The 1929 Monaco Grand Prix was the first Grand Prix to be run in the principality. It was set up by wealthy cigarette manufacturer Antony Noghès, who had set up the Automobile Club de Monaco with some of his friends. This offer of a Grand Prix was supported by Prince Louis II and the Monégasque driver of that time, Louis Chiron. On 14 April 1929, their plan became reality when 16 invited participants turned out to race for a prize of 100,000 French francs.
The event was won by William Grover-Williams (listed on timing sheets as W. Williams), who drove a Bugatti T35B.
Race report Twenty drivers were invited to participate in the contest, although only sixteen started the race due to incidents both on the way to the event and in practice. Local driver Louis Chiron also did not participate, choosing to compete in the 1929 Indianapolis 500 instead. Therefore, Rudolf Caracciola, a Mercedes-Benz factory driver, was the favourite to win the event.
The starting grid was determined by ballot, with Philippe Étancelin starting on pole position and Caracciola starting fifteenth. William Grover-Williams took the lead at the start of the 100-lap race, with Caracciola close behind him. Caracciola took the lead on lap 36, but Grover-Williams was able to take back his position six laps later. Both drivers made a pitstop midway through the race, but Caracciola's stop was much slower, allowing Grover-Williams to build a one lap lead. Georges Bouriano and Philippe de Rothschild (listed as Georges Philippe) also emerged between the pair, although Caracciola soon overtook the latter to finish third.
Classification
Starting grid Grid positions were determined by a ballot. Philippe Étancelin drew pole position.
Inside Middle Outside Row 1 ÉtancelinBugatti DauvergneBugatti LehouxBugatti Row 2 SandriMaserati "Williams"Bugatti PhilippeBugatti Row 3 ZehenderAlfa Romeo BourianoBugatti de RovinDelage Row 4 RigalAlfa Romeo de SterlichMaserati DreyfusBugatti Row 5 LeporiBugatti DoréCorre La Licorne CaracciolaMercedes-Benz Row 6 PerrotAlfa Romeo × ×Source:
Race Pos No Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid 1 12 "W Williams" Bugatti T35B 100 3:56:11.0 5 2 18 Georges Bouriano Bugatti T35C 100 +1:17.8 8 3 34 Rudolf Caracciola Mercedes-Benz SSK 100 +2:22.6 15 4 14 "Georges Philippe" Bugatti T35C 99 +1 lap 6 5 28 René Dreyfus Bugatti T37A 97 +3 laps 12 6 4 Philippe Étancelin Bugatti T35C 96 +4 laps 1 7 30 Mario Lepori Bugatti T35C 94 +6 laps 13 8 32 Michel Doré Corre La Licorne 89 +11 laps 14 9 24 Louis Rigal Alfa Romeo 6C 87 +13 laps 10 Ret 22 Raoul de Rovin Delage 15S8 80 Accident 9 Ret 16 Goffredo Zehender Alfa Romeo 6C 55 Mechanical 7 Ret 6 Christian Dauvergne Bugatti T35C 46 Mechanical 2 Ret 10 Guglielmo Sandri Maserati T26 41 Mechanical 4 Ret 36 Albert Perrot Alfa Romeo 6C 18 Wheel detached 16 Ret 26 Diego de Sterlich Maserati T26B 16 Mechanical 11 Ret 8 Marcel Lehoux Bugatti T35C 7 Transmission 3Source:
References
External links
1929 and the first Monaco Grand Prix – footage of the event