For the 1905 Gordon Bennett Cup Race the cars again had to be painted in different colors: the British were green, the French blue, the German white, the Austrian black and yellow, the Italian black, the Belgian yellow, the American red and the Swiss red and yellow, the colors were the same as in 1904.

Circuit: The 137.444 km hilly Auvergne Circuit had to be driven four times in clockwise direction, a total distance of 549.776 km. The Auvergne course was also called the Michelin course, which was named so because it was Mr. Michelin, the French tire manufacturer, who first discovered it. Below the Col de la Moreno was Start and Finish at Laschamps, 10.017 km south-west of the Clermont-Ferrand Quatre-Routes intersection. Near the start was a grandstand which seated from 8,000 to 10,000 people. A special grandstand was for members of the automobile club and their guests, an additional for the ministers and other high government officials. The press stand was located within the main grandstand, right in front of the finish line with the timing display board on the opposite side. At Laschamps was also a tire depot.       Actual neutralization zones did not exist on the Auvergne Circuit. Instead on only three points, were placed obligatory stops, the first at Rochefort after 21.3 km, the next at Laqueuille after 30 km where there was a tire depot then bypassed Pontaumur after 87 km, and the third stop was at Pontgibaud after 99.5 km, where there was also a tire depot. At each of the three places the race drivers had to stop as long until the interval of three minutes between the cars was established. Each car that arrived earlier than three minutes to its car ahead, had to wait as long until the three-minute gap had been reached. If the car arrived later than the three minutes to the car ahead, the driver could proceed right away.       According to the English driver C. S. Rolls, the roads were excellently prepared, with a dark brown color of the road surface, due to its careful treatment with sprayed tar and paraffin, the cement banking of the corners, the bridging over the railways, the protection of the road by wire netting and boarding. The course was lined by the same troops and police who were on duty during the French eliminating trial. The Motor, No. 508, p71 > C.S. Rolls on the Wolseley drove the hilly Auvergne Circuit about twenty times, and he found that there were no less than 177 turns in the circuit for which it was necessary to slacken speed considerably, a large percentage of them being exceedingly sharp bends. As he pointed out, nothing but constant practice could enable a driver to know for certain the angle to right or left in front of him, nor could he estimate to a nicety the maximum speed at which it would be safe to negotiate each corner. It should be remembered in this matter that it was not merely a question of losing a fifth of a second at the bend itself. It simply meant one of two things, either that the corner was taken at a highly dangerous speed, or that the car was unduly slackened, and as so many of the turns were upon steep hills any unnecessary slackening meant a great loss of time. Multiply the bends by four (the number of times the course was covered), and it is easy enough to see that the foreigners who had not taken the precaution of getting on the course months ago were very seriously handicapped beside the Frenchmen. The course was obviously rough on tires as stated in connection with the French trials. The two rival tire makers Michelin and Continental established gigantic tents, where hundreds of men were ready for necessary repair work. Parts supply stations had been located at all the various important villages along the course, and in some instances near some of the most difficult turns, where it was likely the contestants would meet with trouble. There were few real restrictions upon practicing. The cars had to be cleaned, fuel and oil tanks emptied, and all lubricants removed on Monday, so the cars would be ready for weighing first thing on Tuesday.

Entries: Automobile Club de France represented by Baron de Zuylen, told their Sporting Committee to run the French Eliminating Trials in the French Ardennes on 16. June 2005 on a 147.4 km circular track, where each of the 24 cars had to drive four laps.     1. Three Richard-Brasier cars for Théry, Caillois and Stead.     2. Three Renault Freres cars for Edmond, Sizsz and Bernin.     3. One Charron, Girardot et Voigt car for Girardot.     4. Three Bayard-Clément cars for Albert Clément, Hanriot and Villemain.     5. Three Hotchkiss cars for A. Fournier, Le Blond and Lavergne.     6. One Automoto car for Lapertot.     7. One Gobron-Brillié car for Rigoly.     8. Three Darracq cars for Hemerey, Wagner and de la Touloubre.     9. Three De Diétrich cars for Gabriel, Rougier and Duray.   10. Three Panhard Levassor cars for Henri Farman, Heath and Teste. Of the 24 cars, 15 reached the finish, a large number for this difficult race. The following three cars being chosen to represent France in the final race on 5. July.     1. Théry (Richard-Brasier) in 7h34m49.1s at 72.555 km/h average speed.     2. Caillois (Richard-Brasier) in 7h43m11s at 71.144 km/h average speed.     3. Duray (De Diétrich) in 7h44m47s at 70.991 km/h average speed. Henri Brasier improved his 1905 race car. A great advantage was his ability to drive at high speeds. The 1905 Richard -Brasier had the motor installed further to the rear, thereby eased the load of the front axle, lessening the steering effort, which also affected a more pleasing outer body shape. The driver and mechanic sat further back, thereby increasing the load on the driving wheels to raise adhesion. Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland represented by Colonel Holden decided to hold Eliminating Trials at the Isle of Man on 30. May 1904 when the competing ten cars assembled to race.     1. Star I car for H.G. Goodwin.     2. Star II car for F.R. Goodwin.     3. Darracq car for A. Lee Guinness.     4. Wolseley car for Cecil Bianchi.     5. Vacant     6. Napier car for Cecil F. Edge.     7. Napier car for Clifford Earp.     8. Vacant     9. Napier car for John Hargreaves.   10. Siddeley car for Sidney Girling.   11. Wolseley car for CS. Rolls.   12. Napier car for O.E. Macdonald. The Trial took place on a 51.5 mi or 82.8 km long Isle of Man course, driving five laps and resulted in the following three cars being chosen to represent Great Britain in the final race on 5. July.     1. Clifford Earp (Napier 80 hp) 6 laps in total times in 7h52m45s at 62.550 km/h average speed.     2. Bianchi (Wolseley 96 hp) 6 laps in total times in 7h58m15s at 62.200 km/h average speed.     3. Rolls (Wolseley 96 hp) 5 laps in total times in 7h04m30s at 58.150 km/h average speed. During practice for the race, Bianchi broke his Wolseley's gearbox. Rolls had driven the course about 17 or 18 times while Earp had been around with a racing car only once, spending much time bringing the 6-cylinder Napier from Havre. Deutscher Automobil Club represented by Count Sierstorpff, did not need to hold Eliminating Trials because the team leader was the famous Belgian Camille Jenatzy driving the 120 hp Mercedes. The Belgian gentleman driver Baron de Caters had his own 120 hp Mercedes and DMG factory driver Wilhelm Werner was the third driver, who drove for the Austrian Club the year before. The 1905 Mercedes cars showed several improvements with a more powerful engine of 120 hp. But the cars were razor sharp at the weight limit so that they had to remove their non-skid tires and fitted the lighter touring tires for the race. Reale Automobile Club d'Italia represented by Marquis Ferrero de Vintimiglia, did not need to hold Eliminating Trials as they only had three F.I.A.T. cars driven by the team leader Vincenzo Lancia, Alessandro Cagno and Felice Nazzaro replacing the ill Luigi Storero. The cars were again equipped with Italian Michelin tires. The delegates of the Italian Commission were Marquis Ferrero de Vintimiglia, Doctor cavaliere Felice Tapparo, cavaliere Gaetano Grosso Campana. Incorrectly, the driver Nazzari appeared in all reports including Italian articles, but it was no other than Felice Nazzaro. Lancia and Nazzaro came from the Ceirano firm which was absorbed in 1899 by F.I.A.T. and the two drivers then began racing for F.I.A.T. Oesterreichischer Automobil-Club represented by Count Leopold Kolowrat, made use of three Mercedes-Austria cars. D.M.G. had a plant in Wiener-Neustadt south of Vienna. The requirement for local manufacture was ignored but the cars were assembled in Austria with parts made in Stuttgart. The drivers selected were Hermann Braun, born 1847 in Cannstatt, an employee of DMG. The third driver was the American sportsman and motor-boat enthusiast Alexander Burton, the name supposedly was a pseudonym. The Continental tires had to be made in Austria. Automobile-Club of America represented by Gray Dinsmore, approved Herbert H. Lytle and Albert Dingley to drive the 70 hp Pope-Toledo cars, made by Colonel Albert August Pope, the biggest bicycle man in the United States who had been made both electric and gasoline cars since 1899. The third entry was a 100 hp Locomobile driven by Joseph Tracy, who was a Welshman who acquired his mechanical knowledge through serving as an apprentice in British railroad engine shops. Automobile Club de Belgique submitted an entry that was conditional (The condition being that the Gordon Bennett race should not be run concurrently with any other contest) and conditional entries could not be accepted under the rules. Automobile-Club de Suisse would have sent a team to the 1905 contest, the Dufaux Frères in Geneva had the cars ready but could not accept a liability of 1000 pounds, which the French Club had announced as being the probable cost per country for this year's event.

Scrutineering: The event started with scrutineering and weighing on Tuesday morning on 4. July at Laschamps. The operation of weighing and examining had been rendered somewhat dull, dreary and uninteresting, because the French Club had erected a tent to conceal the activities of the commission, and rigidly excluded all but the representatives of the clubs, the weighing officials, and the manufacturers. As representatives of the competing countries were present Chevalier René de Knyff of the French Club, Colonel Holden of the English Club, Count Sierstorpff of the German Club, Count Leopold Kolowrat of the Austrian Club, Mr. Gray Dinsmore (America) and Marquis Ferrero de Ventimiglia (Italy).       The French side protested the Mercedes short exhaust stubs. They demanded a muffler and were only silenced when the regulations were presented in which, was no mention of a muffler. The Michelin tires of the F.I.A.T. cars were also protested as they had no documentation proving Italian manufacturing, but the evidence apparently satisfied the commission for the protest was not allowed. Duray's De Diétrich was 5 kg overweight and had to remove several items. The weight of Jenatzy's car was exact but for safety reasons was lightened a bit. The American Pope cars were among the lightest and drove without hoods.       In the afternoon a gale of wind sprang up was stormy and at 3 o'clock in the afternoon a terrible storm rushed through the Auvergne, causing great damage to the tents in the car park. The large tent of the weighbridge was lifted into the air, the canvas roof of the grandstand was torn to shreds and caused great damage. The wind was howling over the plain and the air heavy with brown dust, and to the turmoil was added the smashing and ripping of the weighing tent, a big, solidly built frame cracking up like firewood. Cagno's F.I.A.T. was engulfed in the fall of the canvas, but the woodwork did not touch it. The place was cleared as quickly as possible, and the weighing proceeded with. Earp weighed in with his six-cylinder car, and weighed also a spare car, as did the Brasier Company and Jenatzy. At 5 o'clock the sun burst forth for the first time, it was quite calm, and the weather improved. No.   Driver   Country embodied Racing Car Color of car Tires fitted Nationality of Driver Weight in kg 1 Théry France Richard-Brasier light blue Michelin French 994 ~ Spare car France Richard-Brasier light blue Michelin French 2 Erp England 6-cyl. Napier green Palmer English 996 ~ spare car England 4-cyl. Napier green Palmer English 3 Jenatzy Germany Mercedes white Continental Belgian 1006 ~ spare car Germany Mercedes white Continental Belgian 4 Lancia Italy F.I.A.T. black Michelin Italian 1007 5 Braun Austria Mercedes-Austr. blk/yellow Continental German 1001 6 Lytle America Pope-Toledo red Diamond American 992 7 Caillois France Richard-Brasier light blue Michelin French 1000 8 Rolls England Wolseley green Dunlop English 998 9 de Caters Germany Mercedes white Continental Belgian 1005 10 Cagno Italy F.I.A.T. black Michelin Italian 1006 11 Hieronimus Austria Mercedes-Austr. blk/yellow Continental German 1005 12 Dingley America Pope-Toledo red Diamond American 984 13 Duray France de Dietrich light blue Michelin French 1003 14 Bianchi England Wolseley green Dunlop English 995 15 Werner Germany Mercedes white Continental German 1003 16 Nazzaro Italy F.I.A.T. black Michelin Italian 1005 17 Burton Austria Mercedes-Austr. blk/yellow Continental American 1005 18 Tracy America Locomobile red Diamond American 1007

Timing, Scoring and Controversy: Intermediate and final times differed between all sources. Comparing the intermediate times of the different sources, it was apparent that those of The Motor were most constant and matched those of the Austrian AAZ. For that reason, we used The Motor times throughout, for Lap Time, Total Time and Final Time. Each of these times has been rechecked, so adding up all lap times, have also the correct total times and final times. A comparison of final times is found 'In retrospect'.

Race: On Wednesday 5. July 1905 the start took place at 6:00 in the morning. The eighteen drivers started at five minutes-gaps the last start happened at 7:25.

Start Time No.   Driver   Country embodied Racing Car 6h00m 1 Théry France Richard-Brasier 6h05m 2 Earp England Napier 6h10m 3 Jenatzy Germany Mercedes 6h15m 4 Lancia Italy F.I.A.T. 6h20m 5 Braun Austria Mercedes-Austr. 6h25m 6 Lytle America Pope-Toledo 6h30m 7 Caillois France Richard-Brasier 6h35m 8 Rolls England Wolseley 6h40m 9 de Caters Germany Mercedes 6h45m 10 Cagno Italy F.I.A.T. 6h50m 11 Hieronimus Austria Mercedes-Austr. 6h55m 12 Dingley America Pope-Toledo 7h00m 13 Duray France De Dietrich 7h05m 14 Bianchi England Wolseley 7h10m 15 Werner Germany Mercedes 7h15m 16 Nazzaro Italy F.I.A.T. 7h20m 17 Burton Austria Mercedes-Austr. 7h25m 18 Tracy America Locomobile

All night long workmen had been hard at it to repair the storm damage of the day before and to make provision against a recurrence. The morning sky was dark with heavy clouds being pushed by a heavy storm. During the first lap the sun was shining but later the sky gradually became overcast, and slight rain fell during the third round. The grandstands and tents offered a desolate view, as if a battle had taken place. The grandstands at Laschamps had lost most of the canvas roof then presented rather a dreary and shabby appearance. The gale of the previous day had exposed many structures to a bare skeleton and made the many covered places ragged. Constantly in immense numbers, new visitors streamed towards the start. There were about 5,000 people at the start of the race, whilst all round the course there were very large crowds. As the morning advanced, the storm cleared the sky.       At 5 o'clock the first drivers appeared at the start. The race drivers started in gaps of five minutes. The race cars were strictly protected by helpers of those factories. Five minutes before six o'clock Théry brought the Richard-Brasier to the starting line. Like always he was calm and smiled. Mr. Tampier, the official timekeeper counted down loudly, then partez! The car stormed up the road of the Col de la Moreno to the cheering by the crowd. From the grandstand the vanishing car could be seen for a short time and then as a black point faded at the first left turn. As the second car, Earp (Napier), just before starting he discovered that the nuts on the shackles of the front springs were very slack. It was whilst these were being tightened that the word was given to go. But he only lost about four seconds through the delay and made a very good start. Next was Jenatzy (Mercedes), evidently very excited. With a reddish-colored scull-cap, he was known by his friends as the "red devil". He was all tremor and fuss although there was no apparent need for any such worry. When the engine started, at once thick clouds of fumes were blowing from the exhaust stubs, indicating quickly fouled plugs and ignitors. Jenatzy started in nice style. Also, Lancia (F.I.A.T.) had a very quick start and was seen to run over a dog about a few hundred meters up the road. Brown (Mercedes-Austria) started fifth and was calm and collected, followed by Lytle, Caillois and Rolls. Thereafter started de Caters (Mercedes), who remained the only driver to use studded leather threads, the others having removed their non-skid tires in view of the declared good weather, and, as he started, his rear tires dug two deep holes in the ground. The race drivers left one every five minutes, up until the last driver, the American Joseph Tracy on the Locomobile started at 7:25 a.m. 1st lap   Driver/Car                              Lap time     137.444 km   1. Lancia (F.I.A.T.) 1h34m57s   2. Théry (Richard-Brasier) 1h41m07s   3. Nazzaro (F.I.A.T.) 1h47m13s   4. Duray (De Dietrich) 1h46m27s   5. Werner (Mercedes) 1h48m01s   6. Earp (Napier) 1h53m11s   7. Cagno (F.I.A.T.) 1h45m44s   8. Braun (Mercedes-Austria) 1h55m04s   9. Caillois (Richard-Brasier) 2h00m50s 10. Hieronimus (Merc.-Austr.) 1h54m28s 11. Rolls (Wolseley) 2h00m49s 12. De Caters (Mercedes) 1h55m09s 13. Jenatzy (Mercedes) 2h04m41s 14. Bianchi (Wolseley) 2h12m49s 15. Lytle (Pope-Toledo) 2h31m09s 16. Burton (Mercedes-Austr.) 2h33m30s 17. Tracy (Locomobile) 2h38m55s 18. Dingley (Pope-Toledo) retired At the same time when the remaining cars started, only 7 km after the start at Quatre-Routes near Nébouzat the Mercedes of Jenatzy came to a stop. They had lubricated the motor with too much oil causing an electrical short. The repair of the fouled magnet electrical ignition took over twenty minutes before Jenatzy's car was running again, now at a speed that was sheer terrifying to regain lost terrain. The Mercedes-people were agitated, the French had happy faces, since Jenatzy was considered as the most dangerous.       Once the last driver, Tracy on the Locomobile, had started at 7:25 a.m., there was not much time to ponder when a cannon-shot and a bugler signaled the arrival of an imminent car. At the end of first lap, it was Théry (Richard-Brasier) who at 7:41:07 swept past the Grandstand after 1h41m07s at a speed of about 84 km/h amid strong cheers from thousands. Shortly thereafter at 7:49:57 arrived the number 4 car, Lancia (F.I.A.T.) who had already passed Earp and Jenatzy in front of him and his time of 1h34m57s, was six minutes faster than Therry's, a fabulous performance, matching a speed of over 84 km/h. Then at 7:59:11 followed Earp (Napier) in 1h53m11s and at 8:15:04 came Braun (Mercedes) in 1h55m04s. Jenatzy (Mercedes) appeared at 8:19:41 in 2h04m41s, with great delay, first with excess oil in the crank chambers and then he was delayed by punctures, losing over 28 minutes to Théry. He was followed at 8:30:50 by Caillois (Richard-Brasier) who had taken 2h00m50s, then at 8:38:49 passed Rolls (Wolseley) in 2h00m49s and shortly behind at 8:39:44 came Cagno (F.I.A.T.) in 1h45m44s. He was followed at 8:46:09 by de Caters (Mercedes) 1h55m09s, who had lost time with punctures. Next at 8:49:47 came Duray (De Dietrich) with a good time of 1h46m27s in fourth place. Hieronimus (Merc.-Austr.) appeared at 8:54:28 in 2h02m28s. Lytle (Pope-Toledo) passed at 8:56:09 with great time loss 2h31m09s, and at 9:00:01 came Werner (Mercedes) in 1h48m01s. Nazzaro (F.I.A.T.) passed at 9:04:13, who had taken 1h47m13s that placed him third. Bianchi (Wolseley) emerged at 9:17:41 with a time of 2h12m49s and at 9:57:30 passed Burton (Mercedes-Austria) in 2h37m30s and Tracy (Locomobile) came at 10:07:55 with a time of 2h38m55s they were the last of the first lap. Dingley (Pope-Toledo) retired due to broken pipe for the water supply, or a broken transmission. 2nd lap  Driver/Car                               Lap time        Total time     274.888 km   1. Lancia (F.I.A.T.) 1h42m11s 3h17m08s   2. Théry (Richard-Brasier) 1h48m37s 3h30m04s   3. Duray (De Dietrich) 1h55m13s 3h41m40s   4. Cagno (F.I.A.T.) 1h59m39s 3h45m23s   5. Nazzaro (F.I.A.T.) 1h59m10s 3h46m25s   6. Caillois (Richard-Brasier) 1h46m35s 3h47m25s   7. Braun (Mercedes-Austr.) 1h56m14s 3h51m18s   8. Werner (Mercedes) 2h05m44s 3h53m45s   9. De Caters (Mercedes) 2h08m59s 4h04m08s 10. Earp (Napier) 2h14m29s 4h07m40s 11. Rolls (Wolseley) 2h08m01s 4h08m50s 12. Bianchi (Wolseley) 2h01m35s 4h14m24s 13. Jenatzy (Mercedes) 2h15m32s 4h20m13s 14. Lytle (Pope-Toledo) 2h38m51s 5h10m00s 15. Tracy (Locomobile) 2h17m10s 5h56m05s 16. Burton (Mercedes-Austr.) 3h50m00s 6h37m30s 17. Hieronimus (Merc.-Austr.) retired During the second lap the Battle between Lancia and Théry continued. Then Lancia stopped for six minutes after Rochefort to change tires. After the second lap Théry (Richard-Brasier) was still the first car to pass at 9:30:04 in 3h30m04s, followed two minutes later at 9:32:08 by Lancia (F.I.A.T.) in 3h17m08s, who now had built up a lead of 13 minutes. The frustration of the French crowd grew, Lancia was a devilish runner for Théry, but Brasier, who was pressed by hundreds around him, already smoked his third cigar, and declared calmly: "wait and see, I know my Théry and Lancia has still two more laps". The interest of the spectators gradually faded, and many started to have breakfast. The rising wind with erratic mild rain showers became annoying. The waits between the arrivals of cars became longer and longer, the race began to drag out.       Braun (Mercedes) in 3h51m18s appeared at 10:11:18 followed by Earp (Napier) in 4h07m40s passed at 10:12:40, next was Caillois (Richard-Brasier) in 3h47m25s who passed at 10:17:25 then at 10:30:23 came Cagno (F.I.A.T.) in 3:45:23s who had taken two minutes away from Caillois. Jenatzy (Mercedes) in 4h20m13s arrived at 10:32:13 with increased delay, he now was 50 minutes behind Théry. After the required stop at Pontgibaud one of the front springs broke which Jenatzy repaired as good as possible. When he arrived at Col de la Moreno, he changed all four tires and at the same time improved the repair of the broken spring before he started on his third lap. Rolls (Wolseley) in 4h08m50s passed at 10:43:50 and de Caters (Mercedes) arrived at 10:47:08 with great delay in 4h04m08s while Duray (De Dietrich) in 3h41m40s passed at 10:47:40, he had a water pipe break and had also numerous difficulties with his gearlever but still climbed to third place. Nazzaro (F.I.A.T.) in 3h46m25s came at 11:01:15 and Werner (Mercedes) passed at 11:09:24 with a good time in 3h53m45s. Bianchi (Wolseley) in 4h14m24s appeared at 11:19:24, Lytle (Pope-Toledo) in 5h10m00s passed at 11:39:00, the feed pipe from the oil reservoir had fractured, and the oil squirted everything, as well as over the occupants of the car. The mechanic held the two parts of the pipe together throughout the rest of the race. Both he and the driver were coated in oil and dirt. Tracy (Locomobile) appeared much later at 1:23:05, in 5h56m05s. Hieronimus (Merc.-Austr.) retired when a valve broke and smashed a cylinder while Burton also on (Mercedes-Austria) retired on the course, after repairing 13 blown tires, he completed the lap after 6h37m30s. The hope of the Mercedes people now focused on Braun and Werner, although the German defeat was without doubt certain. According to telephone reports, endless tire defects were the cause of the bad times. 3rd lap  Driver/Car                                Lap time       Total time     412.332 km   1. Théry (Richard-Brasier) 1h48m42s 5h18m46s   2. Nazzaro (F.I.A.T.) 1h50m06s 5h36m31s   3. Cagno (F.I.A.T.) 1h54m49s 5h39m12s   4. Caillois (Richard-Brasier) 1h54m24s 5h41m49s   5. Werner (Mercedes) 2h16m05s 6h09m50s   6. Duray (De Dietrich) 2h33m35s 6h15m15s   7. De Caters (Mercedes) 2h12m49s 6h16m57s   8. Braun (Mercedes-Austr.) 2h31m42s 6h23m00s   9. Rolls (Wolseley) 2h16m35s 6h25m25s 10. Bianchi (Wolseley) 2h11m43s 6h26m07s 11. Earp (Napier) 2h18m38s 6h26m18s 12. Lytle (Pope-Toledo) 2h19m17s 7h29m17s At the beginning of the third lap, a few raindrops were falling, and dark black clouds appeared in the sky. The fight between Lancia and Théry continued throughout the third circuit. Peter Helck > Lancia flashed past Théry, his Brasier motionless at roadside, as a Michelin crew reshod all four rims, up until this instant, not once in more than 1,000 miles of Bennett racing, in France and Germany, had any threatening opponent ever visually passed the Brasier champion. In this crisis he is said to have remarked to his worthy mechanic Müller, "He is going faster than I, but I think we shall see him again before the end!". Lancia had lost a minute at Bourg Lastic with his engine overheating, and steadily now he began to lose ground until at Quatre Routes, near Clermont, he was only nine minutes faster than Théry. The trouble was a broken radiator and loss of water. He thought that a flying stone did the damage. A rough repair of applying putty did not stop the leak, and on the uphill run to Laschamps, the engine entirely gave out near La Baraque and Lancia retired about 3 km ahead of the finish. A few minutes later Théry saw the black F.I.A.T. off the road and silent. He passed the stricken car and in the spitting rain gusts he saw the bulky shape of a desolate Lancia nearby.       At 11:18:40 Théry (Richard-Brasier) completed the third lap in 5h18m46s passed through Laschamps, about half an hour later came the news of Lancia's breakdown. Théry's chances improved sky high, and if he carried on as he had done so far, he had the victory in his pocket. At 12:11:49 arrived Caillois (Richard-Brasier) in 5h41m49s who held fourth place but through the mechanic's faulty lubrication, flooding the engine with oil, had been compelled to stop five times in the first round to clean the ignitors of his engine, and each circuit afterwards called for a couple of cleanings. Next Cagno (F.I.A.T.) followed at 12:24:12 in 5h39m12s who held third position. Jenatzy (Mercedes) faced increased delay, caused when a front axle upper leaf of the spring broke at Pontgibaud control, but he got round as far as Pontaunur on the third lap before it became impossible for him to go further. He had also labored for 20 minutes after stopping at one control attempting to get his engine started. At 12:33:18 passed Earp (Napier) in 6h26m18s. At 12:40:03 passed Braun (Mercedes) who was eighth in 6h23m00s. Nazzaro (F.I.A.T.) arrived at 12:51:13 in 1h50m06s and he was now lying second but was 21 minutes behind Théry with Cagno (F.I.A.T.) third, very close behind him. Rolls (Wolseley) came at 1:00:25 in 4h08m50s in ninth position and right behind him at 1:00:57 arrived de Caters (Mercedes) in 6h16m57s in seventh place, followed at 1:19:50 by fifth placed Werner (Mercedes) in 6h09m50s. Bianchi (Wolseley) appeared at 1:31:07 in 6h26m07s in tenth position, followed at 1:33:15 by Duray (De Dietrich) in 6h15m15s he had dropped from third to sixth place. His time loss was due to poorly fitted front tires which had to be replaced again after 10 km. Lytle (Pope-Toledo) in 7h29m17s passed at 1:55:17 he had lost his cap and engine cover. Lancia (F.I.A.T.), Jenatzy (Mercedes) and Tracy (Locomobile) retired on the third lap. 4th lap   Driver/Car                               Lap time       Total time     549.776 km   1. Théry (Richard-Brasier) 1h43m56s 7h02m42.6s   2. Nazzaro (F.I.A.T.) 1h42m38s 7h19m09.2s   3. Cagno (F.I.A.T.) 1h42m10s 7h21m22.6s   4. Caillois (Richard-Brasier) 1h45m17s 7h27m06.4s   5. Werner (Mercedes) 1h53m40s 8h03m30.0s   6. Duray (De Dietrich) 1h50m35s 8h05m50.0s   7. De Caters (Mercedes) 1h54m06s 8h11m03.0s   8. Rolls (Wolseley) 2h01m17s 8h26m42.2s   9. Earp (Napier) 2h01m11s 8h27m29.8s 10. Braun (Mercedes-Austr.) 2h10m05s 8h33m05.6s 11. Bianchi (Wolseley) 2h12m32s 8h38m39.4s 12. Lytle (Pope-Toledo) 2h01m15s 9h30m32.0s The end of the fourth round saw no withdrawals. Théry had a tire burst in this round, but he soon had it replaced, as he was close to a tire station when this happened, but he lost 12 minutes. After the bugle call was sounded, everyone rushed to the barriers although it was not expected that Théry could be through so soon. It was a yelling, waving mob that the unemotional Théry passed at 1:09:12.6 in superb time of 7h02m42.6s to a victory that he had fully and truly earned. The French crowd was very excited about the French victory. Nothing seemed of any importance after Théry had won. When the victor returned from the scale and after a short time of quiet and refreshment Théry and his mechanic Müller came to the starting stand, greeted again by renewed jubilation. The military band played the "Marseillaise". Mr, Clémentel, the Minister of the Colonies was introduced to the brave Théry, whose emotion increased. Clémentel seized him by the shoulders and gave him an embrace. Then in the buttonhole of the leather jacket, dusty, gloriously dirty, the minister attached the violet ribbon of the Academy palms of officer of the academy.       At 1:59:06.4 appeared the next car, Caillois (Richard-Brasier) in 7h27m06.4s, he finished fourth. Cagno (F.I.A.T.) in 5h39m12s passed at 2:15:22.6 he finished third. Earp (Napier) in 8h27m29.8s arrived at 2:35:29.8 he came ninth. Earp had made no less than 21 stops, mostly for minor problems. The principal trouble, however, occurred when the whole of the seats and the petrol tank became loose and deposited themselves in the road, the occupants having very narrow escape from serious injury. The tank was recovered and fastened but all the petrol had gone and was bought in the villages to proceed. At 2:42:09.2 arrived Nazzaro (F.I.A.T.) in 7h19m09.2s, he finished second, just over 16 minutes behind Théry. Braun (Mercedes) passed at 2:53:05.6 who was tenth in 8h33m05.4s after suffering numerous tire failures. Rolls (Wolseley) came at 3:07:42.2 in 8h26m42.2s in eighth position. At 3:14:11.6 passed de Caters (Mercedes) in 8h11m03.0s, he finished seventh, after suffering from tire troubles all through the race he had also been twice over-lubricated with too much oil in the motor causing an electrical short on the first and second lap. He was followed at 3:20:50 by Duray (De Dietrich) in 8h05m50.0s in sixth position. Werner (Mercedes) appeared at 3:29:30 placed as fifth in 8h03m30s. His motor stopped as he crossed the finish line. To ease the starting of the motor, the mechanic pushed the float of the carburetor down to flow fuel into the engine. At the same time fuel flowed from the float chamber and caught fire when large flames were seen below the engine box. Sand was thrown on the engine which had no special effect. Then with a fire extinguisher the flames were snuffed out. Luckily the sand had not reached working engine parts before the motor was started, and Werner drove to the scale for reweighing. At 3:43:39.4 came Bianchi (Wolseley), who finished in 8h38m39.2s in eleventh spot. At 4:04:32 appeared Lytle (Pope-Toledo) in 9h30m32.0s in last place.