Pierre Raymond Sommer was a French racing driver. He raced both before and after WWII with some success, particularly in endurance racing. He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race in both 1932 and 1933, and although he did not reach the finishing line in any subsequent appearance at the Le Mans, he did lead each event until 1938. Sommer was also competitive at the highest level in Grand Prix motor racing, but did not win a race. He won the French Grand Prix in 1936, but the event that year was run as a sports car race.
Jean-Pierre Wimille was a French racing driver and a member of the French Resistance during World War II. He was a two-time victor of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, winning in 1937 and 1939. He is generally regarded as one of the best French drivers of his era.
The 35th International 500-Mile Sweepstakes was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Wednesday, May 30, 1951. The event was part of the 1951 AAA National Championship Trail, and was also race 2 of 8 in the 1951 World Championship of Drivers. For the second year in a row, no European Formula One-based teams entered the race.
The 1951 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 16 September 1951 at Monza. It was race 7 of 8 in the 1951 World Championship of Drivers.
The 1950 Formula One season was the fourth season of the FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the inaugural FIA World Championship of Drivers, which was contested over seven races between 13 May and 3 September 1950. The only one outside of Europe was the Indianapolis 500, which was run to AAA National Championship regulations. No Formula One drivers competed in the Indy 500 or vice versa. Finally, the season also included several non-championship races for Formula One cars.
The Pau Grand Prix is a motor race held in Pau, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of southwestern France. The French Grand Prix was held at Pau in 1930, leading to the annual Pau Grand Prix being inaugurated in 1933. It was not run during World War II and in 2020–2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Alfa Romeo Tipo 308 or 8C-308 is a Grand Prix racing car made for the 3 litre class in 1938. Only four cars were produced, actually modified from Tipo C with the engine mounted lower into the chassis and a slimmer body. The chassis was derived from the Tipo C and the engine from the 8C 2900. The 308 was engineered by Gioacchino Colombo under the control of Enzo Ferrari who was then in charge of Alfa's racing team, Alfa Corse. The car debuted at the Pau Grand Prix in 1938, where two cars were entered to race, one for Tazio Nuvolari and the other for Luigi Villoresi. Both drivers had to withdraw from competition, however Nuvolari had by then set a lap record. The next race was the Tripoli Grand Prix. The new 312 and 316 were entered, but they had engine trouble during practice and Clemente Biondetti took the start at the wheel of the 308 held in reserve. He failed to finish, while Hermann Lang, driving a Mercedes-Benz W154, was the winner. In this race, Eugenio Siena, driving a 312, was killed after hitting a wall.
The 1947 Swiss Grand Prix was a Grand Prix motor race held at Bremgarten on 8 June 1947.
The 1949 Roussillon Grand Prix was a Grand Prix motor race held at Circuit des Platanes de Perpignan on 8 May 1949. The Grand Prix was raced in two 50 laps sessions, with the final standing given by the addition of the two results.
The 1946 Roussillon Grand Prix was a Grand Prix motor race held at Circuit des Platanes de Perpignan on 30 June 1946.
Results from the III Grand Prix du Roussillon held at Circuit des platanes de Perpignan on April 25, 1948, as Formula Two. The Grand Prix is raced in 40 laps with the best drivers from the two 27 laps heats.
The 1949 Swiss Grand Prix was a Grand Prix motor race which was held at Bremgarten on 3 July 1949. The race was won by Alberto Ascari driving a Ferrari 125. Ascari's team mate Luigi Villoresi was second and Raymond Sommer was third in a Talbot-Lago T26C. Giuseppe Farina set pole and fastest lap in his Maserati 4CLT/48 but retired with mechanical problems.
The 1947 French Grand Prix was a Grand Prix motor race held at Lyon-Parilly on 21 September 1947 and was won by Louis Chiron driving a Talbot-Lago. The race was marred by an accident involving Pierre Levegh crashing into and killing 2 spectators.
The 1946 Nice Grand Prix was a Grand Prix motor race held at Nice in France on Monday, 22 April 1946. According to some sources this was the first official Formula 1 race.
The 1949 Zandvoort Grand Prix was a non-championship Formula One race held on 31 July 1949 at Circuit Zandvoort.
The 9th Grand Prix de l'Albigeois was a Formula One motor race held on 13 July 1947 at Les Planques circuit in Albi in the Tarn department of France. The winner of the 40 lap race was Louis Rosier in a Talbot-Lago T150SS. Second was Raymond Sommer in a Simca Gordini Type 11 and Charles Pozzi was third in a Delahaye 135. Maserati drivers Henri Louveau and Luigi Villoresi set pole and fastest lap respectively, but both retired.
The 3rd Grand Prix du Salon was a Formula One motor race held on 16 November 1947 at the Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry, in Montlhéry near Paris.
The 1st Jersey Road Race was a Formula One motor race held on 8 May 1947 at the St. Helier Circuit in Saint Helier, Jersey. The 50-lap race was won by Reg Parnell in a Maserati 4CL. Louis Chiron finished second in another 4CL and Raymond Mays was third in an ERA D-Type. B. Bira started from pole position in a Maserati 4C but retired with engine problems. Raymond Sommer, also in a Maserati, set fastest lap but also retired.
The VI Grand Prix de Marseille was a Formula One motor race held on 18 May 1947 at Prado in Marseille. The race was held over 69 laps and was won by Eugène Chaboud in a Talbot-Lago MC. Enrico Platé was second in a Maserati 4CL and Henri Louveau third in a Delage 3L. Raymond Sommer was on pole position, and set joint fastest lap with Luigi Villoresi; both retired their Maseratis with mechanical problems.
The 6th Grand Prix de Nice was a Grand Prix motor race held at Nice in France on 20 July 1947. The race was won by Luigi Villoresi, who started from pole, in a Maserati 4CL. Jean-Pierre Wimille was second in a Simca Gordini Type 15 and Fred Ashmore and Reg Parnell shared third place in an ERA A-Type, Parnell's own car having retired with gearbox problems. Raymond Sommer set fastest lap in a Maserati 4CL but retired after his car caught fire.
Raymond Sommer