1947 GERBOUT RG SPECIALE MONOPLACE

 8 June 1947 - Challenges of the ACIF and AGACI MONTHLERY

 21 September 1947 – Lyon Cup

 24 April 1949 – 2nd Silver Cup

 5 June 1949 – 19th Grand Prix des Frontières

 12 June 1949 – #40 4th Circuit des Remparts

 18 September 1949 – 2nd Grand Prix de Cadours, victory

 29 May 1950 – Grand Prix des Frontières

 14 May 1951 – 21st Grand Prix des Frontières

 1954 – No. 54 Grand Prix des Frontières

 1954 – No. 27 Coupe de Paris

- details above

The Grand Prix de Cadours 1949 was a landmark event for post-war racing in France, and it is directly linked to the RG Spéciale and its builder, Robert Gerbout.

The exact event of 18 August 1949 is recorded as the 1st Grand Prix of Cadours, run under the rules of Formula 2 or Formula Libre of the time.

The key information is that the winner of this event was:

Robert GERBOUT – RG Special – Lombard – 1st Grand Prix de Cadours (Formula 2)

This was an important victory for Robert Gerbout, as it was a win with his own construction, the RG Spéciale, equipped then with his Lombard engine (tuned for competition).

The Circuit de Cadours-Laréole, located near Toulouse, was a popular and demanding road circuit after the war. It was known for attracting both local drivers and international names such as Raymond Sommer (who would unfortunately die there the following year, in 1950).

Robert Gerbout is an interesting figure in post-war French motorsport, particularly known for his dual role as industrialist and driver-constructer.

There are two major facets to his profile:

The Driver and the Automobile Manufacturer

Identity: Robert Gerbout, born in 1903, was a French racing driver who competed mainly in the years surrounding the Second World War.

The RG Special: He distinguished himself by designing and building his own race car, dubbed the RG Special.

Engine: This single-seater or sports car initially used a Lombard engine (tuned to reach 1500 or 1850 cc), before being fitted with a more powerful engine, notably the BMW 328's six-cylinder engine.

Competitions: Gerbout piloted the RG Special in various events, notably the Grand Prix des Frontières (where he achieved 8th place in 1950) and the Grand Prix of Cadours.

Other Cars: Later in the 1950s and 1960s, he also raced with models from other marques, such as Veritas RS and racing Maseratis.

The Industrialist (The Gerbout Group)

In parallel to his passion for racing, Robert Gerbout was a successful industrialist:

Activity: He founded and owned a spring manufacturing plant, which is the origin of the present Gerbout Group.

Foundation: The first Gerbout spring factory was established in 1931 in Paris.

The story of Robert Gerbout is a fine example of how industrialists with a passion funded and personally took part in motorsport in that period.