2023-06-16 11:31:52
“Rolls-Royce’s dominance of long-distance racing in the early 20th century is well known; but motorsport, especially in continental Europe, was also crucial in securing the brand’s reputation for performance and reliability.
Today we remember the victory of the Silver Ghost in the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix on June 15, 1913, which was a triumph not only of Henry Royce’s technology, but also of team spirit and personal sacrifice.” Andrew Ball, Head of Corporate Relations, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
Today, Rolls-Royce marks the 110th anniversary of the 1913 Spanish Grand Prix in which Silver Ghosts took first and third place, a technical and tactical mastery that would lay the foundations for the brand’s legendary triumph at the Alpenfahrt in 1913 a few weeks later.
It was a victory built on three foundations: the overwhelmingly superior engineering and performance of the Silver Ghost; deliberate team tactics executed to perfection; and the self-sacrifice of one of Rolls-Royce’s most experienced and devoted employees.
RACE AHEAD
In the early 20th century, stress testing was the primary means for car manufacturers, including luxury brands like Rolls-Royce, to demonstrate the capabilities of their products.
Rolls-Royce had an enviable record in these grueling tests, having demolished the field in a series of top-flight events, including the 15,000-mile Scottish Reliability Trial in 1907, and the legendary London to Edinburgh race in 1911, which was completed entirely in top gear
During the same period, auto racing was also growing rapidly in both sophistication and popularity. In 1906, France organized its first Grand Prix, under the auspices of the Automobile Club of France, of which the Hon. Charles Stewart Rolls, a successful motorsport pioneer, had been a member since he was 18 years old.
As a rule, the company preferred testing to racing; but in 1913, three years after Rolls’ tragic untimely death, managing director Claude Johnson was keen to boost sales in Europe and saw Continental racing as another major promotional opportunity.
The company therefore entered two Silver Ghosts in the inaugural Spanish Grand Prix, to be held on June 15, 1913.
HIGH EFFORTS
The Spanish Grand Prix appealed to Rolls-Royce because it was a test of endurance and reliability, in which the Silver Ghost naturally excelled, not just raw speed.
The 192-mile course consisted of three laps and included two formidable passes in the rugged Guadarrama Mountains, northwest of Madrid. It was open exclusively to four-seater passenger cars, which were to be fitted with fenders, headlights, a hood and two spare tires.
The bonnets were sealed and no water could be added to the radiator once the race was underway, despite the shadow temperature exceeding 30°C at the La Granja start.
Two modified Silver Ghosts were among the 17 starters. The first was owned and (against the express wishes of the company) driven by Don Carlos de Salamanca y Hurtado de Zaldivar, later the Marqués de Salamanca, who had recently become Rolls-Royce’s new agent in Madrid.
The second was a company-owned Silver Ghost driven by Eric Platford, one of Rolls-Royce’s most experienced and dedicated engineers, responsible for many of the marque’s previous test successes.
STRATEGY AND SACRIFICE
Three hours into the race, Platford had built up a commanding lead of over 20 minutes. But this was a realistic commercial venture, not just a sporting challenge, and Platford was racing under strict instructions.
Putting aside his own personal ambitions, he stepped aside and let Don Carlos de Salamanca through. The company’s agent in Madrid won his home country’s first Grand Prix race in a time of 3 hours, 34 minutes and 12 seconds, at an average speed of 54mph.
Unfortunately for Platford, his disinterested maneuver also opened the door for another rival, the Marqués de Aulencia in a Lorraine-Dietrich, who took second position with just three minutes ahead of him, a very narrow margin at a time when the that races could still be won or won. lost for hours
ONLY REWARDS
However, Platford’s sacrifice did not go unrewarded. After the race, he drove his car to Madrid, where he received a congratulatory telegram from Claude Johnson; he was later granted a holiday in Venice, partly as a gift and partly to escape the inevitable press attention.
He also received two gold watches as compensation: one presented by the directors of Rolls-Royce, and the other by a very grateful Don Carlos of Salamanca.
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