Circuit des Nations
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[edit] Geneva race-track (Switzerland)
The Geneva race-track[1] was established between the lake (Geneva) and the Nations square. Its length was 4,110 m (2.55 mi). Grand-Prix races were organised after WWII, on this track, similar to Formula 1 or Formula 2 races, as well as non championship ones. In total 5 major events happened on this track between 1946 and 1950. Key pilots came here to compete: among them Giuseppe Farina , Raymond Sommer, Maurice Trintignant, Juan Manuel Fangio, Prince Bira (who had established residency, in Geneva).
The closest race-tracks were Aix les Bains – France (Circuit du Lac) and Lausanne (Circuit du Léman or Blécherette). All were temporary urban race-tracks that disappeared shortly after the Le Mans accident in 1955, or before.
| Date | Race | Race track | Category | Lap length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 21st, 1946 | 1st Grand Prix des Nations | Circuit des Nations | Grand Prix FIA | 2.900 km (1.802 mi) |
| May 2nd, 1948 | 2nd Grand Prix de Genève | Circuit des Nations | Formula 2 FIA, non-championship | 2.900 km (1.802 mi) |
| May 2nd, 1948 | 2nd Grand Prix des Nations | Circuit des Nations | Formula 1 FIA, non-championship | 2.900 km (1.802 mi) |
| July 30th, 1950 | 3rd Grand Prix de Genève | Circuit des Nations | Formula 2 FIA, non-championship | 3.990 km (2.479 mi) |
| July 30th, 1950 | 3rd Grand Prix des Nations | Circuit des Nations | Formula 1 FIA, non-championship | 3.990 km (2.479 mi) |
Note: contradictory information about the length of the track have been witnessed.
[edit] 1st Grand Prix des Nations
FIA Grand Prix, Circuit des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland – July 21th, 1946
44 laps of the urban race track (short version) of 2,900 m (1.8 mi), or 131.4 km (81.6 mi), at an average speed of 103.9 km/h (64.6 mph).
| Position | Pilot | Car |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giuseppe Farina | Alfa Romeo 158 |
| 2 | Carlo Felice Trossi | Alfa Romeo 158 |
| 3 | Jean-Pierre Wimille | Alfa Romeo 158 |
| 4 | Tazio Nuvolari | Maserati 4CL |
| 5 | Emmanuel de Graffenried | Maserati 4CL |
| 6 | Prince Bira | ERA/B |
| 7 | Achille Varzi | Alfa Romeo 158 |
| 8 | Raymond Sommer | Maserati 4CL |
| 9 | George Abecassis | Alta |
| 10 | Reg Parnell | Maserati 4CL |
| 11 | Luigi Villoresi | Maserati 4CL |
[edit] 2nd Grand Prix de Genève
FIA Formula 2, non championship race, Circuit des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland – May 2nd, 1948
70 laps of the urban race-track (short version) 2,900 m (1.8 mi), or 206 km (128 mi), at an average speed of 98.15 km/h (60.99 mph).
| Position | Pilot | Team | Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raymond Sommer | Equipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini T11 |
| 2 | Prince Bira | Equipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini T11 |
| 3 | Robert Manzon | Equipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini T11 |
| 4 | Harry Schell | Ecurie Bleue | Cisitalia D46-Fiat |
| 5 | "Robert", F | Ecurie Pano | Cisitalia D46-Fiat |
| 6 | Claude Bernheim | Ecurie Autosport | Cisitalia D46-Fiat |
| 7 | Raymond de Saugé | Raymond de Saugé Destrez | Cisitalia D46-Fiat |
| 8 | Carlo Pesci | Carlo Pesci | Cisitalia D46-Fiat |
| 9 | Roger Loyer | Ecurie de Paris | Cisitalia D46-Fiat |
| 10 | Maurice Trintignant | Equipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini T11 |
| 11 | Hans Stuck | Hans Stuck | Cisitalia D46-Fiat |
| 12 | Rudolf Fischer | Ecurie Espadon[2] | Simca-Gordini T11 |
| 13 | Walter Triverio | Ecurie Pano | Cisitalia D46-Fiat |
[edit] 2nd Grand Prix des Nations
FIA Formula 1, non championship race, Circuit des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland – May 2nd, 1948
80 laps of the urban race-track (short version) 2,900 m (1.8 mi) or 236 km (147 mi), at an average speed of 98.18 km/h (61.01 mph).
| Position | Pilot | Car |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giuseppe Farina | Maserati 4CLT |
| 2 | Emmanuel de Graffenried | Maserati 4CL |
| 3 | Raymond Sommer | Ferrari 166SC |
| 4 | Eugène Chaboud | Delahaye 135S |
| 5 | Henri Louveau | Delage D6.70 |
| 6 | Clemar Bucci | Maserati 4CL |
| 7 | Jean-Pierre Wimille | Simca-Gordini T15 |
| 8 | Charles Pozzi | Talbot-Lago T150C |
| 9 | Louis Rosier | Talbot-Lago |
| 10 | Yves Giraud-Cabantous | Talbot-Lago |
| 11 | Nello Pagani | Maserati 4CL |
| 12 | Luigi Villoresi | Maserati 4CL |
| 13 | Luigi Fagioli | Maserati 4CL |
| 14 | Maurice Trintignant | Simca-Gordini T15 |
| 15 | Prince Bira | Maserati 4CL |
| 16 | Ernest Ramseier | Maserati 4CL |
| 17 | Louis Chiron | Talbot-Lago |
[edit] 3rd Grand Prix de Genève
FIA Formula 2 , non championship race, Circuit des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland – July 30th, 1950
45 laps of the urban race-track 3,900 m (2.4 mi) or 180 km (110 mi), at an average speed of 120.93 km/h (75.14 mph).
| Position | Pilot | Team | Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maurice Trintignant | Equipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini T15 |
| 2 | André Simon | Equipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini T15 |
| 3 | Dorino Serafini | Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari 166F2 |
| 4 | Roberto Mieres | Automovil Club Argentina | Maserati 4CLT/48 |
| 5 | André Canonica | André Canonica | Simca-Gordini T11 |
| 6 | Lance Macklin | HW Motors Ltd. | HWM/Alta |
| 7 | Alfred Dattner | Alfred Dattner | Simca-Gordini T11 |
| 8 | Luigi Villoresi | Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari 166F2 |
| 9 | Toni Branca | Mme. Walckiers | Simca-Gordini T15 |
| 10 | "Robert", F | Ecurie Paris | Cisitalia D46/Fiat |
| 11 | Mario Tadini | Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari 166F2 |
| 12 | Aldo Gordini | Equipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini T15 |
| 13 | Roger Loyer | Ecurie Paris | Simca-Gordini T16 |
| 14 | Paul Glauser | Ecurie Suisse | Veritas Meteor |
| 15 | Alexander Orley | Alexander Orley | Veritas Meteor |
| 16 | George Abecassis | HW Motors Ltd. | HWM/Alta |
| 17 | Ernesto Tornqvist | Equipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini T11 |
| 18 | Harry Schell | Horschell Racing Corporation | Cooper T12/JAP |
[edit] 3rd Grand Prix des Nations
FIA Formula 1, non championship race, Circuit des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland – July 30th, 1950
68 laps of the urban race-track 3,900 m (2.4 mi) or 272 km (169 mi), at an average speed of 127.60 km/h (79.29 mph).
.jpg/250px-Alfa-Romeo-159-(1951).jpg)
| Position | Pilot | Car |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Juan Manuel Fangio | Alfa Romeo 158 |
| 2 | Emmanuel de Graffenried | Alfa Romeo 158 |
| 3 | Piero Taruffi | Alfa Romeo 158 |
| 4 | Alberto Ascari | Ferrari 125 |
| 5 | Yves Giraud-Cabantous | Talbot-Lago T26C |
| 6 | Giuseppe Farina | Alfa Romeo 158 |
| 7 | Robert Manzon | Simca-Gordini T15 |
| 8 | Louis Chiron | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
| 9 | Luigi Villoresi | Ferrari 125 |
| 10 | Johnny Claes | Talbot-Lago T26C |
| 11 | Felice Bonetto | Maserati Milano 4CLT-50 |
| 12 | Franco Rol | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
| 13 | Toni Branca | Maserati 4CL |
| 14 | Raymond Sommer | Talbot-Lago T26C |
| 15 | Reg Parnell | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
| 16 | Prince Bira | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
| 17 | David Murray | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
| 18 | Gianfranco Comotti | Maserati Milano 4CLT-50 |
| 19 | Harry Schell | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
| 20 | Jose Froilan Gonzalez | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
[edit] A tragic end...
A the 36th lap, the engine of Ascari’s Ferrari 125 exploded and leaked oil on the track near the turn of Avenue de la Paix. Luigi Villoresi, also on a Ferrari 125, cannot avoid the spilled oil, he skids, crosses the safety barriers and jams into the crowd. Three spectators are killed, 20 others are injured. Luigi Villoresi is also injured (fracture). Farina in trying to Villoresi’s car cannot stop its car before it spins. He decided not to finish.
This event[3], as other linked to the practice of motor sports in urban race tracks that were not really designed for this kind of activity has motivated local authorities to stop this kind of events.
![[1]](http://www.formula2.net/Geneve.jpg){kind=link}