The first time the Pau Grand Prix took place in the heart of this Béarnaise city was in February 1933. The first Pau Grand Prix had actually been held in 1930, but this was on a 16 kms track in the surrounding countryside. The circuit only took the shape that we know it today, skirting the Parc Beaumont and passing by the Foch Statue, in 1935.

Right from the beginning the race was dominated by Bugatti, and the public rapidly became infatuated with these Italian cars. This was without doubt because of the close proximity of the cars and the circuit. All the great names of the era confronted each other on this city centre racetrack - Wimille, Etancelin, Nuvolari, Sommer, Dreyfus etc. ..

The years 1938 and 1939 unfolded in their own particular context - the rise of Nazism in Europe. They saw the arrival in force of German teams in more and more powerful high performance cars.

JMC.
Translation by M. Hargreaves.