While this gave superior aerodynamic efficiency, the bodywork blocked the drivers' view of their tires, and the cars were also hampered by a short wheelbase and narrow track width on the fast, winding and bumpy circuit.

[1] Fiat themselves (from Italy), who were the last to arrive at the circuit, entered a team of three completely new cars featuring, for the first time in Grand Prix racing, supercharged straight eight engines.

[1] The race began with a rolling start with René Thomas in the Delage, and Kenelm Lee Guinness in a Sunbeam on the front row (the order being determined by ballot).

However, on the eighth lap, Bordino suffered a supercharger failure, believed to be caused by the large amount of stones and other debris on the Tours circuit.

[1][2] With Guinness leading the field, Divo's efforts the catch the Fiats had exhausted his riding mechanic, forcing him to stop for him to be replaced.

Giaccone had difficulty starting, his car sounded rough and would retire after completing one more lap with similar supercharger issues to Bordino.

After a disagreement with officials about using a bicycle to return to the car, the mechanic eventually set off on foot, only to find that the issue in Salamano's Fiat was another supercharger failure.

So with the race nearly over Sunbeam had a 1–2–3 finish in hand when on his final lap, Guinness stalled at the la Membrolle hairpin costing him over two minutes and allowing Freidrich through into third place.