1908 French Grand Prix

Infobox Grand Prix race report
Type = GP
Grand Prix = French
Date = July 7
Year = 1908
Official name = Grand Prix de l'Automobile Club de France
Country = France
Location = Dieppe, France
Course = Public roads
Course_mi = 47.840
Course_km = 76.989
Distance_laps = 10
Distance_mi = 478.400
Distance_km = 769.889
Fast_Driver = Otto Salzer
Fast_Team = Mercedes
Fast_Time = 36:31.0
Fast_Country = Germany
Fast_flag_suffix = empire
First_Driver = Christian Lautenschlager
First_Team = Mercedes
First_Country = Germany
First_flag_suffix = empire
Second_Driver = Victor Hémery
Second_Team = Benz
Second_Country = France
Third_Driver = René Hanriot
Third_Team = Benz
Third_Country = France

The 1908 French Grand Prix took place at Dieppe on 7th July 1908.

Formula Changes

The race was ran under a new formula agreed in Ostend in 1907. There was no fuel consumption limit, but the cars had a minimum weight of 1100 kilograms, and a maximum cylinder bore of 155 millimetres. [cite web
last=Etzrodt
first=Hans
title=Grand Prix Winners 1895-1949. History and Formulae.
date=2007-06-19
url=http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gpw5.htm
accessdate=2007-10-18] This formula differed from the regulations in place for the American Vanderbilt Cup series, which discouraged American manufacturers from entering the race. [citation
title=Foreign Autoists Eager for Racing
newspaper = The New York Times
date=1908-01-06
url=http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C04E6DB173EE233A25755C0A9679C946997D6CF
accessdate=2007-10-18] Lewis Strang drove the single American entrant, the Thomas Flyer. [citation
title=The American Car in Grand Prix Race
newspaper = The New York Times
date=1908-05-03
url=http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F05E3DC1631E233A25750C0A9639C946997D6CF
accessdate=2007-10-27]

The Race

Christian Lautenschlager won the race in his Mercedes finishing nearly nine minutes ahead of Victor Hémery's Benz. Lautenschlager's average speed for the race was convert|69.045|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on. Otto Salzer set fastest lap in his Mercedes, with an average speed of over convert|78|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on. [cite book
last=Higham
first=Peter
title=The Guinness Guide to International Motor Racing
publisher=Guinness Publishing
date=1995
pages=194-195
isbn=0-85112-642-1] [cite web
title=1908 Grands Prix.
url=http://www.teamdan.com/archive/gen/1908/1908.html#acf
accessdate=2007-10-29] The race was notable for tragic reasons. Henri Cissac's car lost a tyre and rolled, killing Cissac and Schaube, his riding mechanic. [citation
title=Dieppe Grand Prix Kills Two Racers
newspaper = The New York Times
date=1908-07-08
url=http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C0CEED8153EE233A2575BC0A9619C946997D6CF
accessdate=2007-10-27] This was the first fatal accident in Grand Prix history. [cite web
title=Motorsport Memorial - Henri Cissac.
url=http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=788
accessdate=2007-10-27]

Classification

Grand Prix race report
Name_of_race = French Grand Prix
Year_of_race = 1908
Previous_race_in_season = None
Next_race_in_season = None
Previous_year's_race = 1907 French Grand Prix
Next_year's_race = 1912 French Grand Prix

References