The Targa Florio was an open road endurance automobile race held in the mountains of Sicily near Palermo. Founded in 1906, it was the oldest sports car racing event, part of the World Sportscar Championship between 1955 and 1973. While the first races consisted of a whole tour of the island, the track length in the race's last decades was limited to the 72 kilometres (45 mi) of the Circuito Piccolo delle Madonie, which was lapped 11 times.
After 1973, it was a national sports car event until it was discontinued in 1977 due to safety concerns. It has since been run as a rallying event, and is part of the Italian Rally Championship.
Contents |
The race was created in 1906 by the wealthy pioneer race driver and automobile enthusiast, Vincenzo Florio, who had started the Coppa Florio race in Brescia, Lombardy in 1900.
One of the toughest competitions in Europe, the first Targa Florio covered 3 laps equalling 277 miles (446 km) through multiple hairpin curves on treacherous mountain roads, at heights where severe changes in climate frequently occurred. Alessandro Cagno won the inaugural 1906 race in nine hours, averaging 30 miles per hour (50 km/h).
By the mid-1920s, the Targa Florio had become one of Europe's most important races, as neither the 24 Hours of Le Mans nor the Mille Miglia had been established yet. Grand Prix races were still isolated events, not a series like today's F1.
The wins of Mercedes (not yet merged with Benz) in the 1920s made a big impression in Germany, especially that of German Christian Werner in 1924, as he was the first non-Italian winner since 1920. Rudolf Caracciola repeated a similar upset win at the Mille Miglia a couple of years later. In 1926, Eliska Junkova, one of the great female drivers in Grand Prix motor racing history, became the first woman to ever compete in the race.
In 1953, the FIA World Sportscar Championship was introduced. The Targa became part of it in 1955, when Mercedes had to win 1-2 with the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR in order to beat Ferrari for the title. They had missed the first two of the 6 events, Buenos Aires and the 12 Hours of Sebring, where Ferrari, Jaguar, Maserati and Porsche scored. Mercedes appeared at and won in the Mille Miglia, then pulled out of Le Mans as a sign of respect for the victims of the 1955 Le Mans disaster, but won the Tourist Trophy at Dundrod. Stirling Moss/Peter Collins and Juan Manuel Fangio/Karl Kling finished minutes ahead of the best Ferrari and secured the title.
Over the years, the greats of Grand Prix racing and Formula One such as Argentina's Juan Manuel Fangio, Belgium's Olivier Gendebien and Britain's Stirling Moss came to challenge Italian champions Tazio Nuvolari, Alfieri Maserati, Achille Varzi and others, like local hero Nino Vaccarella.
Several versions of the track were used. It started with a single lap of a 148 km (92 mi) circuit from 1906-1911 and 1931. From 1912 to 1914 an entire tour along the perimeter of Sicily was done, with a single lap of 606 miles (975 km), lengthened to 671 miles (1,080 km) from 1948 to 1950. The 148 km "Grande" circuit was then shortened twice, the first time to 67 mi (108 km), the version used from 1919-1930, and then to the 72 km (45 mi) circuit used from 1932 to 1977.
The start and finish took place at Cerda. The counterclockwise lap lead from Caltavuturo and Collesano from an altitude over 600 metres (1,970 ft) down to sea level, where the cars raced from Campofelice di Roccella on the Buonfornello straight along the coast, a straight over 6 km (3.7 mi) longer than the Mulsanne straight at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans. The longest version of the circuit went south through Caltavuturo (whereas the shortest version of the open-road circuit went east through Caltavuturo, through a mountainous section to Collesano) through an extended route through elevation changes, and swept through the nearby towns of Castellana and Sottana, twisting around mountains up to the town of Castelbuono and rejoined the most recent version of the track at Collesano. The second version of the track also went south through Caltavuturo and took a shortcut starting right before Castellana to Collesano via the town of Polizzi Generosa.
The race cars were started one by one every two minutes for a time trial, as a start from a full grid was not possible on the tight and twisty roads. Helmut Marko set the lap record in 1972 in an Alfa Romeo 33TT3 at 33 min 41 s at an average of 128.253 km/h (79.693 mph) during an epic charge where he made up 2 minutes on Arturo Merzario and his Ferrari 312PB.[1] The fastest ever was Leo Kinnunen in 1970, qualifying the Porsche 908/3 at 128.571 km/h (79.890 mph) or 33 min 36 s.[2]
Due to the track's length, drivers practised in the week before the race in public traffic, often with their race cars fitted with license plates. Porsche factory drivers even had to watch onboard videos, a sickening experience for some. The lap record for the 146km "Grande" circuit was 2 hours 3 min 54.8 seconds set by Achille Varzi in a Bugatti Type 51 at the 1931 race at an average speed of 70.7 km/h (43.931 mph).[3] The lap record for the 108 km "Medio" circuit was 1 hour 21 min 21.6 seconds set by Varzi in an Alfa Romeo P2 at an average speed of 79.642 km/h (49.487 mph) at the 1930 race. [4] The fastest completion around the short version of the island tour was done by Ernesto Ceirano in a SCAT at the 1914 race, completed in 16 hours, 51 minutes and 31.6 seconds from May 24-25, 1914.[5]. The fastest completion of the long version of the island tour was by Mario and Franco Bornigia in an Alfa Romeo 8C 2500, completed in 12 hours, 26 minutes and 33 seconds flat at the 1950 race at an average speed of 86.794 km/h (53.931 mph). [6]
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, race cars with up to 600 hp (450 kW) such as Nino Vaccarella's Ferrari 512S raced through small mountain villages while spectators sat or stood right next to, or even on, the road. Porsche, on the other hand, did not race its big Porsche 917, but rather the nimble Porsche 908/03 Spyders.
Due to safety concerns, especially by Helmut Marko, who called the race "totally insane", the last real Targa Florio as an international professional race was run in 1973, where it became impossible to retain its international status after a number of horrendous and 2 fatal accidents at the 1973 race; one which privateer Charles Blyth crashed his Lancia Fulvia HF into a trailer at the end of the Buonfornello straight and was killed; and another where an Italian driver crashed his Alpine-Renault into a group of spectators, killing one. There were several other accidents during practice for the 1973 event in which a total of seven spectators sustained injuries. In that year, even a Porsche 911 won as the prototypes such as Jacky Ickx's Ferrari suffered crashes or other troubles. The Targa was continued as a national event for some years, before a crash in 1977 which killed 2 spectators and seriously injuring 5 others (including the driver) sealed its fate. Since 1978, it has run as a rallying event.
After winning the race several times, Porsche named the convertible version of the 911 after the Targa. The name targa means plaque, see targa top.
The Australian-made Leyland P76 had a special version named Targa Florio named to commemorate victory by journalist-rallyist Evan Green on a Special Stage of the 1974 London-Sahara-Munich World Cup Rally which was held on the Targa Florio course.[7]
Since 1992 the event has lent its name to a modern recreation, staged half-a-world away in the form of the famous road rally Targa Tasmania held on the island state of Tasmania, found off the Southern coast of Australia.
A stunning recreation of the track was made for the race simulator Grand Prix Legends, which has been converted to rFactor.
| Year | Winner | Car | Time | Distance (km) | Speed (km/h) | Laps | Course Variant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1906 | Alessandro Cagno | Itala 35/40 HP | 9:32:22 | 446.469 | 46.80 | 3 | Grande Circuit (146 km) |
| 1907 | Felice Nazzaro | Fiat 28/40 HP | 8:17:36 | 446.469 | 53.83 | 3 | Grande Circuit (146 km) |
| 1908 | Vincenzo Trucco | Isotta Fraschini | 7:49:26 | 446.469 | 57.06 | 3 | Grande Circuit (146 km) |
| 1909 | Francesco Ciuppa | SPA | 2:43:19 | 148.823 | 54.67 | 1 | Grande Circuit (146 km) |
| 1910 | Tullio Cariolato | Franco Automobili | 6:20:47 | 297.646 | 46.90 | 2 | Grande Circuit (146 km) |
| 1911 | Ernesto Ceirano | SCAT | 9:32:22 | 446.469 | 46.80 | 2 | Grande Circuit (146 km) |
| 1912 | Cyril Snipe | SCAT 25/35 | 24:37:19 | 979.000 | 41.44 | 1 | Island Tour (short) (979 km) |
| 1913 | Felice Nazzaro | Nazzaro Tipo 2 | 19:18:40 | 979.000 | 50.70 | 1 | Island Tour (short) (979 km) |
| 1914 | Ernesto Ceirano | SCAT 22/32 | 16:51:31 | 979.000 | 58.07 | 1 | Island Tour (short) (979 km) |
| Year | Winner | Car | Time | Distance (km) | Speed (km/h) | Laps | Course Variant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1919 | André Boillot | Peugeot EXS | 7:51.01.8 | 432 | - | 4 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1920 | Guido Meregalli | Nazzaro GP | 8:27.23.8 | 432 | 50.924 | 4 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1921 | Giulio Masetti | Fiat 451 | 7:25'05.2 | 432 | 58.236 | 4 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1922 | Giulio Masetti | Mercedes GP/14 | 6:50.50.2 | 432 | 63.091 | 4 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1923 | Ugo Sivocci | Alfa Romeo RL Targa Florio | 7:18.00.2 | 432 | 59.177 | 4 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1924 | Christian Werner | Mercedes PP | 6:32.37.2/5 | 432 | 66.010 | 4 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1925 | Bartolomeo Costantini | Bugatti T35 | 7:32.27.2 | 540 | 71.609 | 5 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1926 | Bartolomeo Costantini | Bugatti T35T | 7:20.45.0 | 540 | 73.507 | 5 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1927 | Emilio Materassi | Bugatti T35C | 7:35.55.4 | 540 | 71.065 | 5 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1928 | Albert Divo | Bugatti T35B | 7:20.56.6 | 540 | 73.478 | 5 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1929 | Albert Divo | Bugatti T35C | 7:15'41.7 | 540 | 74.366 | 5 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1930 | Achille Varzi | Alfa Romeo P2 | 6:55.16.6 | 540 | 78.010 | 5 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1931 | Tazio Nuvolari | Alfa Romeo 8C-2300 Monza | 9:00'27.0 | 584 | 64.834 | 4 | Grande Circuit (146 km) |
| 1932 | Tazio Nuvolari | Alfa Romeo 8C-2300 Monza | 7:15.50.6 | 574 | 79.296 | 8 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1933 | Antonio Brivio | Alfa Romeo 8C-2300 Monza | 7:15.50.6 | 504 | 76.729 | 7 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1934 | Achille Varzi | Alfa Romeo Tipo-B P3 | 6:14'26.8 | 432 | 69.222 | 6 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1935 | Antonio Brivio | Alfa Romeo Tipo-B P3 | 2:08.47.2 | 432 | 80.010 | 6 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1936 | Constantino Magistri | Lancia Augusta | 6:14'26.8 | 144 | 67.088 | 2 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1937 | Giulio Severi | Maserati 6CM | 2:55'49.0 | 315.6 | 107.704 | 60 | Closed Circuit (5.26 km) |
| 1938 | Giovanni Rocco | Maserati 6CM | 1:30'04.6 | 171.6 | 114.303 | 30 | Closed Circuit (5.72 km) |
| 1939 | Luigi Villoresi | Maserati 6CM | 1:40.15.4 | 228 | 136.445 | 40 | Closed Circuit (5.7 km) |
| 1940 | Luigi Villoresi | Maserati 4CL | 1:36.08.6 | 228 | 142.288 | 40 | Closed Circuit (5.7 km) |
| Year | Winner | Car | Time | Distance (km) | Speed (km/h) | Laps | Course Variant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Clemente Biondetti Igor Troubetzkoy |
Ferrari 166 | 12:12'00.0 | 1080 | 88.866 | 1 | Island Tour (long) (1080 km) |
| 1949 | Clemente Biondetti Aldo Benedetti |
Ferrari 166 SC | 13:15.09.4 | 1080 | 81.494 | 1 | Island Tour (long) (1080 km) |
| 1950 | Mario Bornigia Giancarlo Bornigia |
Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Competizione | 12:26.33.0 | 1080 | 86.794 | 1 | Island Tour (long) (1080 km) |
| 1951 | Franco Cortese | Frazer Nash | 7:31.04.8 | 576 | 76.631 | 8 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1952 | Felice Bonetto | Lancia Aurelia B20 | 7:11.58.0 | 576 | 76.631 | 8 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1953 | Umberto Maglioli | Lancia D20 3000 | 7:08.35.8 | 576 | 80.635 | 8 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1954 | Piero Taruffi | Lancia D 24 | 6:24.18.0 | 576 | 89.930 | 8 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| Year | Winner | Car | Time | Distance (km) | Speed (km/h) | Laps | Course Variant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Stirling Moss Peter Collins |
Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR | 9:43.14.0 | 936 | 96.290 | 13 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1956 | Umberto Maglioli Huschke von Hanstein |
Porsche 550 | 7:54.52.6 | 720 | 90.770 | 10 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1957 | Fabio Colona | Fiat 600 | - | 359 | - | 5 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1958 | Luigi Musso Olivier Gendebien |
Ferrari 250 TR | 10:37.58.1 | 1008 | 94.801 | 14 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1959 | Edgar Barth Wolfgang Seidel |
Porsche RSK | 11:02.21.8 | 1008 | 91.309 | 14 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1960 | Jo Bonnier Hans Herrmann Graham Hill |
Porsche RS60 | 7:33.08.2 | 720 | 95.320 | 10 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1961 | Wolfgang von Trips Olivier Gendebien |
Ferrari Dino 246 SP | 6:57.39.4 | 720 | 103.433 | 10 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1962 | Willy Mairesse Ricardo Rodriguez Olivier Gendebien |
Ferrari Dino 246 SP | 7:02'56.3 | 720 | 102.143 | 10 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1963 | Jo Bonnier Carlo Maria Abate |
Porsche 718 GTR | 6:55.45.1 | 720 | 109.908 | 10 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1964 | Colin Davis Antonio Pucci |
Porsche 904 GTS | 7:10.53.3 | 720 | 100.258 | 10 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1965 | Nino Vaccarella Lorenzo Bandini |
Ferrari 275 P2 | 7:01:12.4 | 720 | 102.563 | 10 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1966 | Willy Mairesse Herbert Müller |
Porsche Carrera 6[9] | 7:16:32.6 | 720 | 98.910 | 10 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1967 | Paul Hawkins Rolf Stommelen |
Porsche 910 [10] | 6:37.01.0 | 720 | 108.812 | 10 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1968 | Vic Elford Umberto Maglioli |
Porsche 907 | 6:28:47.9 | 720 | 111.112 | 10 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1969 | Gerhard Mitter Udo Schütz |
Porsche 908/2 | 6:07:45.3 | 720 | 117.469 | 10 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1970 | Jo Siffert Brian Redman |
Porsche 908/3[11] | 6:35.30.0 | 792 | 120.152 | 11 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1971 | Nino Vaccarella Toine Hezemans |
Alfa Romeo 33/3 | 6:35:46.2 | 792 | 120.070 | 11 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1972 | Arturo Merzario Sandro Munari |
Ferrari 312PB | 6:27:48.0 | 792 | 122.537 | 11 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1973 | Herbert Müller Gijs van Lennep |
Porsche 911 Carrera RSR [12] | 6:54:20.1 | 792 | 114.691 | 11 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
The list below includes all car manufacturers who have attained a podium. The table does not include the results of the 1957 edition, which was held as a regularity race.
| Pos. | Brand | 1st place |
2nd place |
3rd place |
Fastest laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Porsche | 11 | 9 | 12 | 8 |
| 2 | Alfa Romeo | 10 | 13 | 7 | 10 |
| 3 | Ferrari | 7 | 6 | 4 | 7 |
| 4 | Lancia | 5 | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| 5 | Bugatti | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 6 | Maserati | 4 | 6 | 9 | 4 |
| 7 | Mercedes-Benz | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 8 | SCAT | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Fiat | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 10 | Nazzaro | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Itala | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 12 | Osella | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 13 | Peugeot | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 14 | Chevron | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | SPA | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 16 | Franco | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 17 | Isotta Fraschini | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Frazer-Nash | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Ballot | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 19 | Cisitalia | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 19 | De Vecchi | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | Osca | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 23 | Aquila Italiana | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Sigma | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | Lola | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 26 | Abarth | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | Alfa-Maserati-Prete | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | Berliet | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | Darracq | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | Diatto | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | Steyr | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 32 | Aston Martin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |