User:Readro/WGW

Motor racing

Pre-Grand Prix

During the early 1920s, Grover-Williams adopted the surname "W Williams" so that he could compete without his parents knowing. In 1924, Grover-Williams bought a Hispano-Suiza H6. He entered the car in the 1925 Monte Carlo Rally, which he completed. Towards the end of the year, Grover-Williams competed in a number of hillclimb events but was frustrated by the lack of success.

During January of 1926, Grover-Williams won his first event at the Mont des Mules hillclimb driving his Hispano-Suiza.

Grand Prix

1926: Bugatti

1927: Sunbeam Talbot Darracq

Preceding the French Grand Prix were two

In 1929, Bugatti ran into financial difficulties and the works team was stopped. Grover-Williams did not have the financial means to buy a car until April, when he did a deal with Bugatti to buy an old car that was previously raced by Louis Chiron and Robert Benoist in 1928. Grover-Williams painted the car in British racing green as Bugatti were keen to demonstrate that this was not a works car.

thumb|right|200px|Grover-Williams at the 1929 Monaco Grand Prix Grover-Williams' first event of 1929 was the Monaco Grand Prix, a new event taking place on the streets of Monte Carlo. Travelling with Bugatti mechanic, Ernest Zirn, they arrived at Monaco after official practice had already taken place but Grover-Williams got permission to drive a few laps of the track on the morning of the race. Grid positions were drawn randomly and Philippe Étancelin drew pole position. Grover-Williams was to start from the second row, alongside Guglielmo Sandri and Georges Philippe. Philippe was actually a pseudonym for Baron Philippe de Rothschild, a member of the famous Rothschild family. At the start of the race, Grover-Williams made a better start than those around him and was second by the first corner. In first place was Marcel Lehoux, but by the end of the lap, Grover-Williams was through into first place. Later in the race, Grover-Williams lost first place to Rudolf Caracciola, but Caracciola spent longer refuelling and rejoined the race track in fourth place. Grover-Williams won the race and enhanced his reputation within motorsport.

A non-start in the Grand Prix de Rome was followed by an appearance at the French Grand Prix. Bugatti decided to reform the works team and entered three cars for Grover-Williams, Albert Divo and Caberto Conelli. Despite starting from last place on the grid, Grover-Williams was second by the end of the first lap and soon overtook André Boillot for the lead before taking the win.

References