This car was based on a (successful) cycle-fendered competition model from this manufacturer. That car won a very well-known race the year before - the last non-envelope bodied car to do so.
This example was built for endurance racing, and was geared accordingly. The big engine under that long bonnet had the beans to pull it along at a pretty high speed (for it's time).
The coach builder for this example, while not based in France, turned out a long line of beautiful cars on French chassis. They built some non-French cars, too.