This is what I have on the early years of SEFAC and its formation, and the ongoing "funding", if that is even the right term!!
I have not gone into depth regards the technical details of the race car, not its performance at various events. The strict parameters I have stuck to is formation and funding.
This is best I can come up with, trying filter out fact from myth, but any input that may be different to the below timeline will be accepted graciously.
Sorry "Racer", but exact month and date for many things may be impossible to find so far after the fact.
Société d’Etude et de Fabrication d’Automobile de Course - SEFAC
1933 - It was foreseen that the coming German Grand Prix cars were going to be as reliable, as they were powerful. Bugatti had made the decision not to sell the new Type 59 Grand Prix racer to private teams leaving many to consider their options for the 1934 season. Rather than turn completely to the Italian brands of Maserati or Alfa Romeo, Raymond Sommer and some other French competitors investigated the possibility of producing a 100% French racer - in less than a year!
1933 - A group of four men: Raymond Sommer (racing driver), André Parante (Industrialist), Simon Brault, and Emile Petit formed Société d’Etude et de Fabrication d’Automobile de Course (SEFAC) to build this "ultimate" French Grand Prix car. It was a completely independent operation, and despite some claims, was not a French Government project.
Petit had been director and chief designer at Salmson and became most famous for his 8 cylinder engine with semi-desmodromic valve operation.
Andre Parante was from an industrial family, and although a newcomer to motor racing, was chosen to be the second driver. It is most likely that he brought family money to the project. Although there was also some donations from other interested individuals and companies. Each donor receiving a lapel pin with the crest of the SEFAC Societe.
Simon Brault is often referred to as "Raymond Brault" but this is incorrect ("Raymond" may have been a middle name). Simon Brault was the co-founder and president of Lombard. His sister, Eliane, was a well known feminist and leader of the "Radical Party" (anti-fascist) in France in the 1930s.
Although not part of the "Societe", Edmond Vareille was in charge of the rather heavy chassis. He also developed the suspension which had coil springs front and rear which was uncommon at the time. Vareille had been a student of Petit in Emile's design studio and had worked with him at Salmson.
The goal was to have the car ready for the 1934 Grand Prix de l'ACF. Initially the car was 2.6 litres. It was a tall order.
Emile Petit, who had been concentrating on his private design studio after leaving Aries in 1931 (although remaining a director), is most likely to have already begun the seeds of design for his unusual "side-by-side" 8 cylinder engine during 1931 and 32.
It was also "planned" (should read "hoped") the car to be so successful, that further cars would be constructed and sold to other competitors.
During this period Raymond Sommer was running a Maserati 8CM in various events. At one stage the car was rechassied and modified, and this has stumped many a historian as to where this chassis came from. It could well be that the replacement chassis was manufactured by the team at SEFAC as compensation to Sommer for the lack of return to him re: the SEFAC project.
1934 March - The car was first seen for some initial testing at Montlhery, apparently driven by Emile Petit. The car was a disappointment and although entered, the team did not participate in the French Grand Prix on July 1.
1934 October - Fonds de Course was set up to assist all France race car manufacturers, but SEFAC receive only 50,000 fr, less than half of the amount both Bugatti and Delage received. The money was hoped to develop the car further, but even so, the project remained horribly under-funded.
1935 - The SEFAC made its appreance at the French Grand Prix, now 2771 cc.
1936 late - "Fonds du million" was started as an incentive to all French race teams. These funds were supported by a State tax on driving licenses. There are some reports that teams, including SEFAC, received some moneys from this fund, but the initial requirements to receive this money, was a challenge to which ever team could attain a certain speed at Montlhery by the end of 1937. It appears the bulk of the funds went to Delahaye.
Edited by Porsche718, 01 March 2023 - 08:36.
