The Great Race - Solo

André Citroën and Louis Renault. Titans of industry and lifelong rivals, they fought on many fronts. It was, however, a little known episode between them that inspired the Great Race. While newspaper headlines marvelled at Citroën’s Central Africa expedition, those in the know whispered of the “Mission Gradis”, and Renault’s attempt to steal Citroën’s spotlight.

On November 14, 1924, only sixteen days after Citroën’s expedition began, the remarkable 6-wheeled Renault Torpedoes left Colomb Béchar to cross the Sahara under the protection of three Breguet aircrafts (held aloft by Renault engines). The Torpedoes arrived in Bourem in only 11 days. From there, they crossed the Niger River on their way to Cotonou. It was an impressive expedition, but one ultimately overshadowed by Citroën’s flamboyance and earlier start. Fair or unfair, history remembers the Citroën expedition fondly, while Renault’s is barely a footnote. Still, many of today’s half-track crews wonder: “Who would win in an out-and-out race?”