Today we race an average of between 16-19 Grand Prix a year, but 100 years ago, even though we had many other races, we only had one race with the "Grand Prix" title.
There were a few international events that took place in 1908, but the only official "Grand Prix" of that year was the 1908 French Grand Prix at Dieppe that ran on July 7th 1908.
The race was ran under the "Ostend Formula", a new formula decided by AIACR (Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus). The minimum dry weight was 1100 kg or 2425 lb, which included oil and other lubricants but without water, fuel, tools, spare wheels and fenders. The maximum cylinder bore was 155 mm for a 4-cylinder engine. The weight of the driver and his mechanic had to be at least 120 kg or 265 lb and only they were allowed to do any repairs on the car.
Tens of thousands of people attended the race and came to Dieppe from all over the world. Spectators came to watch the spectacle arriving from trains, steamers, taxis and even walking from near-by villages. The crowds were so large that farmers even charged people to stand on their farm lands.
The race was run on a public road course covering 47.84 mi (76.99 km) and the drivers had to do 10 laps for a total racer distance of 478.40 mi (769.89km). The eventual winner of the race was Christian Lautenschlager in his Mercedes who comfortably won at an average speed of 69.05 mph (111.117 km/h) finishing nearly nine minutes ahead of Victor Hémery's Benz. Third place was taken by René Hanriot also in a Benz. Otto Salzer set the fastest lap of the race in his Mercedes, with an average speed of over 78 mph (126 km/h). Amazingly enough Lauteschalnger's shredded 10 tires in the Grand Prix.
The first fatal accident in Grand Prix history also took place in this race when Henri Cissac in his Panhard-Levassor crashed on the 8th lap of the race. Cissac and Schaub, his mechanic, crashed when a tire was ripped off the car by an abrupt turn, the car turned upside down and landed on both men, pinning them underneath and crushing them. Both men were already dead when their bodies were recovered from under the wreckage.
Another horrible accident befell Pryce Harrison in his English Weigel when his car somersaulted and landed on him after a sharp corner. Harrison was rushed to hospital, badly hurt but did survive.These horrible accidents led again to talks of stopping racing but due to the huge German success the French indicated this would be impossible for them to do.
The full results were:
1 - Christian Lautenschlager Mercedes
2 - Victor Hémery Benz
3 - René Hanriot Benz
4 - Victor Rigal Clément-Bayard
5 - Willy Pöge Mercedes
6 - Carl Jörns Opel
7 - Fritz Erle Benz
8 - Sergey Dimitriewich Renault
9 - George Heath Panhard-Levassor
10 - Perpère Germain
11 - Alessandro Cagno Itala
12 - Fernand Gabriel Clément-Bayard
13 - Courtade Motobloc
14 - Pierre Garcet Motobloc
15 - Gustave Caillois Renault
16 - Camille Jenatzy Mors
17 - Landon Mors
18 - JTC Moore-Brabazon Austin
19 - Dario Resta Austin
20 - Henri Fournier Itala
21 - Fritz von Opel Opel
22 - François Degrais Germain
23 - Henry Farman Panhard-Levassor
Ret - Leon Théry Brasier
Ret - Paul Bablot Brasier
Ret - Emile Stricker Porthos
Ret - Michel Opel
Ret - Henri Cissac Panhard-Levassor
Ret - Pryce Harrison Weigel
Ret - Lucien Hautvast Clément-Bayard
Ret - Warwick Wright Austin
Ret - François Marie Roch-Brault Germain
Ret - Lewis Strang Thomas
Ret - Louis Wagner Fiat
Ret - Felice Nazzaro Fiat
Ret - Pierron Motobloc
Ret - Gregor Laxen Weigel
Ret - Paul Baras Brasier
Ret - Ferdinando Minoia Lorraine-Dietrich
Ret - Arthur Duray Lorraine-Dietrich
Ret - Ferenc Szisz Renault
Ret - Otto Salzer Mercedes
Ret - Jules Simon Porthos
Ret - Vincenzo Lancia Fiat
Ret - Henri Rougier Lorraine-Dietrich
Ret - Shannon Weigel
Ret - Giovanni Piacenza Italaox
Ret - J. Gaubert Porthos
