1-344-021 - Art Media/Heritage Images

A terrible accident, Paris to Madrid race, 1903. The Paris-Madrid race of 1903 was one of a series of races staged between European cities on public roads in the early 1900s. The event was a disaster, with at least eight spectators and drivers killed, and more injured in accidents on the first day. Marcel Renault, one of the founders of the Renault car company, was amongst the fatalities. At the end of the first day with the surviving competitors having reached Bordeaux, the race was called off. The French government's reaction was to ban all open-road motor racing events. A print from the 'Le Petit Journal', 7th June 1903.