The Alfa Romeo factory team arrived at the circuit with four 158s (for Fangio, Farina, Fagioli & Parnell). Ferrari decided not to take part but there were a handful of Maseratis, one of them a factory car for Louis Chiron. Talbot-Lago sent over two factory cars to be driven by Yves Giraud-Cabantous and Eugene Martin. The rest of the field was made up of local machinery, which included ERAs and Altas.
Farina was fastest in qualifying and the other three Alfas were alongside him on the front row. The second row consisted of "B. Bira" in a Maserati and the two factory Talbots. Felice Bonetto was the only driver who did not take part in qualifying and would not take part in the race. At the start of the race, Farina took the lead with Fagioli and Fangio in pursuit. In the early laps they switched around between themselves several times to keep everyone amused. Fangio retired with engine troubles and so Farina led Fagioli home by 2.5 seconds with Parnell a distant third despite hitting a hare during the race. The nearest challenger was Giraud-Cabantous two laps down, Bira having retired with a fuel problem.
Drivers: First Hat Trick in World Championship history for Nino Farina: scored Pole, Fastest Lap and Victory in same race. Farina was leader for 63 of the 70 laps; and therefore failed to clinch the Grand Chelem only for the sake of not leading 7 laps.
Constructors: First Royal Flush in World Championship history for Alfa Romeo: scored Pole, Fastest Lap, Victory (Farina), leading the entire race with Farina, Fagioli and Fangio and placed three cars in the first three positions with Farina, Fagioli and Parnell. During qualifying sessions Alfa Romeos filled all four places on the first row.