The Circuit des Nations ("Circuit of the Nations") was a street circuit between Lake Geneva and the Palais 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[1] was established in the 1930s between the lake (Geneva) and the Nations square following the closure of the nearby Circuit de Meyrin.
The circuit hosted some local motorcycling events before holding its first international event, the 1938 Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix.[2] Racing at the track was suspended during World War II and international competition resumed in 1946 when a number of Grand-Prix races on both two and four wheels were held on this track. In total, five major car races and four major motorcycle races happened on this track between 1938 and 1950.
The original length of the track for the 1938 event was stated as 2.800 km (1.740 mi).[2] Over the years small changes were made to the track layout until the track was significantly lengthened for the 1950 event by cutting out the hairpin on Avenue de France and replacing it by two long straits on both sides of Route de Lausanne, connected by a 180-degree hairpin.
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 17, 1938 | 15th Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix | Circuit des Nations | 250cc, 350cc, 500cc, sidecar (600cc) | 2.800 km (1.740 mi)[2] |
| July 14, 1946 | 16th Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix | Circuit des Nations | 250cc, 350cc, 500cc, sidecar | 2.986 km (1.855 mi) |
| July 21, 1946 | 1st Grand Prix des Nations | Circuit des Nations | Grand Prix FIA | 2.986 km (1.855 mi)[3] |
| May 2, 1948 | 2nd Grand Prix de Genève | Circuit des Nations | Formula 2 FIA, non-championship | 2.965 km (1.842 mi) |
| May 2, 1948 | 2nd Grand Prix des Nations | Circuit des Nations | Formula 1 FIA, non-championship | 2.965 km (1.842 mi)[4] |
| May 16, 1948 | 18th Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix | Circuit des Nations | 250cc, 350cc, 500cc, sidecar | 2.965 km (1.842 mi) |
| July 23, 1950 | 20th Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix | Circuit des Nations | 250cc, 350cc, 500cc, sidecar | 6.325 km (3.930 mi) |
| July 30, 1950 | 3rd Grand Prix de Genève | Circuit des Nations | Formula 2 FIA, non-championship | 6.325 km (3.930 mi) |
| July 30, 1950 | 3rd Grand Prix des Nations | Circuit des Nations | Formula 1 FIA, non-championship | 6.325 km (3.930 mi) [5] |
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).[6]
| Position | Pilot | Team | Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raymond Sommer | Équipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini T11 |
| 2 | Prince Bira | Équipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini T11 |
| 3 | Robert Manzon | Équipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini T11 |
| 4 |  Harry Schell | Écurie Bleue | Cisitalia D46-Fiat |
| 5 | "Robert" | Écurie Pano | Cisitalia D46-Fiat |
| 6 | Claude Bernheim | Écurie 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 | Écurie de Paris | Cisitalia D46-Fiat |
| DNF | Maurice Trintignant | Équipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini T11 |
| DNF |  Hans Stuck | Hans Stuck | Cisitalia D46-Fiat |
| DNF | Rudolf Fischer | Écurie Espadon[7] | Simca-Gordini T11 |
| DQ | Walter Triverio | Écurie 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 | Équipe 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" | Écurie Paris | Cisitalia D46/Fiat |
| DNF | Mario Tadini | Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari 166F2 |
| DNF | Aldo Gordini | Équipe Gordini | Simca-Gordini T15 |
| DNF | Roger Loyer | Écurie Paris | Simca-Gordini T16 |
| DNF | Paul Glauser | Écurie Suisse | Veritas Meteor |
| DNF | Alexander Orley | Alexander Orley | Veritas Meteor |
| DNF | George Abecassis | HW Motors Ltd. | HWM/Alta |
| DNF | Ernesto Tornqvist | Équipe 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).
| 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 |
Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix winners by year
| Year | 250cc | 350cc | 500cc | Sidecar | Report | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | ||
| 1950 | Dario Ambrosini |
Benelli |  Leslie Graham |
AJS | Leslie Graham |
AJS | Eric Oliver/Lorenzo Dobelli |
Norton | Report |
| 1948 | Dario Ambrosini |
Benelli | Artie Bell |
Norton | Harold Daniell |
Norton | Hans Haldemann/ Herbert Läderach |
Norton | Report |
| 1946 |  Celeste Cavaciuti |
Moto Guzzi | Walther Hess |
Velocette | Nello Pagani |
Gilera | Ferdinand Aubert/ Rudi Grob |
Norton | Report |
| 1938 |  Ewald Kluge |
DKW | Harold Daniell |
Norton | Harold Daniell |
Norton | Arthur Horton/ Les Seals |
Norton | Report |
Source:[8]
Cancellation
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;[9] 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
- ↑ Archived 2008-04-10 at the Wayback Machine Map
- 1 2 3 "A le veille du Grand Prix suisse de motocyclisme". Journal de Geneve (in French). July 17, 1938. p. 3.
- ↑ "Grand Prix des Nations". Stats F1. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
- ↑ "II Grand Prix des Nations". Stats F1. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
- ↑ "III Grand Prix des Nations". Stats F1. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
- ↑ "Formula 2 1948 - Geneve". Formula2.net. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
- ↑ "The Scuderia Espadon and its Surroundings". Archived from the original on 2008-04-10. Retrieved 2016-03-04. (en) présentation
- ↑ "L'HISTOIRE DU GRAND PRIX DE SUISSE". racingmemo (in French). Retrieved February 1, 2025.
- ↑ (en) Circuit des Nations – détails of the accident
