Targa Florio

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Alessandro Cagno in Itala at the Targa Florio 1907
Albert Divo , winner in 1928 and 1929, in a Bugatti Type 35 C at the 1929 Targa Florio
Targa Florio 1965
Targa Florio 2006

The Targa Florio was a long distance race on public mountain roads in Sicily . It was created by the entrepreneur Vincenzo Florio , whose family owned the streets of this Madonie circuit.

The Targa Florio (Italian for shield, badge ) was held from 1906 to 1977, mostly in May as an important international event, sometimes with World Cup status ( sports car world championship ). It is even older than the Indianapolis 500 . It has been continued as a rally since 1978 .

As the Targa Florio Rally , this traditional event was held in the 2012 season as part of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge .

history

The first Targa Florio started on May 6, 1906 at 6 o'clock with 10 automobiles, which went on the 148 km long circuit every 10 minutes. The winner completed the given three laps in 9 hours and 32 minutes.

Between 1925 and 1929 Bugatti dominated the race with the Type 35 and won five times. In the 1920s, the Targa Florio was the most important sports car race , as the 24 Hours of Le Mans , the Mille Miglia and the Grand Prix races were not yet established. The races on the then approximately 22 km long Stuttgart Solitude were even called the Swabian Targa Florio . The Eifel race originally took place under similar conditions as the Targa Florio.

route

The route variant of the Grande circuito delle Madonie with its original 148 km could almost be compared to a tour of the island - if such a 1000 km long Sicily tour had not actually been on the program from 1912 to 1914 and 1948 to 1950. From 1919 it was shortened to 108 km and again from 1932.

Starting point with the old pit system at State Road 120

The classic round of the Piccolo circuito delle Madonie went counter-clockwise from the starting point through Cerda in the west, past the 500 meters high Caltavuturo in the south down into the valley, in which there is now a motorway, over 600 meters high mountain roads, in a hairpin Collesano in the east, down to Campofelice di Roccella , from where the cars raced along the Buonfornello straight along the sea, which was more than six kilometers longer than the Hunaudieres straight in Le Mans. This lap still had 72 km and was usually completed ten times, with the vehicles being started individually in 20-second intervals, because overtaking maneuvers are difficult on the narrow track and a start in a crowd is unthinkable.

The fastest took less than 40 minutes for the tour. In 1972, Helmut Marko set the lap record in the Alfa Romeo with 33:41 minutes or an average of 128.253 km / h. The fastest in training was Leo Kinnunen in 1970 in a Porsche 908/3 with an average of 128.571 km / h or 33:36 min. It should be noted that you have already practiced in traffic in order to be able to memorize the sequence of around 900 bends. For this purpose, racing cars were given road approval, even the Porsche 908 had a Stuttgart number plate on the rear. Ferrari even equipped Formula 1 racing cars with the "Prova" markings (but this was necessary for insurance reasons). In addition, the Zuffenhausen factory drivers were asked to watch films showing the route, which was unpopular with some pilots as it could cause nausea.

Due to the successes on this winding route, which gave the initially small-capacity car a sensational overall victory in an important World Championship race for the first time in 1956, Porsche named an open version of the 911 and 912 as "Targa" . With a sensible use of the term, which means shield , the convertible with a wide roll bar was called that. The name was adopted in analogy to the name of the racing versions of some Porsche models, which were named Carrera (Spanish for racing ) after the Carrera Panamericana .

All route variants are now partly badly deformed; the Piccolo circuito delle Madonie is officially closed in two places. Driving a complete lap is no longer possible after the construction of a motorway in the Scillato valley, as part of the former route is now a dead end.

Risks

Count Giulio Masetti (1895–1926) had a fatal accident at the Targa Florio in 1926 with his Delage V12.

With the Ferrari 512S of local hero Nino Vaccarella, a thoroughbred racing car with around 560 hp thundered through Cerda in 1970, in the immediate vicinity of the residents and spectators, who also gathered on the meadows and mountain slopes to watch the spectacle and cheer on their hero. Enthusiastic spectators even tried to touch the car in the serpentines. Crowds, rocks, trees and abysses lined the racetrack. Lost horse nails were a problem, or chickens on the road, and the bumpy and dusty track that could damage a racing car without an accident.

In the run-up to a Targa Florio, a call was made to lock the apartments at the edge of the route, to lock up all free-range pets and, above all, grazing animals and to supervise the children. This was also advisable in the week before the race, as unofficial practice laps were completed. An important precautionary measure for the driver was to accelerate vigorously - because a loud exhaust noise warns passers-by.

Porsche decided not to use the large Porsche 917 and launched the short, light, agile and open Porsche 908/3 .

For safety reasons, the Targa Florio was withdrawn from World Championship status in 1974 and the race was only rated as an Italian championship run. It was continued with a reduced number of laps, the interest of spectators and participants waned, some pilots even competed under pseudonyms. Second-rate drivers on fast sports prototypes on an extremely demanding and dangerous course without any safety precautions could not go well - in 1977 there was a fatal accident on the long straight and the race was stopped, and the road race was stopped.

The Targa Florio was continued as a rally from 1978 , with short special stages on the mountain roads. In the anniversary year 2006, the 90th edition was due.

The name Targa is also continued in the Targa Tasmania, a rally held in Tasmania since 1992 .

Overall winner

year team Overall winner vehicle Travel time championship
1906 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Fab Auto Itala SA Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Alessandro Cagno Itala 35 / 40HP 9: 32: 22,000 was not part of any championship
1907 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) FIAT Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Felice Nazzaro Fiat 28-40 HP 8: 17: 36,000 was not part of any championship
1908 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Isotta Fraschini Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Vincenzo Trucco Isotta Fraschini 50HP 7: 49: 26,000 was not part of any championship
1909 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) SPA Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Francesco Ciuppa SPA 28 / 40HP Speciale 2: 43: 19,000 was not part of any championship
1910 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Automobili Franco Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Franco Cariolato Franco 35 / 50HP 6: 20: 47,000 was not part of any championship
1911 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) SCAT Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Ernesto Ceirano SCAT 22 / 32HP 9: 32: 22,000 was not part of any championship
1912 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) SCAT United KingdomUnited Kingdom Cyril Snipe Pedrini
Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946)
SCAT 25 / 35HP 24: 37: 19,000 was not part of any championship
1913 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Automobili Nazzaro Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Felice Nazzaro Nazzaro Tipo 2 4.4 19: 18: 40,000 was not part of any championship
1914 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) SCAT Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Ernesto Ceirano SCAT 22 / 32HP 16: 51: 31,000 was not part of any championship
1919 FranceFrance André Boillot FranceFrance André Boillot Peugeot L25 7: 51: 01,800 was not part of any championship
1920 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Guido Meregalli Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Guido Meregalli Nazzaro Tipo Grand Prix 8: 27: 23.800 was not part of any championship
1921 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Giulio Masetti Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Giulio Masetti Fiat S 57 / 14B 7: 25: 05,200 was not part of any championship
1922 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Giulio Masetti Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Giulio Masetti Mercedes 115 PS Grand Prix racing car 6: 50: 50,200 was not part of any championship
1923 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Alfa Corse Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Ugo Sivocci Alfa Romeo RLS 3.2 7: 18: 00,200 was not part of any championship
1924 German EmpireGerman Empire Daimler AG German EmpireGerman Empire Christian Werner Mercedes Tipo Indy 2000 6: 23: 37,000 was not part of any championship
1925 FranceFrance Usines Bugatti Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Bartolomeo Costantini Bugatti Type 35 7: 32: 27,200 was not part of any championship
1926 FranceFrance Usines Bugatti Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Bartolomeo Costantini Bugatti Type 35T 7: 20: 45,000 was not part of any championship
1927 FranceFrance Usines Bugatti Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Emilio Materassi Bugatti Type 35C 7: 35: 55,400 was not part of any championship
1928 FranceFrance Usines Bugatti FranceFrance Albert Divo Bugatti Type 35B 7: 50: 56,600 was not part of any championship
1929 FranceFrance Usines Bugatti FranceFrance Albert Divo Bugatti Type 35C 7: 15: 41.700 was not part of any championship
1930 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Alfa Corse Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Achille Varzi Alfa Romeo P2 6: 55: 16,600 was not part of any championship
1931 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Alfa Corse Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Tazio Nuvolari Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 9:00: 27,000 was not part of any championship
1932 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Scuderia Ferrari Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Tazio Nuvolari Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 7: 15: 50,600 was not part of any championship
1933 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Scuderia Ferrari Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Antonio Brivio Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 6: 35: 03,000 was not part of any championship
1934 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Scuderia Ferrari Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Achille Varzi Alfa Romeo B / P3 2.9 6: 14: 26,800 was not part of any championship
1935 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Scuderia Ferrari Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Antonio Brivio Alfa Romeo B / P3 2.9 5: 27: 29,000 was not part of any championship
1936 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Constantino Magistri Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Constantino Magistri Lancia Augusta 2: 08: 47,200 was not part of any championship
1937 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Officine Alfieri Maserati Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Francesco Severi Maserati 6CM 2: 55: 49,000 was not part of any championship
1938 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Officine Alfieri Maserati Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Giovanni Rocco Maserati 6CM 1: 30: 04,600 was not part of any championship
1939 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Officine Alfieri Maserati Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Luigi Villoresi Maserati 6CM 1: 40: 15,400 was not part of any championship
1940 Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Officine Alfieri Maserati Italy 1861Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946) Luigi Villoresi Maserati 4CL 1: 36: 08,600 was not part of any championship
1948 ItalyItaly Scuderia Inter ItalyItaly Clemente Biondetti Igor Trubetskoi
FranceFrance 
Ferrari 166S Allemano 12: 12: 00,000 was not part of any championship
1949 ItalyItaly Clemente Biondetti ItalyItalyClemente Biondetti Aldo Benedetti
ItalyItaly 
Ferrari 166SC 13: 15: 09,400 was not part of any championship
1950 ItalyItaly Bornigia Fratelli ItalyItaly Mario Bornigia Giancarlo Bornigia
ItalyItaly 
Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 12: 26: 33,000 was not part of any championship
1951 ItalyItaly Scuderia Ambrosiana ItalyItaly Franco Cortese Frazer-Nash Le Mans Replica 7: 31: 04,800 was not part of any championship
1952 ItalyItaly Scuderia Lancia ItalyItaly Felice Bonetto Lancia Aurelia B20 7: 11: 58,000 was not part of any championship
1953 ItalyItaly Scuderia Lancia ItalyItaly Umberto Maglioli Lancia D20 7: 08: 38,800 was not part of any championship
1954 ItalyItaly Scuderia Lancia ItalyItaly Piero Taruffi Lancia D24 6: 24: 18,000 was not part of any championship
1955 GermanyGermany Daimler-Benz AG United KingdomUnited Kingdom Stirling Moss Peter Collins
United KingdomUnited Kingdom 
Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR 9: 43: 14,000 Sports car world championship 1955
1956 GermanyGermany Porsche KG ItalyItalyUmberto Maglioli Fritz Huschke von Hanstein
GermanyGermany 
Porsche 550 RS 1500 7: 54: 52,600 was not part of any championship
1957 ItalyItaly Fabio Colonna ItalyItaly Fabio Colonna Fiat 600 1 was not part of any championship
1958 ItalyItaly Scuderia Ferrari ItalyItaly Luigi Musso Olivier Gendebien
BelgiumBelgium 
Ferrari 250TR / 58 10: 37: 58,100 Sports car world championship 1958
1959 GermanyGermany Porsche KG GermanyGermany Edgar Barth Wolfgang Seidel
GermanyGermany 
Porsche 718 RSK 1500 11: 02: 21,800 Sports car world championship 1959
1960 GermanyGermany Porsche KG SwedenSweden Joakim Bonnier Hans Herrmann
GermanyGermany 
Porsche 718 RS60 7: 33: 08,200 Sports car world championship 1960
1961 ItalyItaly Scuderia Ferrari GermanyGermany Wolfgang Graf Berghe von Trips Olivier Gendebien
BelgiumBelgium
Ferrari Dino 246SP 6: 57: 39,400 Sports car world championship 1961
1962 ItalyItaly Ferrari SEFAC Spa BelgiumBelgium Willy Mairesse Olivier Gendebien Ricardo Rodríguez
BelgiumBelgium
MexicoMexico 
Ferrari Dino 246SP 7: 02: 56,300 Sports car world championship 1962
1963 GermanyGermany Porsche System Engineering SwedenSwedenJoakim Bonnier Carlo-Maria Abate
ItalyItaly 
Porsche 718 GTR Coupe 6: 55: 45,100 Sports car world championship 1963
1964 GermanyGermany Porsche System Engineering ItalyItaly Antonio Pucci Colin Davis
United KingdomUnited Kingdom 
Porsche 904 GTS 7: 10: 53,300 Sports car world championship 1964
1965 ItalyItaly Ferrari SEFAC Spa ItalyItaly Nino Vaccarella Lorenzo Bandini
ItalyItaly 
Ferrari 275P2 7: 01: 12,400 Sports car world championship 1965
1966 SwitzerlandSwitzerland Scuderia Filipinetti BelgiumBelgiumWilly Mairesse Herbert Müller
SwitzerlandSwitzerland 
Porsche 906 Carrera 6 7: 16: 32,600 Sports car world championship 1966
1967 GermanyGermany Porsche System Engineering AustraliaAustralia Paul Hawkins Rolf Stommelen
GermanyGermany 
Porsche 910/8 6: 37: 01,000 Sports car world championship 1967
1968 GermanyGermany Porsche System Engineering ItalyItalyUmberto Maglioli Vic Elford
United KingdomUnited Kingdom 
Porsche 907 6: 28: 47,900 Sports car world championship 1968
1969 GermanyGermany Porsche System Engineering GermanyGermany Gerhard Mitter Udo Schütz
GermanyGermany 
Porsche 908/02 6: 07: 45,300 Sports car world championship 1969
1970 United KingdomUnited Kingdom John Wyer Automotive Engineering SwitzerlandSwitzerland Jo Siffert Brian Redman
United KingdomUnited Kingdom 
Porsche 908/03 6: 35: 30,000 Sports car world championship 1970
1971 ItalyItaly Autodelta ItalyItalyNino Vaccarella Toine Hezemans
NetherlandsNetherlands 
Alfa Romeo T33 / 3 6: 35: 46,200 Sports car world championship 1971
1972 ItalyItaly Ferrari SEFAC Spa ItalyItaly Sandro Munari Arturo Merzario
ItalyItaly 
Ferrari 312PB 6: 27: 48.011 Sports car world championship 1972
1973 GermanyGermany Martini Racing NetherlandsNetherlands Gijs van Lennep Herbert Müller
SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Porsche Carrera RSR 6: 54: 20,111 Sports car world championship 1973
1974 ItalyItaly Lancia FranceFrance Gérard Larrousse Amilcare Ballestrieri
ItalyItaly 
Lancia Stratos HF 4: 35: 02,600 Challenge Mondial
Italian Sports Car Championship
1975 ItalyItaly Autodelta ItalyItalyNino Vaccarella Arturo Merzario
ItalyItaly
Alfa Romeo 33TT12 4: 59: 16.700 Italian Group 5 Championship
1976 ItalyItaly Team Ateneo ItalyItaly Eugenio Renna Armando Floridia
ItalyItaly 
Osella PA4 Italian Group 6 Championship
1977 ItalyItaly Raffaele Restivo ItalyItaly Raffaele Restivo Alfonso Merendino
ItalyItaly 
Chevron B36 Italian Group 6 Championship

1 competition run with index coefficient

Others

For many drivers, the trip to Sicily also offered the opportunity to buy new driver's shoes, which were then handcrafted by a traditional shoemaker . The extinction of the shoemaker's trade and increased safety requirements, which only allowed comfortable suede with a lining with Nomex ( homologation ), led to the fact that the custom died out.

literature

  • Giuseppe Valenza: Targa Florio Il Mito , Legenda Editore, Milan 2007 and Nigensha Publishing, Tokyo 2009.

Web links

Commons : Targa Florio  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. Glowing Landscapes . Mirror online. Retrieved September 26, 2009.
  2. On the trail of the Targa Florio . Blog AutoNatives.de. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  3. http://www.targaflorio.info/61.htm

Coordinates: 37 ° 56 ′ 52 ″  N , 13 ° 47 ′ 10 ″  E