The 1903 Paris – Madrid race was scheduled for two days in May 1903. The first stage ended in Bordeaux in complete catastrophy, as several accidents caused many deaths and wounded along the road.. In consequence, it was directly cancelled by the French and Spanish authorities. This now called „Race of Death“, marked the end of the City-to-City Race era. A remarkable feat however, was that Louis Renault, driving in the Light Vehicle Class arrived second in Bordeaux. This was a clear sign that for higher speeds, an increase in engine volume was not directly necessary.