1934 Grand Prix season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Grid of the 1934 French Grand Prix, which was won by Louis Chiron.

The 1934 Grand Prix season was the final year of a two-year hiatus for the AIACR European Championship. Achille Varzi proved to be the most successful driver, winning six Grands Prix. Alfa Romeo's cars proved difficult to beat, winning 18 of the season's 35 Grands Prix.

Grand Épreuves[]

Date Name[1] Circuit Race
Regulations 		Weather Race
Distance 		Winner's
Time 		Winning driver Winning
constructor 		Fastest
lap 		Report
1 2 Apr Monaco VI Grand Prix de Monaco Monte Carlo AIACR sunny 320 km 3h 32m Algeria Guy Moll Alfa Romeo Tipo B Carlo Felice Trossi
Alfa Romeo 		Report
30 May United States XXII International 500 Mile
Sweepstakes 		Indianapolis AAA sunny 500 miles 4h 46m United States Bill Cummings Miller FD not recorded Report
2 1 Jul France XXVIII Grand Prix de l’ACF Montlhéry AIACR hot 500 km 3h 39m Monaco Louis Chiron Alfa Romeo Tipo B Louis Chiron
Alfa Romeo 		Report
3 15 Jul Germany VII Grosser Preis von Deutschland Nürburgring AIACR overcast 570 km 4h 38m Germany Hans Stuck Auto Union Type A Hans Stuck
Auto Union 		Report
4 29 Jul Belgium V Grand Prix de Belgique Spa-Francorchamps AIACR rain 360 km 4h 15m France René Dreyfus Bugatti Type 59 Antonio Brivio
Bugatti 		Report
1 Sep United Kingdom XIII RAC Tourist Trophy Ards-Belfast[2] sports,
handicap 		480 miles 6h 13m United Kingdom Charles Dodson MG NE Magnette Eddie Hall
Bentley
5 9 Sep Italy XII Gran Premio d’Italia Monza AIACR hot 500 km 4h 46m Germany Rudolf Caracciola
Italy Luigi Fagioli 		Mercedes-Benz W25 Hans Stuck
Auto Union 		Report
6 23 Sep Spain IX Gran Premio de España Lasarte AIACR sunny 520 km 3h 20m Italy Luigi Fagioli Mercedes-Benz W25 Hans Stuck
Auto Union 		Report

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:[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]

Major Races[]

Multiple classes are mentioned when they were divided and run to different race lengths.

Date Name Circuit Race
Regulations 		Weather Race
Distance 		Winner's
Time 		Winning driver Winning
constructor 		Report
18 Feb Sweden I Vallentunaloppet Vallentunasjön[12] Formula Libre sunny 40 km 20m Germany Paul Pietsch Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza
France Grand Prix de Pau Pau[13] cancelled[1]
25 Feb Sweden Sveriges Vinter Grand Prix Lake Rämen[14] cancelled[1]
Norway I Norges Grand Prix
(III Mjøsløpet) 		Lake Mjøsa, Lillehammer[15] Formula Libre 150 km 1h 20m Sweden Per-Viktor Widengren Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza
19 Mar Australia VII Australian Grand Prix Phillip Island[16] Formula Libre
handicap 		sunny 200 miles 3h 12m Australia Bob Lea-Wright Singer Nine Report
22 Apr Italy X Circuito di Alessandria
(Circuito Pietro Bordino) 		Alessandria[17] Formula Libre,
heats 		heavy rain 120 km 53m Italy Achille Varzi Alfa Romeo Tipo B
29 Apr Tunisia Grand Prix de Tunisie Carthage cancelled[1]
A 6 May Libya VIII Gran Premio di Tripoli
(II Lotteria di Tripoli) 		Mellaha[18] Formula Libre sunny 525 km 2h 49m Italy Achille Varzi Alfa Romeo Tipo B
13 May Finland III Eläintarhanajot
(Djurgårdsloppet) 		Eläintarharata Formula Libre overcast 100 km 59m Norway Eugen Bjørnstad Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza
20 May Italy XXV Targa Florio Piccolo Madonie[19] Targa Florio heavy rain 430 km 6h 14m Italy Achille Varzi Alfa Romeo Tipo B
Belgium IX Grand Prix des Frontières Chimay[20] Formula Libre 160 km 1h 23m Belgium Willy Longueville Bugatti Type 35B
France III Grand Prix de Casablanca /
(Grand Prix du Maroc) 		Anfa Circuit Formula Libre hot 380 km 2h 56m Monaco Louis Chiron Alfa Romeo Tipo B
France Grand Prix de Nîmes Nîmes[21] cancelled[1]
21 May Hungary Budapest Grand Prix Népliget Park[22] cancelled[1]
B 27 May Germany IV Internationales Avusrennen AVUS Formula Libre rain then overcast 290 km 1h 26m Algeria Guy Moll Alfa Romeo Tipo B streamliner Report
France X Grand Prix de Picardie Péronne[23] Formula Libre sunny 200 km 1h 32m France Benoît Falchetto Maserati 8CM
2 Jun[24] /
(14 Jun[4]) 		United Kingdom II Mannin Moar Douglas Formula Libre hot 180 miles 2h 26m United Kingdom Brian Lewis, Baron Essendon Alfa Romeo Tipo B Report
C 3 Jun Germany XII Eifelrennen Nürburgring Formula Libre
Voiturette 		overcast 340 km 2h 48m Germany Manfred von Brauchitsch Mercedes-Benz W25
Switzerland Grand Prix de Montreaux Montreux[25] Formula Libre sunny 105 km 2h 57m Italy Conde Carlo Felice Trossi Alfa Romeo Tipo B
5 Jun Poland Grand Prix Lwowa
(Großer Preis von Lemberg) 		Lviv[26][27] cancelled[1]
17 Jun Spain IV Gran Premio de Penya Rhin Montjuïc Park Formula Libre sunny 270 km 2h 33m Italy Achille Varzi Alfa Romeo Tipo B
24 Jun Italy Gran Premio di Monza Monza cancelled[1]
France Grand Prix de Lorraine Seichamps[23] cancelled[1]
D 8 Jul France IX Grand Prix de la Marne Reims-Gueux Formula Libre hot 500 km 3h 26m Monaco Louis Chiron Alfa Romeo Tipo B
15 Jul France Grand Prix de Vichy Vichy[28] Formula Libre,
heats 		rain then overcast 140 km 1h 46m Italy Conde Carlo Felice Trossi Alfa Romeo Tipo B
22 Jul Italy VIII Coppa Ciano Montenero Formula Libre
Voiturette 		sunny 240 km 2h 50m Italy Achille Varzi Alfa Romeo Tipo B
France II Grand Prix de l'Albigeois Les Planques, Albi[29][30] Formula Libre 270 km 1h 52m United Kingdom Rupert "Buddy" Featherstonhaugh Maserati Tipo 26M
France VI Grand Prix de Dieppe Dieppe Formula Libre,
heats 		sunny 242 km
(winner) 		2 hours France Philippe Étancelin Maserati 8CM
5 Aug Sweden Sveriges Sommer Grand Prix Norra Vram[31] cancelled[1]
Luxembourg Grosser Preis von Luxemburg cancelled[1]
12 Aug France Grand Prix de la Baule La Baule beach[32] cancelled[1]
E 15 Aug Italy X Coppa Acerbo Pescara[33] Formula Libre rain 520 km 3h 59m Italy Luigi Fagioli Mercedes-Benz W25
19 Aug France III Grand Prix de Nice Nice[34] Formula Libre hot 320 km 3h 02m Italy Achille Varzi Alfa Romeo Tipo B
France Grand Prix de Marseille Miramas[35] cancelled[1]
F 26 Aug Switzerland I Grosser Preis der Schweiz Bremgarten Formula Libre sunny 510 km 3h 38m Germany Hans Stuck Auto Union Type A Report
France X Grand Prix du Comminges Saint-Gaudens[36] Formula Libre sunny 390 km 2h 41m Italy Gianfranco Comotti Alfa Romeo Tipo B
2 Sep Italy Circuito di Biella Biella[37] Formula Libre,
heats 		sunny 90 km 1h 03m Italy Conde Carlo Felice Trossi Alfa Romeo Tipo B
9 Sep France I Grand Prix de l’UMF Montlhéry Formula Libre
Voiturette 		? 90 km 39mins France Benoît Falchetto Maserati 8CM
G 30 Sep Czechoslovakia V Masarykuv Okruh Masaryk-Ring,[38][39]
Brno 		Formula Libre hot 500 km 3h 53m Germany Hans Stuck Auto Union Type A
3 Oct Brazil II Grande Prêmio da Cidade de
Rio de Janeiro 		Gávea[40] Formula Libre sunny 280 km 3h 56m Brazil Irineu Corrêa Ford Special
6 Oct United Kingdom II Donington Park Trophy Donington Park Formula Libre rain 85 km 46mins United States/United Kingdom Whitney Straight Maserati 8CM
14 Oct Italy III Circuito di Modena Modena[41] Formula Libre overcast 130 km 1h 11m Italy Tazio Nuvolari Maserati 6C-34
21 Oct Italy Coppa Principessa di Piemonte Posillipo[42] Formula Libre,
heats 		rain 200 km 2h 10m Italy Tazio Nuvolari Maserati 6C-34
28 Oct France IV Grand Prix d'Algérie Bouzaréah Formula Libre,
heats 		hot 120 km 2h 28m France Jean-Pierre Wimille Bugatti Type 59

Regulations[]

The 1934 season was a landmark year, which saw the introduction of the new 750 kg formula. The trend to now from the manufacturers had been to build bigger engines to get more power. So it was seen as the way to limit increasing speeds because the bigger engines and superchargers would weigh more. It effectively outlawed the Italian twin-engine models. However, it underestimated the advances made in metallurgy and using lightweight materials.[43] The regulations stipulated a maximum weight of 750 kg, calculated excluding the driver, fluids and tyres. The minimum width, at the driver's seat, had to be 850mm. There was no restriction on the choice of fuel that could be used.[1][44] In the USA the | AAA, facing the same issues, chose a fuel-consumption formula instead – 45 US gallons for the Indianapolis 500.[43]

The AIACR also stipulated that their Grand Épreuves had to run for a minimum of 500 km. They also formally recognised the voiturette class, with a 1.5-litre maximum. However, the revived interest in Grand Prix racing by both manufacturers and spectators saw the smaller category slip back into the shadow. This would later change as it got more expensive to be competitive and privateers retreated back to the smaller class.[1]

Teams and drivers[]

The previous season had seen its share of manoeuvring and upheaval, not helped by the sad loss of key drivers through the year in accidents. However, the advent of the new Championship saw the return of works racing teams. After a tumultuous year, the mercurial Nuvolari chose to remain an independent driver.[45] The Scuderia Ferrari was still the designated team for Alfa Romeo and received close support from that manufacturer, with its uprated model. Louis Chiron, recruited near the end of the previous season was retained, and joined by former Bugatti teammate Achille Varzi and Algerian rising star Guy Moll. Team stalwarts Conte Carlo Felice Trossi (Ferrari president) and Gianfranco Comotti were called upon as needed as were other Italians as the Scuderia attempted to cover as many races in as many formats as possible.[46]

Varzi had lost patience with Bugatti and its under-performing Type 59. In his stead, the team hired the young Jean-Pierre Wimille to join René Dreyfus, while Pierre Veyron competed in the voiturette races. They convinced Robert Benoist to come out of retirement, running his Bugatti garage in Paris, as well as offering Tazio Nuvolari a Type 59 (repainted red) for certain races.[47]

Despite its temperamental nature, the Maserati 8CM was available to privateers and was picked up by a number of teams, including the Gruppo Genovese San Giorgio, Scuderia Siena and Whitney Straight. The Maserati works effort was wound back, with Goffredo Zehender running in selective events. The company instead put more focus on building racing cars for sale. The smaller 4C voiturette models (4CM and 4CS) were proving very competitive and popular. One of the most competitive customer teams was the Scuderia Subalpina, with Luigi Castelbarco, Giovanni Lurani and the up-and-coming Giuseppe Farina.[46]

With the government backing, the two German teams entered racing with a patriotic line-up of all-German racers. The Auto Union team was managed by Willy Walb (who had driven the “Tropfenwagen” back in 1923). Their lead drivers would be Hans Stuck and Hermann, Prinz zu Leiningen, with August Momberger called out of retirement, and Wilhelm Sebastian as reserves.[46] The Mercedes team was led by Rudolf Caracciola, joined by young tearaway Manfred von Brauchitsch along with Hanns Geier and motorcycle racer Ernst Henne as a reserve (although Henne was seriously injured in a testing accident in March[48]). However, team manager Alfred Neubauer had some misgivings about Caracciola, after convalescing from serious injury for a year and then suffering the sudden death of his wife in a skiing accident in February. He therefore decided to hire Italian Luigi Fagioli for his experience and expertise.[46]

Race Results[]

Drivers' Race Results[]

Pos Driver Team MON
Monaco
Libya 		AVS
Germany
Germany 		FRA
France
France
Germany 		BEL
Belgium
Italy 		SUI
Switzerland 		ITA
Italy 		ESP
Spain
Czechoslovakia 		Pts
Germany Hans Stuck Auto Union AG Ret 2 Ret 1 Ret [5] 1 2 Ret [4] 1
Italy Luigi Fagioli Daimler-Benz AG DNS Ret Ret 2 1 6 Ret [1] 1 2
Algeria Guy Moll Scuderia Ferrari 1 2 1 [3] 2 Ret †
Monaco Louis Chiron Scuderia Ferrari 2 3 Ret 3 1 1 3 Ret Ret 5 4 10 Ret
Italy Achille Varzi Scuderia Ferrari 6 1 2 2 3 Ret Ret Ret [4] 4 Ret 5 5
Germany Rudolf Caracciola Daimler-Benz AG DNS DNS Ret Ret Ret [10] 1 2 Ret
France René Dreyfus Automobiles Ettore Bugatti 3 6 Ret 1 3 7
Germany Manfred von Brauchitsch Daimler-Benz AG DNS 1 Ret DNS Ret
Italy Tazio Nuvolari Private Entry
Automobiles Ettore Bugatti 		5 5 Ret Ret Ret 4 2 Ret 5 3 3
Germany August Momberger Auto Union AG 3 Ret Ret Ret 2 7
Italy Antonio Brivio Automobiles Ettore Bugatti 2 3 DNS 11
Italy Carlo-Felice Trossi Scuderia Ferrari Ret Ret 3 3 [Res]
France Raymond Sommer Private Entry Ret Ret 3
France Robert Benoist Automobiles Ettore Bugatti DNS 4 4 Ret
Germany Hermann zu Leiningen Auto Union AG Ret Ret DNS Ret Ret [2] 4 4
Germany Paul Pietsch Private Entry
Auto Union AG 		6 4 [Res]
United Kingdom Earl Howe Private Entry 10 4 5 Ret N/C 9
Italy Pietro Ghersi Scuderia Ferrari 4 7
Algeria Marcel Lehoux Scuderia Ferrari
Whitney Straight Ltd 		4 8
France Philippe Étancelin Private Entry Ret 4 Ret Ret
United Kingdom Hugh Hamilton Whitney Straight Ltd Ret DNS 4 Ret Ret †
Germany Wilhelm Sebastian Auto Union AG [Res] 5 [7] 7
Italy Clemente Biondetti Gruppo Genovese San Giorgio 5 Ret 8
United Kingdom Clifton Penn-Hughes Private Entry 5 Ret
Germany Hanns Geier Daimler-Benz AG 5 [10] [6]
France Charles Montier Private Entry 5
Germany Ernst Henne Daimler-Benz AG [Res] 6 Ret [Res] 6
Switzerland Ulrich Maag Private Entry 6 DSQ
Italy Luigi Soffietti Scuderia Siena 6 Ret 9
Italy Goffredo Zehender Officine Alfieri Maserati Ret Ret Ret 6 Ret Ret
Italy Gianfranco Comotti Scuderia Ferrari 6 [3] [10] Ret
France Jean-Pierre Wimille Automobiles Ettore Bugatti Ret Ret [Ret] 6 Ret
Pos Driver Team MON
Monaco
Libya 		AVS
Germany
Germany 		FRA
France
France
Germany 		BEL
Belgium
Italy 		SUI
Switzerland 		ITA
Italy 		ESP
Spain
Czechoslovakia 		Pts

Bold font indicates starting on pole position, while italics show the driver of the race's fastest lap.
Only those drivers with a best finish of 6th or better, or a fastest lap, are shown. Sources:[49][50][51]

Manufacturers' Race Results[]

Pos Manufacturer MON
Monaco
Libya 		AVS
Germany
Germany 		FRA
France
France
Germany 		BEL
Belgium
Italy 		SUI
Switzerland 		ITA
Italy 		ESP
Spain
Czechoslovakia
Italy Alfa Romeo 1 1 1 3 1 1 3 Ret 4 4 3 5 5
Germany Mercedes-Benz DNS 1 Ret 2 1 6 1 1 2
Germany Auto Union 3 2 Ret 1 5 1 2 4 1
Italy Maserati 7 4 4 Ret Ret 4 4 Ret 2 Ret 5 8
France Bugatti 3 6 7 4 5 7 Ret 3 3 9 3 8
United States Duesenberg 7
United States Miller 8
Colour Result Points
Gold Winner 1
Silver 2nd place 2
Bronze 3rd place 3
Green 4th place 4
Blue 5th place 5
Purple Other finisher /
Not classified / Retired 		6
Black Disqualified 7
White Did not start (DNS) /
Reserve [Res] 		7
Blank Did not arrive 7
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Golden Era of Grand Prix Racing". Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  2. ^ "British Circuits". Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  3. ^ "1934 Season". Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  4. ^ a b "TeamDan". Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  5. ^ "Speedfreaks.org". Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  6. ^ Rendall 1993, p.364
  7. ^ "6th Gear". Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  8. ^ "La Targa Florio". Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  9. ^ "ChampCar Stats". Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  10. ^ "MotorSport AAA results". Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  11. ^ "World Sports Racing Prototypes". Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  12. ^ "Scandinavian Circuits". Retrieved 2021-06-21.
  13. ^ "French Circuits". Retrieved 2020-10-12.
  14. ^ "Scandinavian Circuits". Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  15. ^ "Scandinavian Circuits". Retrieved 2021-06-21.
  16. ^ "Australian Circuits". Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  17. ^ "Italian Circuits". Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  18. ^ "African Circuits". Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  19. ^ "Italian Circuits". Retrieved 2020-11-28.
  20. ^ "Belgian Circuits". Retrieved 2020-09-15.
  21. ^ "French Circuits". Retrieved 2020-05-21.
  22. ^ "Hungarian Circuit". Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  23. ^ a b "French Circuits". Retrieved 2020-05-21.
  24. ^ "Golden Era of Grand Prix Racing". Retrieved 2021-06-23.
  25. ^ "Swiss Circuits". Retrieved 2021-06-22.
  26. ^ "Polish Circuits". Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  27. ^ Georgano 1971, p.109-110
  28. ^ "French Circuits". Retrieved 2020-05-21.
  29. ^ "French Circuits". Retrieved 2021-04-14.
  30. ^ Georgano 1971, p.60
  31. ^ "Scandinavian Circuits". Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  32. ^ "French Circuits". Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  33. ^ Georgano 1971, p.129-30
  34. ^ "French Circuits". Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  35. ^ "French Circuits". Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  36. ^ "French Circuits". Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  37. ^ "Italian Circuits". Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  38. ^ "Czech Circuits". Retrieved 2020-10-12.
  39. ^ Cimarosti 1997, p.88
  40. ^ "Brazilian Circuits". Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  41. ^ "Italian Circuits". Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  42. ^ "Italian Circuits". Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  43. ^ a b Rendall 1993, p.136
  44. ^ Cimarosti 1997, p.97
  45. ^ Rendall 1993, p.138
  46. ^ a b c d "1934 Lineup". Retrieved 2021-06-30.
  47. ^ Venables 2009, p.72
  48. ^ "1934 Monaco". Retrieved 2022-02-25.
  49. ^ "Golden Era of Grand Prix Racing". Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  50. ^ "TeamDan". Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  51. ^ "SpeedFreaks". Archived from the original on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 2021-06-20.

References[]

  • Acerbi, Leonardo (2015) Mille Miglia – A race in pictures Milan: Giorgio Nada Editorie ISBN 978-88-7911-618-3
  • Cimarosti, Adriano (1997) The Complete History of Grand Prix Motor Racing London: Aurum Press Ltd ISBN 1-85410-500-0
  • Fondi, Pino (2006) Targa Florio: 20th Century Epic Milan: Giorgio Nada Editore ISBN 88-7911-270-8
  • Fox, Charles (1973) The Great Racing Cars & Drivers London: Octopus Books Ltd ISBN 0-7064-0213-8
  • Georgano, Nick (1971) The Encyclopaedia of Motor Sport London: Ebury Press Ltd ISBN 0-7181-0955-4
  • Higham, Peter (1995) The Guinness Guide to International Motor Racing London: Guinness Publishing ISBN 0-85112-642-1
  • Legate, Trevor (2006) 100 years of Grand Prix Kent: Touchstone Books Ltd ISBN 0-9551-0201-4
  • Ludvigsen, Karl (2008) Racing Colours - Italian Racing Red Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing Ltd ISBN 0-7110-3331-5
  • Ludvigsen, Karl (2009) Racing Colours - German Racing Silver Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing Ltd ISBN 0-7110-3368-4
  • Monkhouse, George (1953) Grand Prix Racing Facts and Figures London: G.T. Foulis & Co Ltd
  • Montagna, Paolo (ed.) (1989) The Legendary Italian Grand Prix Milan: A.C. Promotion
  • Rendall, Ivan (1993) The Chequered Flag – 100 years of Motor Racing London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson Ltd ISBN 0-297-83220-4
  • Reuss, Eberhard (2008) Hitler's Motor Racing Battles Yeovil: Haynes Publishing ISBN 978-1-84425-476-7
  • Spurring, Quentin (2017) Le Mans 1930-39 Sherbourne, Dorset: Evro Publishing ISBN 978-1-91050-513-7
  • Venables, David (2008) Racing Colours - British Racing Green Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing Ltd ISBN 978-0-7110-3332-0
  • Venables, David (2009) Racing Colours - French Racing Blue Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing Ltd ISBN 978-0-7110-3369-6

External links[]

  • 1934 Race Season – comprehensive race reports of most events, also listing entries and results. Retrieved 20 Jun 2021
  • Grand Prix Winners 1895–1949 : History – Hans Etzrodt's description of the annual regulations, and changes. Retrieved 20 Jun 2021
  • TeamDan  - Darren Galpin's list of the major races, entrants and results of the season. Retrieved 20 Jun 2021
  • SpeedFreaks  - list of the major races, entrants and results of the season. Retrieved 20 Jun 2021
  • 6th Gear  - list of the major races and winners each year. Retrieved 20 Jun 2021
  • MotorSport magazine – list of the year's races, entrants and results, by category. Retrieved 20Jun 2021
  • Grand Prix History – history of the Targa Florio race. Retrieved 20 Jun 2021
  • La Targa Florio – race report and pictures of the Targa Florio. Retrieved 20 Jun 2021
  • F2 Register – race results of the Targa Florio. Retrieved 20 Jun 2021
  • Motorsport Memorial – motor-racing deaths by year. Retrieved 20 Jun 2021
  • ChampCar Stats – list of all the races, entrants and results of the AAA Championship. Retrieved 20 Jun 2021
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