Guy Moll
Encyclopedia
Guillaume Laurent "Guy" Moll (28 May 1910 - 15 August 1934) was a French racing driver
.
Moll was the son of a French father and Spanish mother who had emigrated to Algeria, then a French colony. He had only started racing in 1930, running a Lorraine-Dietrich
in sporadic local events in Algeria. In 1932 he was noticed by Marcel Lehoux
, the owner of a large trade company in Algeria and a successful Grand Prix
driver in his own right; Lehoux was convinced of Moll's talents and offered Moll his Bugatti
for the Oran and Casablanca Grands Prix. Moll took the lead from the start in Oran, only to fall back to second and then retire, then retired again in Casablanca. Lehoux, undeterred, brought Moll to France for his first taste of continental racing for the Marseilles Grand Prix at Miramas; Moll he finished a sensational third, trailing the Alfa Romeo
s of Raymond Sommer
and Tazio Nuvolari
.
In 1933, Moll continued in a Bugatti, placing second to Lehoux at Pau in a snowstorm on a track he had never driven. Moll then used family money to obtain an Alfa Romeo 8C2300. Despite it being less potent than the Alfa P3
s run by the likes of Scuderia Ferrari
, Moll came third at Nimes (behind Étancelin
and Nuvolari), Miramas, Comminges, and Nice, and scored a near-win in the Marne Grand Prix
at Reims
. Moll was signed to drive P3s by Enzo Ferrari
for 1934. Despite facing more powerful Auto Unions and Benzes, Moll scored his first Grand Prix win at the 1934 Monaco Grand Prix
when he inherited the lead after fellow Scuderia Ferrari driver Louis Chiron
, babying his ill P3 home, made a mistake and spun into sandbags at the Station Hairpin with less than two laps to go. A month later, he finished a close second to teammate Achille Varzi
at Tripoli
amidst an accusations Varzi had tried to force him off the road. Moll also won the Avusrennen at with his Alfa Romeo in streamlined configuration (powered by a 265 hp 3.2 liter) when a dominant performance from rookie team Auto Union ended with Hans Stuck
's clutch failure. Moll finished third in the French Grand Prix
at Montlhéry
, following Chiron home, while coming second at the Targa Florio
and Coppa Ciano
, trailing teammate Varzi both times.
On a wet and windy Pescara Circuit
for the Coppa Acerbo
in August, running second and chasing Luigi Fagioli
for the lead, Moll lost control at near top speed on a narrow straightaway while passing Hemme's Mercedes. Moll's P3 went into a ditch and crashed into a bridge, and he succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter. The cause of the wreck remains unknown.
Even though he had such a short career, Enzo Ferrari ranked Moll one of the best drivers he had ever seen, and believed he might have become one of the best ever.
Moll was buried in the Maison Carrée Alger cemetery in his native Algeria.
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
.
Moll was the son of a French father and Spanish mother who had emigrated to Algeria, then a French colony. He had only started racing in 1930, running a Lorraine-Dietrich
Lorraine-Dietrich
Lorraine-Dietrich was a French automobile and aircraft engine manufacturer from 1896 until 1935, created when railway locomotive manufacturer Société Lorraine des Anciens Etablissments de Dietrich and Cie branched into the manufacture of automobiles...
in sporadic local events in Algeria. In 1932 he was noticed by Marcel Lehoux
Marcel Lehoux
Marcel Lehoux was a French racing driver.Lehoux was born in Vendée in France. He placed second at the Grand Prix de la Marne at Reims in 1929, behind Zenelli and ahead of his friend, Philippe Étancelin, making a Bugatti sweep of the podium. At the 1930 Algerian Grand Prix, he followed Étancelin...
, the owner of a large trade company in Algeria and a successful Grand Prix
Grand Prix motor racing
Grand Prix motor racing has its roots in organised automobile racing that began in France as far back as 1894. It quickly evolved from a simple road race from one town to the next, to endurance tests for car and driver...
driver in his own right; Lehoux was convinced of Moll's talents and offered Moll his Bugatti
Bugatti
Automobiles E. Bugatti was a French car manufacturer founded in 1909 in Molsheim, Alsace, as a manufacturer of high-performance automobiles by Italian-born Ettore Bugatti....
for the Oran and Casablanca Grands Prix. Moll took the lead from the start in Oran, only to fall back to second and then retire, then retired again in Casablanca. Lehoux, undeterred, brought Moll to France for his first taste of continental racing for the Marseilles Grand Prix at Miramas; Moll he finished a sensational third, trailing the Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo in motorsport
During its history, Alfa Romeo has competed successfully in many different categories of motorsport, including Grand Prix motor racing, Formula One, sportscar racing, touring car racing and rallies. They have competed both as a constructor and an engine supplier, via works entries and private...
s of Raymond Sommer
Raymond Sommer
Raymond Sommer was a Grand Prix motor racing driver....
and Tazio Nuvolari
Tazio Nuvolari
Tazio Giorgio Nuvolari was an Italian motorcycle and racecar driver, known as Il Mantovano Volante or Nivola. He was the 1932 European Champion in Grand Prix motor racing...
.
In 1933, Moll continued in a Bugatti, placing second to Lehoux at Pau in a snowstorm on a track he had never driven. Moll then used family money to obtain an Alfa Romeo 8C2300. Despite it being less potent than the Alfa P3
Alfa Romeo P3
The Alfa Romeo P3, P3 monoposto or Tipo B was a classic Grand Prix car designed by Vittorio Jano, one of the Alfa Romeo 8C models. The P3 was first genuine single-seat Grand Prix racing car and Alfa Romeo's second monoposto after Tipo A monoposto . It was based on the earlier successful Alfa Romeo P2...
s run by the likes of Scuderia Ferrari
Scuderia Ferrari
Scuderia Ferrari is the racing team division of the Ferrari automobile marque. The team currently only races in Formula One but has competed in numerous classes of motorsport since its formation in 1929, including sportscar racing....
, Moll came third at Nimes (behind Étancelin
Philippe Étancelin
Philippe Étancelin was a French Grand Prix motor racing driver who joined the new Formula One circuit at its inception.-Biography:...
and Nuvolari), Miramas, Comminges, and Nice, and scored a near-win in the Marne Grand Prix
Grand Prix de la Marne
The Grand Prix de la Marne was a Grand Prix motor racing event staged at the Reims-Gueux racecourse, near the city of Reims in the Marne département of north-east France. First held in 1925, it proved to be one of the fastest road races in Europe...
at Reims
Reims-Gueux
Reims-Gueux was a triangular motor racing road course near Reims, France, which hosted 14 French Grands Prix.Reims-Gueux was first established in 1926 on the public roads between the small French villages of Thillois and Gueux. The circuit had two very long straights between the towns, and teams...
. Moll was signed to drive P3s by Enzo Ferrari
Enzo Ferrari
Enzo Anselmo Ferrari Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian race car driver and entrepreneur, the founder of the Scuderia Ferrari Grand Prix motor racing team, and subsequently of the Ferrari car manufacturer...
for 1934. Despite facing more powerful Auto Unions and Benzes, Moll scored his first Grand Prix win at the 1934 Monaco Grand Prix
Monaco Grand Prix
The Monaco Grand Prix is a Formula One race held each year on the Circuit de Monaco. Run since 1929, it is widely considered to be one of the most important and prestigious automobile races in the world, alongside the Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans...
when he inherited the lead after fellow Scuderia Ferrari driver Louis Chiron
Louis Chiron
Louis Alexandre Chiron was a Grand Prix driver.-Career:As a teenager, Louis Chiron fell in love with cars and racing. He learned to drive at a young age and joined the Grand Prix circuit after World War I where he had been requisitioned from the artillery section to serve as a chauffeur...
, babying his ill P3 home, made a mistake and spun into sandbags at the Station Hairpin with less than two laps to go. A month later, he finished a close second to teammate Achille Varzi
Achille Varzi
Achille Varzi , was an Italian Grand Prix driver.-Career:Born in Galliate, province of Novara , Achille Varzi was the son of a prosperous textile manufacturer...
at Tripoli
Tripoli Grand Prix
The Tripoli Grand Prix was a motor racing event first held in 1925 on a racing circuit outside Tripoli, the capital of what was then Italian Tripolitania...
amidst an accusations Varzi had tried to force him off the road. Moll also won the Avusrennen at with his Alfa Romeo in streamlined configuration (powered by a 265 hp 3.2 liter) when a dominant performance from rookie team Auto Union ended with Hans Stuck
Hans Stuck
Hans Stuck was a German motor racing driver...
's clutch failure. Moll finished third in the French Grand Prix
French Grand Prix
The French Grand Prix was a race held as part of Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's annual Formula One automobile racing championships....
at Montlhéry
Montlhéry
Montlhéry is a commune in the Essonne department in Île-de-France in northern France. It is located from Paris.Inhabitants of Montlhéry are known as Montlhériens.-History:...
, following Chiron home, while coming second at the Targa Florio
Targa Florio
The Targa Florio was an open road endurance automobile race held in the mountains of Sicily near Palermo. Founded in 1906, it was the oldest sports car racing event, part of the World Sportscar Championship between 1955 and 1973...
and Coppa Ciano
Coppa Ciano
The Coppa Ciano was an automobile race held in Italy. Originally referred to as Coppa Montenero or Circuito Montenero, the Coppa Ciano name being used between 1927 and 1939....
, trailing teammate Varzi both times.
On a wet and windy Pescara Circuit
Pescara Circuit
The Pescara Circuit was a road race course near Pescara, Italy.The track boasted two long straights between villages, as well as demanding corners in the seaside town. The roads were both narrow and bumpy, and the staggering length was the longest of any open-wheel championship event...
for the Coppa Acerbo
Coppa Acerbo
The Coppa Acerbo was an automobile race held in Italy, named after Tito Acerbo, the brother of Giacomo Acerbo, a prominent fascist politician. Following Italy's defeat in World War II, and the consequent demise of fascism, the race was renamed the Circuito di Pescara, and in some years was also...
in August, running second and chasing Luigi Fagioli
Luigi Fagioli
Luigi Fagioli , nicknamed "the Abruzzi robber", was an Italian motor racing driver.-Career:Born in the small city of Osimo, Ancona Province in the Marche region of central Italy, as a boy Luigi Fagioli was fascinated by the relatively new invention of the automobile and the ensuing racing...
for the lead, Moll lost control at near top speed on a narrow straightaway while passing Hemme's Mercedes. Moll's P3 went into a ditch and crashed into a bridge, and he succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter. The cause of the wreck remains unknown.
Even though he had such a short career, Enzo Ferrari ranked Moll one of the best drivers he had ever seen, and believed he might have become one of the best ever.
Moll was buried in the Maison Carrée Alger cemetery in his native Algeria.
Sources
- Kettlewell, Mike. "Monaco: Road Racing on the Riviera", in Northey, Tom, editor. World of Automobiles, Volume 12, pp. 1381–4. London: Orbis, 1974.
- Twite, Mike. "Moll: The Grand Prix race ace from Algeria", in Northey, Tom, editor. World of Automobiles, Volume 12, p. 1380. London: Orbis, 1974.