130 years of motorsport

130 years of motorsport

The world's first automobile race took place over 126 kilometers from Paris to Rouen on July 22, 1894. Paul Daimler, then technical director of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft, later stated: "A huge crowd flocks to see the unique spectacle. The racing cars, completely different in shape, type and size, heavy steam cars with trailers and huge powers, compete with the lightest steam tricycles, and these in turn with petrol cars." Compared to the spectacular spectacle of that time, today's Formula 1 race looks like a lame horse parade in a suburban circus. From Paul Daimler's descriptions: "The heaters of the heavy steam cars, dripping with sweat, covered in soot, working hard with piles of fuel, the drivers of the small steam tricycles, constantly observing the pressure and water level in the small, artfully arranged tubular boiler and regulating the oil firing, and in contrast, the drivers of the gasoline and petrol cars sitting quietly on the steering seat, pushing a lever here and there, as if they were driving purely for pleasure - a Quite a strange comparison and one I will remember for the rest of my life!” The first to cross the finish line were a Peugeot and a Panhard & Levassor, two petrol cars with Daimler licensed engines.

Since this long-distance journey, the Mercedes brand has continued to write motorsport history in various categories. In 1903, the Belgian Camille Jenatzy (nicknamed “Red Devil”) from the Mercedes racing team won the Gordon Bennett race with a Mercedes Simplex 60 hp. With this triumph, Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft brought the prestigious race to Germany. The first major car race took place here in 1904 on a circuit in the Taunus. In order to have the best possible chance of winning, Mercedes started with two white-painted 90 hp racing cars for Germany and three identical vehicles in black and yellow paintwork for Austria. The strategy worked: Mercedes achieved places 2, 3, 5 and 11.