Georges Lemaître actually finished 2nd in the 1894 Paris-Rouen Horseless Carriage Competition in this Peugeot 3hp, but was awarded victory and the posted 5000-franc prize because his ride looked more like a car than the three-wheeler that crossed the line first! Photo: Peugeot
It all started as a promo for Monte Carlo. Now, it’s a sport of world, European and many national championships that attracts TV viewers in 190 countries.
You might think talking about the 1894 Paris-Rouen Horseless Carriage Competition is a bit over the top, even for Vintage Racecar, but that was the very first motor race. OK, some get pedantic and call it a reliability trial, but the fact is the win went to the first car to cross the finish line, and what’s that if not a race?
