A century of successes

Created by the Automobile Club de France, frustrated by the existing Gordon Bennett series that allowed only one three-car team from each nation, the new race pitted individual cars against each other for a significant cash prize — a grand prix. The contrasts between then and now are evident but there are also eerie parallels.

Then, as in Montreal where Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher finished in second place, the runner-up was an Italian machine — a FIAT.

Alan Baldwin