Circuit Bremgarten
46°57′32″N 7°24′07″E / 46.95889°N 7.40194°E
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| Location | Bremgarten bei Bern, Bern, Switzerland |
|---|---|
| Time zone | GMT +1 |
| Major events | Formula One (1950-1955) |
| Length | 7.28 km (4.524 miles) |
| Turns | ? |
| Race lap record | 2:39.7, 164.108 km/h (Juan Manuel Fangio, Mercedes-Benz, 1954) |
The Circuit Bremgarten was a 7.28 km (4.524-mi) race course in Bremgarten bei Bern, Switzerland which formerly hosted the Formula One Swiss Grand Prix.
Bremgarten was built as a motorcycle track in 1931 in the forests just north of Bern. The circuit itself has no true straight; it is a collection of high-speed corners. It hosted its first automobile race in 1934 which, tragically, claimed the life of driver Hugh Hamilton. From the outset, Bremgarten's tree-lined roads, often poor light conditions and changes in road surface made for what was acknowledged to be a very dangerous circuit, especially in the wet.
Bremgarten has not hosted an official motorsport event since 1955, when spectator racing sports, with the exception of hillclimbing and rallying, were banned in Switzerland following the tragedy at Le Mans. Although there was a 1982 Swiss Grand Prix, it took place in Dijon, France. On June 6, 2007 an amendment to lift the ban was passed by the lower house of the Swiss parliament, 97 in favour and 77 opposed[1]. The act still has to pass the upper house, which has previously voted down similar proposals[2].
Motorcycle racing
The Grand Prix of Bern took place at Bremgarten from 1931 to 1937 and also in 1947 and 1948. In August 1931 the Bern (Swiss) Grand Prix took place and the Irish motorcyclist Stanley Woods won the 500cc event on a Norton. He won three more events here; 1932 350cc and 500cc races and 1933 500cc race also on a Norton. Jimmy Guthrie won the 350cc and 500cc races in 1937.
The Bremgarten Circuit was one of the original rounds of the Grand Prix motorcycle road racing World Championship during the inaugural season of 1949 and from 1951 to 1954. Famous riders who raced here included: Hans Stärkle, Freddie Frith and Geoff Duke.[3] Italian racer Omobono Tenni was killed at Bremgarten during practice for the 1948 event.
Formula One history
Events which were not part of the Formula One World Championship are indicated by a pink background.
A cream background indicates an event which was part of the pre-war European Championship.
