Henri Fournier

Henri Fournier
Nationality	French
Born	14 April 1871 Le Mans, France
Died	18 December 1919 (aged 48)

Henri Fournier (14 April 1871 – 18 December 1919) was a French racing driver. Born in 1871 in Le Mans, Fournier began his career on motorcycles and tricycles. In 1901 he came to the Mors racing team and was the most successful driver of this year, as he won both the Paris–Bordeaux and Paris–Berlin races.^[1] In addition to his racing career, he did well in speed tests and in the United States set a new record for the mile with his car.^[2] At the 1902 Paris-Vienna race he also dominated the first leg with an average speed of 114 km/h, but later had to give up with transmission failure.^[3] In the autumn of that year he set the then land speed record at 123 km/h.

Retirement and return

He then retired for the time being from motorsport to run a car dealer, for first Hotchkiss, then for the Italian marque Itala. With these he returned in 1907 to racing where in four races the best result achieved was eighth place in the 1908 American Grand Prize.

Établissements Fournier

1919 Fournier "Baby Silvestre"

Together with his brother Achille, Fournier founded the company Établissements Fournier for manufacturing automobiles.

References

1. Dick, Robert (2013). Auto racing comes of age : a transatlantic view of the cars, drivers and speedways, 1900-1925. Jefferson, NC [u.a.]: McFarland. ISBN 0786466707.
2. Anderson, Curtis D.; Anderson, Judy (2004). Electric and hybrid cars : a history. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. ISBN 0786418729.
3. Dick, Robert (2005). Mercedes and auto racing in the Belle Époque : 1895-1915. Jefferson, NC [u.a.]: McFarland. ISBN 0786418893.