Solved - MJW #133 - Maurice Monnier and his Monnier Speciale towed by his Bugatti 57

[woodinsight]

What I need to know is - Who is this man, what is the tow car and what car is on on the trailer?
One point for the answer

[woodinsight]

Not so easy as it looks despite the tow car being relatively recognisable

[DeAutogids]

Suppose you want to have all the things before getting a point?

[DeAutogids]

I suppose the car is a Bugatti T54, the driver also racing the car being towed. Picture was made possibly in France?

[woodinsight]

Pictured in France yes but it's not a Type 54.
The car on the trailer is linked to the owner/driver/builder's name so once you have that you have virtually solved the puzzle.

[streamliner]

Could this be Robert Benoist in the Bugatti Type 57C Coupe that was built for Ettore Bugatti as a birthday present?

[woodinsight]

It is a Type 57 but not Robert Benoist

[DeAutogids]

It is a Type 57 but not Robert Benoist

[streamliner]

Is the car on the trailer a Bugatti Type 59?

[woodinsight]

Not not a Bugatti.
It is named after the man at the wheel of the Bugatti Type 57 tow car

[hugo90]

Gordini?

[woodinsight]

Not Gordini.
The race car is a one-off (I'll check what it was based on and post it here soon as a clue)

[woodinsight]

Can the Pros solve this one?

[Allemano]

Cisitalia? Nonsense..

[woodinsight]

Cisitalia is not necessarily nonsense Allemano!
In fact the constructor built two single seaters - the first I believe was based on a Cisitalia D-46 with a Fiat 1500 engine (later replaced by a BMW 328 unit).

However, the car you see on the trailer is the second single seater he built.
It was inspired by a Maserati A6 GCS. Presumably he built the car himself as he ran a carrosserie at Gamache.
I don't know what engine the car was equipped with except it was a 6 cylinder. It had been rebodied and is shown here in its final form.

All I need for the point is the name of the man. The car is named a xxxxxxx Speciale.
We have already established that the tow car is a Bugatti Type 57.

[neilshouse]

Eugène Martin?

[woodinsight]

Not Eugene Martin but his surname started with an M

[faksta]

Maurice Monnier probably?

I was about to try Pierre Flahaut when you have posted the last hint 

[woodinsight]

Yes - I gave it away I suppose but that's the man.
Maurice Monnier with his Monnier Speciale (the second) on the trailer.

Monnier, his cars and racing history deserve a separate article that I might undertake in the future.

Well done faksta.