In which year did the first car race take place?

On July 22 1894, the Parisian magazine Le Petit Journal organized what is considered to be the world's first motoring competition, from Paris to Rouen. Sixty-nine cars started the 31 mile selection event that would show which entrants would be allowed to start the main event, the 79 mile race from Paris to Rouen. Count Jules-Albert de Dion was first in Rouen after 6 hours and 48 minutes at an average speed of 19 km/h.