Grand Prix de Pau, 1933 — Oil on Canvas (Painted 1934)
A dynamic and atmospheric oil painting capturing the excitement of the Grand Prix de Pau 1933, created in 1934 by an unknown artist. This work depicts the thrilling era of early European motor racing, with a vivid portrayal of the legendary street circuit in Pau, France.
At the center of the composition is a racing Bugatti—an homage to the Bugatti Type 51, the car driven to victory by Marcel Lehoux, the celebrated French‑Algerian racing driver. The artist skillfully conveys the speed, dust, and intensity of the race, while spectators line the roadside and the Pyrenean foothills rise in the background. The palette and brushwork evoke the romanticism and daring spirit of pre‑war motorsport.
This piece is ideal for collectors of automotive art, motorsport history, or Art Deco‑era European paintings. Its combination of historical significance, strong visual narrative, and classic racing subject matter makes it a striking addition to any curated interior or automotive‑themed collection.
The painting retains its original wood frame with gilded application.
 
About the pilot:
Marcel Lehoux, born on April 3, 1889, in Blois, Loir-et-Cher (and not in Vendée, at the Château de Fougères), was a French racing driver. He lived in Algiers from early childhood in 1892 and later ran a business selling spare parts for cars, trucks, and agricultural machinery. The company also operated a machining and grinding workshop. His business was thriving, providing him with the funds he needed to pursue his passion for racing. He died in a race on July 19, 1936, in Deauville, Calvados.
 
Further reading:
The Grand Prix Early History
The first race to use the title 'Grand Prix de Pau' was also the first to use the Grand Prix moniker, though the circuit used in 1901 bore no relation to today's. Using the roads around the Pyrenees, a single lap was over 200 miles long... A strictly local affair, the event was won by Frenchman Maurice Farman. Then, in 1930, Philippe Etancelin won the French Grand Prix on a nine-mile course near the city.
The first 'true' GP de Pau was held in 1933, on a circuit similar to the present-day affair, save for a deviation through the Parc Beaumont, where the start and finish were also located. Held in unseasonal snow showers, the conditions must have been something of a shock to Algerian winner Marcel Lehoux and North African compatriot Guy Moll, who was runner-up...
There was no race in 1934, but in 1935 the present course was established. While hay bales have given way to metal crash barriers, the circuit retains precisely the same course nearly 80 years on. With its combination of twists and turns, camber changes, and curb-ridden chicanes, Pau retains its challenge and is one of the great spectacles of motor racing, with spectators able to get up close to the action.