TheKaiserpreis (German:Emperor's Prize) auto race, named afterEmperor Wilhelm II, was held in 1907. Like his brother'sPrinz-Heinrich-Fahrt held from 1908 to 1911, it was a precursor to theGerman Grand Prix.
AsCamille Jenatzy had won theGordon Bennett Cup in auto racing in 1903 with aMercedes,Germany had to stage the 1904 event. A 117 km (73 mi) long track in theTaunus mountains was selected, fromOberursel toWeilburg and back. The Cup was won byLéon Théry in aRichard-Brasier, and the Gordon Bennett race returned to France for 1905 and 1906, but was not continued as such in 1907, asGrand Prix motor racing evolved.
On the same track as the Gordon Bennett three years earlier, Germany staged its second large international event in 1907, the Kaiserpreis auto race (after sailing and rowing events were also named so). Entries were limited totouring cars with engines of less than eight litres. The race was won by ItalianFelice Nazzaro in aFiat 130 HP, against competition fromOpel,Mercedes,Eisenach,Adler and others.
In 1908, thePrinz-Heinrich-Fahrt resumed until 1911.
See1907 Kaiserpreis.