Circuit Des Nations
The Circuit des Nations (Circuit of the Nations) is a long street circuit of 4.110 km (2.554 mi) between Lake Geneva and the Place des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
It hosted the Grand Prix de Nations, similar to a Formula One race; the Grand Prix de Genève, similar to a Formula Two race; and various championship events. The first Grand Prix de Genève was held in Meyrin in 1931 and won by Marcel Lehoux, racing for Bugatti.
Geneva race-track (Switzerland)
The Geneva race-track was established between the lake (Geneva) and the Nations square. Its length was 4.110 km (2.554 mi). Grand-Prix races were organised after World War II, 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 21, 1946 | 1st Grand Prix des Nations | Circuit des Nations | Grand Prix FIA | 2.900 km (1.802 mi) |
| May 2, 1948 | 2nd Grand Prix de Genève | Circuit des Nations | Formula 2 FIA, non-championship | 2.900 km (1.802 mi) |
| May 2, 1948 | 2nd Grand Prix des Nations | Circuit des Nations | Formula 1 FIA, non-championship | 2.900 km (1.802 mi) |
| July 30, 1950 | 3rd Grand Prix de Genève | Circuit des Nations | Formula 2 FIA, non-championship | 3.990 km (2.479 mi) |
| July 30, 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. Measurement on maps indicate that the shorter length is more likely.
1st Grand Prix des Nations
FIA Grand Prix, Circuit des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland – July 21, 1946
44 laps of the urban race track (short version) of 2.965 km (1.842 mi), or 130 km (81 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 |
| DNF |  George Abecassis | Alta |
| DNF | Reg Parnell | Maserati 4CL |
| DNF | Luigi Villoresi | Maserati 4CL |
2nd Grand Prix de Genève
FIA Formula 2, non championship race, Circuit des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland – May 2, 1948
70 laps of the urban race-track (short version) 2.945 km (1.830 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" | Ecurie Pano | Cisitalia D46-Fiat |
| 6 | Claude Bernheim | Ecurie Autosport | Cisitalia D46-Fiat |
| DNF | Raymond de Saugé | Raymond de Saugé Destrez | Cisitalia D46-Fiat |
| DNF | Carlo Pesci | Carlo Pesci | Cisitalia D46-Fiat |
| DNF | Roger Loyer | Ecurie de Paris | Cisitalia D46-Fiat |
| DNF | Maurice Trintignant | Equipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini T11 |
| DNF |  Hans Stuck | Hans Stuck | Cisitalia D46-Fiat |
| DNF | Rudolf Fischer | Ecurie Espadon | Simca-Gordini T11 |
| DQ | Walter Triverio | Ecurie Pano | Cisitalia D46-Fiat |
2nd Grand Prix des Nations
FIA Formula 1, non championship race, Circuit des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland – May 2, 1948
80 laps of the urban race-track (short version) 2,945 m (1.830 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 |
| DNF | Jean-Pierre Wimille | Simca-Gordini T15 |
| DNF | Charles Pozzi | Talbot-Lago T150C |
| DNF | Louis Rosier | Talbot-Lago 150SS |
| DNF | Yves Giraud-Cabantous | Talbot-Lago 150C |
| DNF | Nello Pagani | Maserati 4CL |
| DNF | Luigi Villoresi | Maserati 4CL |
| DNF | Luigi Fagioli | Maserati 4CL |
| DNF | Maurice Trintignant | Simca-Gordini T15 |
| DNF | Prince Bira | Maserati 4CL |
| DNF | Richard Ramseyer | Maserati 4CL |
| DNF |  Louis Chiron | Talbot-Lago T26 SS |
3rd Grand Prix de Genève
FIA Formula 2, non championship race, Circuit des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland – July 30, 1950
45 laps of the urban race-track 6,325 m (3.930 mi) or 253 km (157 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" | Ecurie Paris | Cisitalia D46/Fiat |
| DNF | Mario Tadini | Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari 166F2 |
| DNF | Aldo Gordini | Equipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini T15 |
| DNF | Roger Loyer | Ecurie Paris | Simca-Gordini T16 |
| DNF | Paul Glauser | Ecurie Suisse | Veritas Meteor |
| DNF | Alexander Orley | Alexander Orley | Veritas Meteor |
| DNF | George Abecassis | HW Motors Ltd. | HWM/Alta |
| DNF | Ernesto Tornqvist | Equipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini T11 |
| DNF | Harry Schell | Horschell Racing Corporation | Cooper T12/JAP |
3rd Grand Prix des Nations
FIA Formula 1, non championship race, Circuit des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland – July 30, 1950
68 laps of the urban race-track 6.325 km (3.930 mi) or 430 km (270 mi), at an average speed of 127.60 km/h (79.29 mph).
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| 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 |
| DNF | Raymond Sommer | Talbot-Lago T26C |
| DNF | Reg Parnell | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
| DNF | Prince Bira | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
| DNF | David Murray | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
| DNF | Gianfranco Comotti | Maserati Milano 4CLT-50 |
| DNF | Harry Schell | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
| DNF | José Froilán González | Maserati 4CLT-48 |
A tragic end
Towards the end of the third Grand Prix des Nations (1950), the engine of Alberto Ascari's Ferrari 340 blew up, pouring oil onto the corner at the end of the Avenue de la Paix. Behind him Luigi Villoresi, in a Ferrari 275, could not avoid the oil, his car skidded, went over the security barrier and ploughed into the crowd. Three spectators were killed, another twenty were injured. Villoresi survived with a severely fractured leg.
After this tragedy, stemming like others from the use of street circuits ill-adapted to increasingly high-speed motor racing, the organisers cancelled the following year's event. Geneva would never again host a Grand Prix race.
In 1958 motor racing was banned altogether by the Swiss government as an unsafe spectator sport following the death of 80 people at the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans race.
References
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