The 1934 French Grand Prix (formally the XXVIII Grand Prix de l'Automobile Club de France) was a Grand Prix motor race held on 1 July 1934 at Montlhéry. The race comprised 40 laps of a 12.5 km circuit, for a total race distance of 500.0 km. This race was the first outside of Germany to see the Silver ArrowsofAuto Union and Mercedes-Benz, which would go on to dominate Grand Prix racing until the start of World War II.
| 1934 French Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | 1 July 1934 | ||
| Official name | XXVIII Grand Prix de l'Automobile Club de France | ||
| Location | Montlhéry, France | ||
| Course | Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry | ||
| Course length | 12.50 km (7.767 miles) | ||
| Distance | 40 laps, 500.0 km (310.7 miles) | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Auto Union | ||
| Grid positions set by ballot | |||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver |
 Louis Chiron | Alfa Romeo | |
| Time | 5:06.0 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Alfa Romeo | ||
| Second | Alfa Romeo | ||
| Third |
 Guy Moll | Alfa Romeo | |
The race was won by Louis Chiron driving an Alfa Romeo. Chiron lead from the start, jumping the start to lead the first lap, but was quickly challenged by the Germans. Stuck, who made a poor start, was able to take the lead on lap 3, while down the field the Mercedes' and other Alfa Romeos and Auto Unions battled for the remaining places, while the Bugattis and Maseratis showed themselves to be totally outclassed. With Stuck's Auto Union slowing, Chiron retook the lead on lap 9. This he held to the end, as although he was pressured by the Mercedes of Fagioli and Caracciola, this ultimately came to nothing, as by the end of the race not a single German car was still running.[1]
| Grid | No | Driver | Car | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 |  Hermann zu Leiningen |
Auto UnionA | Did not start |
| 2 | 2 | Hans Stuck |
Auto UnionA | Raced Momberger's car |
| 3 | 6 |  Achille Varzi |
Alfa Romeo Tipo-B P3 | |
| 4 | 8 | Rudolf Caracciola |
Mercedes-Benz W25 | |
| 5 | 4 | August Momberger |
Auto UnionA | Raced zu Leiningen's car |
| 6 | 12 | Louis Chiron |
Alfa Romeo Tipo-B P3 | |
| 7 | 14 | Tazio Nuvolari |
Bugatti T59 | |
| 8 | 16 | Robert Benoist |
Bugatti T59 | |
| 9 | 18 | René Dreyfus |
Bugatti T59 | |
| 10 | 20 | Carlo Felice Trossi |
Alfa Romeo Tipo-B P3 | |
| 11 | 22 | Manfred von Brauchitsch |
Mercedes-Benz W25 | |
| 12 | 24 | Goffredo Zehender |
Maserati 8C | |
| 13 | 26 | Philippe Étancelin |
Maserati 8CM | |
| 14 | 30 | Luigi Fagioli |
Mercedes-Benz W25 |
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Laps | Time/Retire | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | Louis Chiron |
Alfa Romeo Tipo-B P3 | 40 | 3h39m14.6 | |||
| 2 | 6 | Achille Varzi |
Alfa Romeo Tipo-B P3 | 40 | 3h42m31.9 | |||
| 3 | 20 | Carlo Felice Trossi Guy Moll |
Alfa Romeo Tipo-B P3 | 40 | 3h43m23.8 | |||
| 4 | 16 | Robert Benoist |
Bugatti T59 | 36 | +4 laps | |||
| Ret | 24 | Goffredo Zehender |
Maserati 8C | 33 | Rear axle attachment | |||
| Ret | 2 | Hans Stuck |
Auto UnionA | 32 | Engine | |||
| Ret | 14 | Tazio Nuvolari Jean-Pierre Wimille |
Bugatti T59 | 17 | Transmission | |||
| Ret | 18 | René Dreyfus |
Bugatti T59 | 16 | Engine | |||
| Ret | 8 | Rudolf Caracciola |
Mercedes-Benz W25 | 15 | Fuel feed | |||
| Ret | 30 | Luigi Fagioli |
Mercedes-Benz W25 | 14 | Brakes | |||
| Ret | 22 | Manfred von Brauchitsch |
Mercedes-Benz W25 | 11 | Supercharger | |||
| Ret | 26 | Philippe Étancelin |
Maserati 8CM | 11 | Engine | |||
| Ret | 4 | August Momberger |
Auto UnionA | 10 | Steering | |||
| DNS | 10 | Hermann zu Leiningen |
Auto UnionA | DNS (Unwell)[1] | ||||
| DNS | Ernst Henne |
Mercedes-Benz W25 | Reserve driver, practiced | |||||
| DNS |  Peter de Paolo |
Maserati 8CM | Entered, but injured in Penya Rhin | |||||
| DNS | Raymond Sommer |
S.E.F.A.C. | DNS[1] | |||||
| References:[1][2][3] | ||||||||
| Grand Prix Race | ||
|---|---|---|
| Previous race: 1934 Monaco Grand Prix |
1934 Grand Prix season Grandes Épreuves |
Next race: 1934 German Grand Prix |
| Previous race: 1933 French Grand Prix |
French Grand Prix | Next race: 1935 French Grand Prix |