Paris–Madrid race

Paris–Madrid race
Date	May 24–27, 1903
Time	3:30 AM (scheduled); 3:45 AM (actual) (CEST)
Location	Versailles, France
Organized by	Automobile Club de France (ACF); Automóvil Club Español;
Participants	220 – 275 starters (of 316 entries)
Deaths	6 – 8 (5 drivers, 3 spectators)
Non-fatal injuries	>12

The Paris–Madrid race^[b] was a city-to-city motor race that began on 24 May 1903. The event was organized by the Automobile Club de France (ACF) and the The Royal Automobile Club of Spain, Spanish: Real Automóvil Club de España (RACE)

The event was infamous for the number of deaths and injuries among both drivers and spectators, and was called off at the end of the first leg in Bordeaux. It was the last city-to-city race of its kind to be held on open, public roads.^[6] Fernand Gabriel, driving a Mors Dauphines, was declared the winner.

Background

Popularity in motor racing had been growing across Europe since the 1896 Paris–Marseille–Paris, considered the first city-to-city motor race where the winner was determined by finishing time (as opposed to reliability and overall performance in the Paris-Rouen the previous year). Constructors were motivated to increase the power of their cars, with speeds growing from 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h) to 80 miles per hour (130 km/h). Races were still held on public roads, which meant drivers had to avoid poor surfaces, railroad crossings, farm and household animals, bystanders, and other obstacles.^[6]^[2]

The increase in power led organizers to impose a weight limit of 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb) on the "Large" class of cars.^[2] Other classes included "Light" and "Voiturettes".

Race

To maximize the number of cars visible during daylight, the race was scheduled for 3:30 AM. However, it was delayed 15 minutes due to the poor visibility. Drivers would set off one at a time in one-minute intervals.^[2]

Attendance

Over 100,000 spectators were present at the beginning of the race in Bordeaux, while those lining the roads of the race are estimated in the millions.^[10]

Results by class

After starting 168th, Fernand Gabriel was the first driver overall to reach the city of Bordeaux when the race was called off. He completed the stage in 5 hours and 14 minutes at an average speed of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h).^[1]

The following results were determined by the finishing order at Bordeaux.^[11]

Heavy cars
Pos	Driver	Constructor
1	Fernand Gabriel	Mors
2	Joseph Salleron	Mors
3	Charles Jarrott	De Dietrich

Light cars
Pos	Driver	Constructor
1	Louis Renault	Renault
2	Paul Baras	Darracq
3	Page	Decauville

Voiturettes
Pos	Driver	Constructor
1	Masson	Clement
2	Banlier	Richard-Brasier
3	Louis Wagner	Darracq

Legacy

The race claimed the lives of many notable drivers, including Marcel Renault, one of the founders of Renault.^[12] His brother, Louis Renault finished first in the "Light" car class.

In his memoir, third-place finisher Charles Jarrott suggested that the "deplorable disasters" of the race could have been avoided with better organization.^[13]

Notes

^ The total number of entrants who started the race differs across accounts. Estimates include "approximately 220",^[2] "221 entries representing all the major car firms of Europe,"^[3] "no less than 228"^[4]
^ Also referred to as the 1903 Paris-Madrid, The Race of Death,^[2]^[9] The Race to Death,^[1] Course Paris-Madrid - ACF Race.^{[citation needed]}

References

Citations

^ ^a ^b ^c Northey & Ward 1977, p. 1650.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Skillen, Graham (June 2003). "City to city, dust to dust". Motor Sport. Archived from the original on June 18, 2024.
^ Thoms, Holden & Claydon 1998, p. 125.
^ "The Paris-Madrid Automobile Race". Scientific American. June 20, 1903. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
^ Rendall 1993, p. 32.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Seneca 2003, p. 3.
^ Wagg 2023, pp. 224.
^ Friedman & Wallace 2023, pp. 626.
^ Wagg 2023, pp. 223–246.
^ Ó Cofaigh 2022, p. 29.
^ Rendall 1993, p. 358.
^ Ward & Innes 1974, p. 1848.
^ Jarrott 1906, p. 99.

Sources

Friedman, Michael; Wallace, Brandon (2023), Sturm, Damion; Wagg, Stephen; Andrews, David L. (eds.), "Circuits of Capital: The Spatial Development of Formula One Racetracks", The History and Politics of Motor Racing: Lives in the Fast Lane, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 619–640, doi:10.1007/978-3-031-22825-4_24, ISBN 978-3-031-22825-4, retrieved September 14, 2025
Jarrott, Charles (1906). "Paris-Madrid". Ten Years of Motors and Motor Racing (PDF). E. Grant Richards. pp. 99, 165–181.
Northey, Tom; Ward, Ian, eds. (1974). The World of Automobiles: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Motor Car: Volume 5 Dai/Enf. Vol. 5. New York, N.Y.: Columbia House. pp. 506, 508, 514.
Northey, Tom; Ward, Ian, eds. (1977). The World of automobiles : an illustrated encyclopedia of the motor car : Volume 14 Oil/Pet. Vol. 14. Milwaukee: Purnell Reference Books. p. 1650. ISBN 978-0-8393-6009-4.
Ó Cofaigh, Éamon (2022). "Motor Sport in France: Commodifying the Car". A Vehicle for Change: Popular Representations of the Automobile in 20th-Century France. Liverpool University Press. pp. 35–74. doi:10.2307/j.ctv2kcwp1r.7. ISBN 978-1-80207-011-8. JSTOR j.ctv2kcwp1r.7. Retrieved September 14, 2025.
Rendall, Ivan (1993). Chequered Flag: 100 Years of Motor Racing. London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson. pp. 32–33. 356. ISBN 978-0-297-83220-1.
Seneca, Michael J. (January 1, 2003). The Fairmount Park Motor Races, 1908-1911. McFarland. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-7864-1665-3. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
Thoms, David; Holden, Len; Claydon, Tim, eds. (1998). The Motor Car and Popular Culture in the 20th Century. Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85928-461-2.
Ward, Ian; Innes, Brian, eds. (1974). The World of Automobiles : An Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Motor Car : Volume 16 Ral/Rolla. Vol. 16. New York, N.Y.: Columbia House. pp. 1848, 1850.
Wagg, Stephen (2023), Sturm, Damion; Wagg, Stephen; Andrews, David L. (eds.), "It Was Ironic That He Should Die in Bed: Injury, Death and the Politics of Safety in the History of Motor Racing", The History and Politics of Motor Racing: Lives in the Fast Lane, Global Culture and Sport Series, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 223–246, doi:10.1007/978-3-031-22825-4_10, ISBN 978-3-031-22825-4, retrieved September 14, 2025