The 1929 Grand Prix season was another interim year, where most races were run to Formula Libre (open formula) rules due to a lack of regulations from the AIACR that would be popular for race organisers and manufacturers. This blurred the line between racing cars and sports cars with both competing in the same races. Bugatti won the major international races, with their drivers Louis Chiron and "W Williams". The Italian Championship proved very competitive, attracting many top drivers. There it was Alfa Romeo, using their 4-year old P2 model that claimed more victories, than their main competition coming from Bugatti and Maserati.
Chiron took a Delage across to Indianapolis but was outclassed by the Millers. Ray Keech won after duelling with the Millers of Lou Moore and Louis Meyer. Keech was killed a fortnight later at the AAA race at Altoona Speedway. Meyer went on to become the first back-to-back AAA champion.
The racing festival on the French Riviera held around Easter culminated in a new race – the Monaco Grand Prix. In a close race between Williams’ Bugatti and the Mercedes-Benz SSK sports car of Rudolf Caracciola, it was decided by a botched pit-stop for the German. The Targa Florio was another triumph for Bugatti, with Albert Divo claiming the fifth win in a row for the marque. Achille Varzi was the Italian Champion with victories at Alessandria, Rome, Montenero and Monza.
Grand Épreuves Date Name Circuit RaceRegulations Weather RaceDistance Winner'sTime Winning driver Winningconstructor Fastestlap Report 5 30 May XVII International 500 Mile Sweepstakes Indianapolis AAA ? 500 miles 5h 07m Ray Keech Miller 91 not recorded Report 7 30 Jun XXIII Grand Prix de l’ACF Le Mans AIACR rain & sun 600 km 4h 33m William Grover-Williams("W. Williams") Bugatti Type 35B William Grover-Williams Bugatti Report 7 Jul Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps cancelled 14 Jul IV Großer Preis von Deutschland Nürburgring sports ? 510 km 4h 46m Louis Chiron Bugatti Type 35B Louis ChironBugatti Report 9 25 Jul VII Gran Premio de San Sebastián (Nation's Cup) Lasarte AIACR rain & sun 690 km 5h 57m Louis Chiron Bugatti Type 35B Louis ChironBugatti Report 17 Aug British Grand Prix Brooklands cancelled 8 Sep Italian Grand Prix / European Grand Prix Monza cancelled A pink background indicates the race was run for Sports Cars or Touring Cars this year, while a grey background indicates the race was not held this year. Sources:Rendall 1993, p.362
Major Races Multiple classes are mentioned when they were divided and run to different race lengths. Date Name Circuit RaceRegulations Weather RaceDistance Winner'sTime Winning driver Winningconstructor Report 18 Mar II Australian Grand Prix Phillip Island Formula Librehandicap races ? 200 miles 3h 14m Arthur Terdich Bugatti Type 37A Report 24 Mar V Gran Premio di Tripoli Tagiura Formula Libre overcast 420 km 3h 08m Conte Gastone Brilli-Peri Talbot 700 Report 1 Apr II Grand Prix d’Antibes Juan-les-Pins La Garoupe Formula Libre sunny 310 km 4h 10m Mario Lepori Bugatti Type 35B Report 7 Apr II I Grand Prix d’Algèrie Staouéli Formula Libre sunny 360 km 3h 03m Marcel Lehoux Bugatti Type 35C Report 1 14 Apr I Grand Prix de Monaco Monte Carlo Formula Libre sunny 320 km 3h 56m William Grover-Williams("W. Williams") Bugatti Type 35B Report 2 21 Apr VI Circuito di Alessandria(Coppa Pietro Bordino) Alessandria Formula Libre sunny 260 km 2h 21m Achille Varzi Alfa Romeo P2 Report 3 5 May XX Targa Florio XII Coppa FlorioThe Targa Florio and the Coppa Florio were run simultaneously over the same route. Medio Madonie Targa Florio sunny 540 km 7h 16m Albert Divo Bugatti Type 35C Report 9 May II Coupe de Bourgogne Dijon Formula LibreCyclecar rain 525 km420 km 3h 48m Philippe de Rothschild (“Philippe”) Bugatti Type 35C Report 19 May IV Grand Prix des Frontières Chimay Formula Libre ? 220 km h 58m Goffredo Zehender Alfa Romeo 6C-1750 Report 4 26 May V Premio Reale di Roma Tre Fontane Formula Libre cloudy 390 km 3h 03m Achille Varzi Alfa Romeo P2 Report 2 Jun IV Circuito del Pozzo Verona Formula Libre hot 310 km 2h 13m Giovanni Alloatti Bugatti Type 35B Report II Grand Prix Bugatti Le Mans Formula Librehandicap ? ? ? Juan Zanelli Bugatti Type 35C Report 69 Jun IX Circuito del Mugello (Targa Giulio Masetti) Mugello Formula Libre sunny 370 km 5h 11m Conte Gastone Brilli-Peri Talbot 700 Report V Grand Prix de Picardie Péronne Voiturette ? 190 km 1h 47m Philippe Auber Bugatti Type 37A Report 16 Jun I Grand Prix de Lyon Quincieux Formula Libre ? 250 km 2h 28m Hans Simons Bugatti Type 35 Report 23 Jun Grand Prix de Bordeaux de Cyclecars Bordeaux Cyclecar ? 75 km 1h 04m ? Hector David Salmson Report 7 Jul V Grand Prix de la Marne Reims-Gueux Formula Libre cloudy 400 km 2h 54m Philippe Étancelin Bugatti Type 35C Report Prix de la Ville de Reims Reims-Gueux Cyclecar ? 120 km 56m Yves Giraud-Cabantous Salmson Report Dieppe Grand Prix Dieppe Formula Libre ? 200 km 1h 47m René Dreyfus Bugatti Type 35B Report II Coppa di Camaiore Camaiore Formula Libre ? 190 km 2h 35m Renato Balestrero Bugatti Type 35C Report 7 21 Jul III Coppa Ciano VIII Coppa Montenero Montenero Formula LibreVoiturette hot 225 km 2h 35m Achille Varzi Alfa Romeo P2 Report 8 28 Jul V Gran Premio de España Lasarte Sports sunny 1374 km 12h Louis Rigal Alfa Romeo P2 Report 18 Aug V Grand Prix du Comminges Saint-Gaudens Formula Libre ? 390 km 2h 48m Philippe Étancelin Bugatti Type 35C Report 22 Aug/2 Sep VI Grand Prix de la Baule La Baule Formula Libre ? 100 km 46m Philippe Étancelin Bugatti Type 35C Report 10 15 Sep II Gran Premio di Monza Monza Formula Libre,heats hot 100 km 31m Achille Varzi Alfa Romeo P2 Report 11 29 Sep IV Circuito di Cremona Cremona Formula Libre cloudy 320 km 1h 47m Conte Gastone Brilli-Peri Alfa Romeo P2 Report 12 17 Nov II I Grand Prix de Tunisie Le Bardo Formula Libre sunny 320 km 2h 23m Conte Gastone Brilli-Peri Alfa Romeo P2 Report
Teams and drivers These tables only intend to cover entries in the major races, as keyed above. Sources: Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre Driver Rounds Usines Bugatti Bugatti Type 35C Bugatti 2.0L S8 s/c Albert Divo 3, 4, 7 Conte Caberto Conelli 3, 7 Ferdinando Minoia 3 William Grover-Williams 3*, , 7 Louis Wagner 3 Officine Alfieri Maserati SpA Maserati Tipo V4Tipo 26BTipo 26RTipo 26 Maserati 4.0L 2x8 twin s/c Maserati 2.0L S8 s/c Maserati 1.7L S8 s/c Maserati 1.5L S8 s/c Ernesto Maserati 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 12 Baconin Borzacchini 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, 12 Luigi Fagioli 2, 4, Alfieri Maserati 6*, 10 Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 6C-1750 SS Alfa Romeo 6C-1750 GS Alfa Romeo P2 Alfa Romeo 1.75L S6 s/c Alfa Romeo 1.75L S6 s/c Alfa Romeo 2.0L S8 s/c Conte Gastone Brilli-Peri 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 12 Achille Varzi 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 12 Giuseppe Campari 3, 8 Tazio Nuvolari 8 Daimler-Benz AG Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz SSKMercedes-Benz 1921 Mercedes-Benz 7.1L S6 s/cMercedes-Benz 4.5L S4 s/c Rudolf Caracciola 1, August Momberger 10 Adolf Rosenberger 10 Officine Meccaniche O.M. 665 SMM O.M. 2.0L S 6 Archimede Rosa , 6, 8 Giuseppe Morandi , 6, 8 SA des Autos et Cycles Peugeot Peugeot 174 S Peugeot 4.0L S 4 André Boillot 7 Guy Bouriat 7 Duesenberg BrosDuesenberg Type 91Duesenberg 1.5L S8 s/c Jimmy Gleason 5 Bill Spence † 5 Freddie Winnai 5 Lora L. Corum 5* Roscoe Ford 5* Thane Houser 5* Ernie Triplett 5* Cooper EngineeringMarmon Motor Car Company Cooper-Miller Type 91 FD Miller 1.5L S8 s/cMiller 1.5L S8 s/c Russ Snowberger 5 Fred Frame 5 Johnny Seymour 5 Scuderia Materassi TalbotBugatti 700 GPLBType 37A Talbot 1.5L S8 s/c Bugatti 1.5L S4 s/c Conte Gastone Brilli-Peri 2, 6 Luigi Arcangeli 2, 4, 8, 10, 11 Carlo Maria Pintacuda 4 Tazio Nuvolari 10, 11 Scuderia Nuvolari BugattiAlfa Romeo Type 35C6C-1750 SS Bugatti 2.0L S8 s/c Alfa Romeo 1.75L S6 s/c Tazio Nuvolari [ 2], 4, 6 Bill White Race Cars Duesenberg Type 91 Miller 1.5L S8 s/c Babe Stapp 5 Boyle Valve Miller Type 91 FD Miller 1.5L S8 s/c Cliff Woodbury 5 Pete DePaolo 5 Billy Arnold 5 Red Robert 5* Packard Cable Miller Type 91 FD Miller 1.5L S8 s/c “Leon Duray” 5, 10 Ralph Hepburn 5 Tony Gulotta 5 Edmond Bourlier M. A. Yagle Miller Type 91 Miller 1.5L S8 s/c Ray Keech † 5 Reed & Mulligan Miller Type 91 Miller 1.5L S8 s/c Bert Karnatz 5 / Herman Schurch 5 Jack Buxton 5* Thompson Products Amilcar Amilcar 1.5L Jules Moriceau 5 Tommy Milton Detroit Type 91 Miller 1.5L S8 s/c Pete Kreis 5
Significant Privateer drivers Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Driver Rounds Private Entrant Bugatti Type 35C Type 35B Bugatti 2.0L S8 s/c Bugatti 2.3L S8 s/c / Georges Bouriano , 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11 Private Entrant SalmsonBugattiBugatti . Type 37A Type 35C Salmson 1.1L Bugatti 1.5L S4 s/c Bugatti 2.0L S8 s/c Clemente Biondetti 1, , 4, 6, 9 Private Entrant Bugatti Type 37A Type 35B Bugatti 1.5L S4 s/c Bugatti 2.3L S8 s/c René Dreyfus 1, 9, 12 Private Entrant Bugatti Type 35A Type 35B Bugatti 2.0L S8 s/c Bugatti 2.3L S8 s/c Philippe Étancelin 1, 9, 12 Private Entrant Alfa Romeo 6C-1500 6C-1750 GS Alfa Romeo 1.5L S6 s/c Alfa Romeo 1.75L S6 s/c Pietro Ghersi , 2, 8 Private Entrant Bugatti Type 37A Type 35B Bugatti 1.5L S4 s/c Bugatti 2.3L S8 s/c Marcel Lehoux 1, 9, 12 Private Entrant Bugatti Type 35C Type 44Type 35B Bugatti 2.0L S8 s/c Bugatti 3.0L S8 Bugatti 2.3L S8 s/c Philippe de Rothschild (“Philippe”) 1, 7, 9 Private Entrant Maserati Tipo 26B Maserati 2.0L S8 s/c Cleto Nenzioni 2, 4, 6, 10, Private Entrant Bugatti Type 35B Type 37A Bugatti 2.3L S8 s/c Bugatti 1.5L S4 s/c Juan Zanelli 2, , 9, 10 Private Entrant Bugatti Type 35B Type 35C Bugatti 2.3L S8 s/c Bugatti 2.0L S8 s/c Giulio Foresti 3, 4, 9, 10, Private Entrant Miller Type 91 FD Miller 1.5L S8 s/c Cliff Bergere 5 Private Entrant Bugatti Type 35C Bugatti 2.0L S8 s/c Louis Chiron 5, 9, Private Entrant Miller Type 91 Miller 1.5L S8 s/c Louis Meyer 5 Private Entrant Bugatti Type 35B Bugatti 2.3L S8 s/c Robert Sénéchal 7 Note: * raced in event as a relief driver. Those in brackets show, although entered, the driver did not race Note: † driver killed during this racing season
Regulations and Technical The AIACR recognised the tight economic times were limiting manufacturer involvement in the sport. Having opened up to Formula Libre engine regulations (with only a minimum 1.1-litre capacity) in the last season, for this year the minimum weight was lifted to 900 kg. The Grands Prix were still to be at least 600 km long, but now a consumption limitation was added where no more than 14.5 kg per 100 km (14.5 mpg) of petrol could be consumed. The fuel had to be carried in an external fuel-tank with a visible fuel gauge.Venables 2009, p.56 A new dispensation was added, now allowing two mechanics to assist the driver during pit-stops. Nominally set up for seven races in seven countries, the planned World Championship was abandoned when most organisations disavowed the AIACR regulations. In fact, only the French and Spanish races met the requirements.Cimarosti 1997, p.84
With racing in France in a malaise and Britain limited to Brooklands, the focus for grand-prix racing moved to the Mediterranean – particularly Italy, but also Spain, the French Riviera and northern Africa. One of the latest additions would gain great fame as an icon race: the brainchild of Antony Noghès, the 3 km Monaco circuit ran through the streets of Monte Carlo, from the port up to the famous hotel and casino then back, via a tunnel, along the waterfront. Safety measures included painting the kerbstones white to help the drivers judge their cornering.Rendall 1993, p.125
The Targa Florio regulations were simplified to two classes: over and under 1100cc. The Coppa Florio was again run on the same course and to the same length as the Targa, however, only opened for the over-1100cc class.Fondi 2006, p.352-3