Circuito del Garda
Circuito del Garda is the name of a former, non-permanent motorsport racetrack and the car race held on it in the area around the northern Italian town of Salò on the west bank of Lake Garda . 15 races were held between 1921 and 1966.
background
The term "Circuito del Garda" does not define a completed circuit such as B. Imola or Monza , but refers to a variable route from the public road network, which is closed and prepared for the staging of the races (at that time mainly by laying bales of straw to delimit the route in 'dangerous bends').
history
The Grand Prix races were held in three separate periods.
- Between 1921 and 1927 there were seven races with victories for Diatto drivers Eugenio Silvani (1921) and Guido Meregalli (1922–1924) and Bugatti drivers Aymo Maggi (1925–1926) and Tazio Nuvolari (1927).
- In the period from 1948 to 1950 , three races were held. The winners were the Ferrari drivers Giuseppe Farina (1948), Luigi Villoresi (1948) and Alberto Ascari (1949).
- The last events took place between 1961 and 1966 .
In some years, mainly regional motorcycle races were held on the course (or at least parts of it).
route
length
The route and, above all, the length of the individual laps varied in the years it was held: The races, which were held from 1921 to 1927, took place on the old "Napoleonic Road" that still exists today, which leads from Tormini to Salò. In the years 1935-1936 a new connection (the current SS45 state road) was used that connects Tormini with the town of Brolo. This routing was used in all races after World War II.
- In the years 1921 and 1924 to 1927 the course was traveled in a clockwise direction. The lap length was 12,236 m. A lap was divided into 3 sub-segments: from Cunettone to Tormini (4516 m), from Tormini to Salò / Piazza Fossa (3396 m) and from Salò / Piazza Fossa to Cunettone (4324 m).
- 1922 and 1923 also clockwise with a total length of 12,360 m.
- 1948 was driven counterclockwise, the lap length was 16,367 m.
- In 1949 , the length of a lap was 16,000 m, and it was also driven counterclockwise.
- In 1950 the lap went counterclockwise over a distance of 16,373 m. The race was held over a distance of 18 laps. This resulted in a race distance of 294.7 km. The fastest lap time was achieved by Alberto Ascari with 8'00.4 ".
- The last events, from 1961 to 1966 , were held with a lap length of 16,400 m.
Note: The sometimes only minor differences in the length of the route are likely due to minimal changes in the route in the narrow, winding local passages along the route.
Start and finish
The position of the start and finish line varied frequently:
- 1921–1926: Piazza Fossa (an unofficial name for di Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II), Salò
- 1927: In Cunettone di Salò (a district)
- 1948–1950: on the Gardesana state road at the junction for Salò (about halfway between Brolo and Tormini)
- 1961–1966: Via Brunati, Salò.
List of all winners
In addition to the Grand Prix races, races in other classes were also held on the Circuito del Garda.
| Edition | year | winner | vehicle | class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1921 |
 Eugenio Silvani
|
Bugatti | Corsa |
| 2 | 1922 |
Guido Meregalli
|
Diatto | Formula Libre |
| 3 | 1923 |
Guido Meregalli
|
Diatto | Formula Libre |
| 4th | 1924 |
Guido Meregalli
|
Diatto | Formula Libre |
| 5 | 1925 |
Aymo Maggi
|
Bugatti | Formula Libre |
| 6th | 1926 |
Aymo Maggi
|
Bugatti | Formula Libre |
| 7th | 1927 |
Tazio Nuvolari
|
Bugatti T35C | Formula Libre |
| 8th | 1948 |
 Nino Farina
|
Ferrari 125 F1 | Formula Libre |
| 9 | 1949 |
Luigi Villoresi
|
Ferrari | Formula 2 |
| 10 | 1950 |
Alberto Ascari
|
Ferrari | Formula 2 |
| 11 | 1961 |
 Jo Siffert
|
lotus | Formula Junior |
| 12 | 1962 |
 David Hitches
|
Lola | Formula Junior |
| 13 | 1963 |
 Jo Schlesser
|
Brabham | Formula Junior |
| 14th | 1964 |
Silvio Moser
|
Brabham | Formula 3 |
| 15th | 1966 |
Jonathan Williams
|
De Sanctis | Formula 3 |
present
The term 'Circuito del Garda' is currently used by the “Old Wheels Car Club” from Brescia to organize a “race” of historic automobiles around Lake Garda every year. This "Circuito del Garda" takes place in mid-October and is popular with classic car enthusiasts nationwide. On a route of approx. 130 kilometers, which has little in common with the original route, the vehicles are presented in regularity tests in various locations around Lake Garda.
Web links
- Circuito del Garda . Extensive information about the route. Retrieved April 30, 2020 (Italian).
- Old Wheels Car Club . Website of the club hosting today. Retrieved May 2, 2020 (Italian).
- Historic Race Car: Circuito automobilistico del Garda 1921 - 1966 . Interesting slide show with lots of historical footage on YouTube . Retrieved May 1, 2020
- 15/10/1950 F2 international race 10th circuito del garda 10. “Circuito del Garda” 1950 (Formula 2) Ascari wins in a Ferrari. On YouTube . Retrieved May 4, 2020
- SALO 'HISTORIC RACING Circuito del Garda - 10.2007 Slide show with impressions of the current (2007) scope of the event. On YouTube . Retrieved May 3, 2020 (Italian).
Individual evidence
- ^ Giancarlo Cavallini, Circuito del Garda, quindici volte via! Published by Fondazione Negri (2001).
- ↑ a b c CIRCUITI: GARDA (SALÒ). Retrieved May 2, 2020 .
- ↑ 15/10/1950 F2 international race 10th circuito del garda. Retrieved May 4, 2020 .
- ↑ The Circuito del Garda. Retrieved May 2, 2020 .