1937 Swiss Grand Prix

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Flag of Switzerland  1937 Swiss Grand Prix
Race details
Race 4 of 5 in the 1937 European Championship

Date August 22, 1937
Official name IV Großer Preis der Schweiz
Location Bremgarten
Bern, Switzerland
Course Road course
4.52 mi / 7.28 km
Distance 50 laps, 226.18 mi / 364.00 km
Weather Wet, drying
Pole position
Driver Flag of Germany Rudolf Caracciola Mercedes-Benz
Time 2:32.0
Fastest lap
Driver Flag of Germany Bernd Rosemeyer Auto Union
Time 2:36.1
Podium
First Flag of Germany Rudolf Caracciola Mercedes-Benz
Second Flag of Germany Hermann Lang Mercedes-Benz
Third Flag of Germany Manfred von Brauchitsch Mercedes-Benz

The 1937 Swiss Grand Prix was a 750kg Formula race held on August 22, 1937 at the Bremgarten Circuit.

[edit] Race Report

After the start, Hans Stuck chopped across the nose of the other drivers to take the early lead, followed by Caracciola and Rosemeyer. Rosemeyer was soon in trouble though, under pressure from Lang he skidded off the circuit and was bogged down in the wet ground. Some spectators came to his assistance but their help would have resulted in a disqualification so he retired his car.

Stuck could not maintain his early pace under pressure from the Mercedes' and was soon passed by Caracciola, Lang and von Brauchitsch.

Nuvolari drove for the Auto Union team for this race as he wasn't impressed with the new Alfa. However, the tricky rear-engined Auto Union was not a car to race without some practice, even for a man of Nuvolari's skill. The wet track simply compounded his problems. Whilst running in 8th place he was called into the pits and the carless Rosemeyer took over, eventually getting up to 5th place and putting in the fastest lap in his chase after the Mercedes'.

Fagioli was also having problems being in some pain with his hip, when he retired Nuvolari decided to give it another go and brought the car home 7th.

In the closing laps Lang closed on Caracciola but was ordered to maintain position and von Brauchitsch passed Stuck for a Mercedes 1,2,3.

[edit] Classification

Pos No Driver Team Car Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 14 Germany Rudolf Caracciola Daimler-Benz AG Mercedes-Benz W125 50 2:17:39.3 1 1
2 18 Germany Hermann Lang Daimler-Benz AG Mercedes-Benz W125 50 + 29.4 5 2
3 12 Germany Manfred von Brauchitsch Daimler-Benz AG Mercedes-Benz W125 50 + 1:06.4 4 3
4 10 Germany Hans Stuck Auto Union Auto Union C 50 + 1:07.5 3 4
5 6 Italy Tazio Nuvolari Auto Union Auto Union C 50 + 1:21.2 7 4
Germany Bernd Rosemeyer n/a
6 16 Switzerland Christian Kautz Daimler-Benz AG Mercedes-Benz W125 49 + 1 Lap 9 4
7 4 Italy Luigi Fagioli Auto Union Auto Union C 49 + 1 Lap 8 4
Italy Tazio Nuvolari n/a
8 22 France Raymond Sommer Scuderia Ferrari Alfa Romeo 12C-36 47 + 3 Laps 10 4
9 38 Hungary László Hartmann Private entry Maserati 6CM/4CM 42 + 8 Laps 13 4
10 2 Germany Paul Pietsch Private entry Maserati 6C-34 41 + 9 Laps 12 4
Ret 32 Switzerland Henri Simonet Private entry Alfa Romeo Tipo B 35 16 5
Ret 36 Switzerland Adolfo Mandirola Ecurie Genevoise Maserati 8CM 28 Mechanical 17 5
Ret 20 Italy Giovanni Minozzi Private entry Alfa Romeo Monza 26 Mechanical 14 5
Ret 24 Italy Giuseppe Farina Scuderia Ferrari Alfa Romeo 12C-36 22 Rear axle 6 6
Ret 40 Switzerland Hans Rüesch Private entry Alfa Romeo 8C-35 8 Cracked cylinder 11 7
Ret 30 Switzerland Max Christen Private entry Maserati Tipo 26 4 Mechanical 15 7
Ret 8 Germany Bernd Rosemeyer Auto Union Auto Union C 1 Outside assistance 2 7


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