Million Franc Race
Encyclopedia
The Million Franc Race, or ‘Prix du Million’, was an effort in 1937 by the French Popular Front
to induce French automobile manufacturers to develop race cars capable of competing with the incredibly advanced German
Mercedes-Benz
and Auto Union
racers of the time, which were backed by the Nazi
government in a (largely successful) attempt to dominate the sport, in order to 'prove the superiority of the Aryan race
'. The prize money was a million franc
s, and in order to ensure that the competition tested each car's ultimate limits rather than just the driver's skill in passing other drivers, the race was a time trial
against the clock at the treacherous Autodrome de Montlhéry
track, which had taken the life of the great Antonio Ascari
.
Each car had to drive sixteen laps (200 kilometres (124.3 mi)) at an average speed of at least 146 km/h (91 mph) from a standing start. René Dreyfus
was hired by Delahaye
to drive their model 145 in testing and in the competition itself, where he risked death by setting a literally blistering pace, wearing the special Dunlop
tires down to the fabric, but handily overwhelming all competitors except the Bugatti
team. On the last day of the competition, the Bugatti entry, driven by Jean-Pierre Wimille
, arrived. After spending most of the day repairing various mechanical problems, towards sundown the Bugatti took to the track for their run, accompanied by Dreyfus in the Delahaye in an attempt to protect his incipient victory. The two drivers pushed each other to incredible speed, until the Bugatti once again broke under the strain, ensuring Delahaye the prize.
The victorious Delahaye 145, known as the 'Million Franc Delahaye', was driven by Dreyfus in 1938 at the Pau Grand Prix, a tight circuit running through village streets, where he beat the legendary Rudolf Caracciola
and his all-conquering 480 hp Silver Arrow
, becoming a national hero in France.
When the Germans seized control of France during World War II
, the 'Million Franc Delahaye' was disassembled and hidden by sentimental French patriots to prevent it from falling into German hands, and its whereabouts subsequently became unknown. Since then, two different cars have surfaced with credible claims to be the 'Million Franc Delahaye', with two different collectors claiming the privilege of owning this unique automotive piece of history.
Popular Front (France)
The Popular Front was an alliance of left-wing movements, including the French Communist Party , the French Section of the Workers' International and the Radical and Socialist Party, during the interwar period...
to induce French automobile manufacturers to develop race cars capable of competing with the incredibly advanced German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
and Auto Union
Auto Union
Auto Union was an amalgamation of four German automobile manufacturers, founded in 1932 and established in 1936 in Chemnitz, Saxony, during the Great Depression. The company has evolved into present day Audi, as a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group....
racers of the time, which were backed by the Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
government in a (largely successful) attempt to dominate the sport, in order to 'prove the superiority of the Aryan race
Nazism and race
Nazism developed several theories concerning races. The Nazis claimed to scientifically measure a strict hierarchy of human race; at the top was the master race, the "Aryan race", narrowly defined by the Nazis as being identical with the Nordic race, followed by lesser races.At the bottom of this...
'. The prize money was a million franc
Franc
The franc is the name of several currency units, most notably the Swiss franc, still a major world currency today due to the prominence of Swiss financial institutions and the former currency of France, the French franc until the Euro was adopted in 1999...
s, and in order to ensure that the competition tested each car's ultimate limits rather than just the driver's skill in passing other drivers, the race was a time trial
Time trial
In many racing sports an athlete will compete in a time trial against the clock to secure the fastest time. In cycling, for example, a time trial can be a single track cycling event, or an individual or team time trial on the road, and either or both of the latter may form components of...
against the clock at the treacherous Autodrome de Montlhéry
Autodrome de Montlhéry
Autodrome de Montlhéry is an automobile racetrack, officially called L’autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry, located across the towns of Linas Bruyères-le-Châtel and Ollainville, outside Paris in the southside....
track, which had taken the life of the great Antonio Ascari
Antonio Ascari
Antonio Ascari was an Italian Grand Prix motor racing champion.Antonio Ascari was born near Mantua, in the Lombardy region of Italy, as the son of a corn dealer. He began racing cars at the top levels in Italy in 1919, using a modified 1914 Fiat...
.
Each car had to drive sixteen laps (200 kilometres (124.3 mi)) at an average speed of at least 146 km/h (91 mph) from a standing start. René Dreyfus
René Dreyfus
René Dreyfus was a French driver who raced automobiles for 14 years in the 1920s and 1930s, the Golden Era of Grand Prix motor racing.-Early life:...
was hired by Delahaye
Delahaye
Delahaye automobile manufacturing company was started by Emile Delahaye in 1894, in Tours, France. His first cars were belt-driven, with single- or twin-cylinder engines. In 1900, Delahaye left the company.-History:...
to drive their model 145 in testing and in the competition itself, where he risked death by setting a literally blistering pace, wearing the special Dunlop
Dunlop Rubber
Dunlop Rubber was a company based in the United Kingdom which manufactured tyres and other rubber products for most of the 20th century. It was acquired by BTR plc in 1985. Since then, ownership of the Dunlop trade-names has been fragmented.-Early history:...
tires down to the fabric, but handily overwhelming all competitors except the Bugatti
Bugatti
Automobiles E. Bugatti was a French car manufacturer founded in 1909 in Molsheim, Alsace, as a manufacturer of high-performance automobiles by Italian-born Ettore Bugatti....
team. On the last day of the competition, the Bugatti entry, driven by Jean-Pierre Wimille
Jean-Pierre Wimille
Jean-Pierre Wimille was a Grand Prix motor racing driver and a member of the French Resistance during World War II.-Biography:...
, arrived. After spending most of the day repairing various mechanical problems, towards sundown the Bugatti took to the track for their run, accompanied by Dreyfus in the Delahaye in an attempt to protect his incipient victory. The two drivers pushed each other to incredible speed, until the Bugatti once again broke under the strain, ensuring Delahaye the prize.
The victorious Delahaye 145, known as the 'Million Franc Delahaye', was driven by Dreyfus in 1938 at the Pau Grand Prix, a tight circuit running through village streets, where he beat the legendary Rudolf Caracciola
Rudolf Caracciola
Otto Wilhelm Rudolf Caracciola , more commonly Rudolf Caracciola , was a racing driver from Remagen, Germany. He won the European Drivers' Championship, the pre-1950 equivalent of the modern Formula One World Championship, an unsurpassed three times...
and his all-conquering 480 hp Silver Arrow
Silver Arrow
Silver Arrow may refer to:* The Silver Arrows, a number of German racing cars* The Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow, a luxury car* A former rail/air service between London and Paris , jointly operated by Silver City , British Rail and SNCF...
, becoming a national hero in France.
When the Germans seized control of France during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the 'Million Franc Delahaye' was disassembled and hidden by sentimental French patriots to prevent it from falling into German hands, and its whereabouts subsequently became unknown. Since then, two different cars have surfaced with credible claims to be the 'Million Franc Delahaye', with two different collectors claiming the privilege of owning this unique automotive piece of history.