Geneva race-track

The Geneva

Geneva

Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...

 race-track was established between the lake (Geneva) and the Nations square. Its length was 4110 m (2.6 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

Giuseppe Farina

Emilio Giuseppe "Nino" Farina was an Italian racing driver. He stands out in the history of Grand Prix motor racing for his much copied 'straight-arm' driving style and his status as the first ever Formula One World Champion.-Biography:Born in Turin, Italy and nicknamed "Nino", Farina was a doctor...

 , Raymond Sommer

Raymond Sommer

Raymond Sommer was a Grand Prix motor racing driver....

, Maurice Trintignant

Maurice Trintignant

Maurice Bienvenu Jean Paul Trintignant was a motor racing driver and vintner from France. He competed in the Formula One World Championship for fourteen years, between 1950 and 1964, one of the longest careers in the early years of F1...

, Juan Manuel Fangio

Juan Manuel Fangio

Juan Manuel Fangio , nicknamed El Chueco or El Maestro , was a racing car driver from Argentina, who dominated the first decade of Formula One racing...

, Prince Bira

Prince Bira

12th, 1956 Melbourne, Star 19th, 1960 Rome, Star 22nd, 1964 Tokio, Dragon 21st, 1972 Munich, TempestPrince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh better known as Prince Bira of Siam , or by his nom de course B...

 (who had established residency, in Geneva).

The closest race-tracks were Aix les Bains – France (Circuit du Lac

Aix les Bains Circuit du Lac

Aix-les-Bains, Savoie, France had a temporary race track, called Circuit du Lac, that hosted Formula 2, Formula Junior and Motorcycle Grand Prix races. It hosted events from 1949 to 1961.-Introduction:...

) 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 1946 Nations Grand Prix The 1946 Nations Grand Prix was a Grand Prix motor race held in Geneva on July 21, 1946.-Final:-Heat 1:Drivers in bold advanced to the final* Pole position : Jean-Pierre Wimille, 1:37.5* Fastest lap : Jean-Pierre Wimille, 1:47.2-Heat 2:...	Circuit des Nations	Grand Prix FIA	2.9 km (1.8 mi)Switzerland
May 2, 1948	2nd Grand Prix de Genève	Circuit des Nations	Formula 2 FIA, non-championship	2.9 km (1.8 mi)
May 2, 1948	2nd Grand Prix des Nations	Circuit des Nations	Formula 1 FIA, non-championship	2.9 km (1.8 mi)
July 30, 1950	3rd Grand Prix de Genève	Circuit des Nations	Formula 2 FIA, non-championship	3.99 km (2.5 mi)
July 30, 1950	3rd Grand Prix des Nations	Circuit des Nations	Formula 1 FIA, non-championship	3.99 km (2.5 mi)

Note: contradictory information about the length of the track have been witnessed.

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 2900 m (1.8 mi), or 131.4 km (81.6 mi), at an average speed of 103.9 kilometre per hour.

Position	Pilot	Car
1	Giuseppe Farina Giuseppe Farina Emilio Giuseppe "Nino" Farina was an Italian racing driver. He stands out in the history of Grand Prix motor racing for his much copied 'straight-arm' driving style and his status as the first ever Formula One World Champion.-Biography:Born in Turin, Italy and nicknamed "Nino", Farina was a doctor...	Alfa Romeo 158
2	Carlo Felice Trossi Carlo Felice Trossi Count Carlo Felice Trossi was an Italian racecar driver and auto constructor. During his career, he raced for two teams, Mercedes-Benz and Alfa Romeo. He won the 1947 Italian Grand Prix and the 1948 Swiss Grand Prix...	Alfa Romeo 158
3	Jean-Pierre Wimille Jean-Pierre Wimille Jean-Pierre Wimille was a Grand Prix motor racing driver and a member of the French Resistance during World War II.-Biography:...	Alfa Romeo 158
4	Tazio Nuvolari Tazio Nuvolari Tazio Giorgio Nuvolari was an Italian motorcycle and racecar driver, known as Il Mantovano Volante or Nivola. He was the 1932 European Champion in Grand Prix motor racing...	Maserati 4CL Maserati 4CL and 4CLT The Maserati 4CL and its derived sister model the Maserati 4CLT are single-seat racing cars that were designed and built by Maserati. The 4CL was introduced at the beginning of the 1939 season, as a rival to the Alfa Romeo 158 and various ERA models in the voiturette class of international Grand...
5	Emmanuel de Graffenried	Maserati 4CL
6	Prince Bira Prince Bira 12th, 1956 Melbourne, Star 19th, 1960 Rome, Star 22nd, 1964 Tokio, Dragon 21st, 1972 Munich, TempestPrince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh better known as Prince Bira of Siam , or by his nom de course B...	ERA English Racing Automobiles English Racing Automobiles was a British racing car manufacturer active from 1933 to 1954. Currently the ERA trademark is owned by a British kit-car manufacturer.-Prewar history:...  B
7	Achille Varzi Achille Varzi Achille Varzi , was an Italian Grand Prix driver.-Career:Born in Galliate, province of Novara , Achille Varzi was the son of a prosperous textile manufacturer...	Alfa Romeo 158
8	Raymond Sommer Raymond Sommer Raymond Sommer was a Grand Prix motor racing driver....	Maserati 4CL
DNF	George Abecassis George Abecassis George Edgar Abecassis DFC was an English racing driver, and co-founder of the HWM Formula One team.-Pre-1946 career:...	Alta
DNF	Reg Parnell Reg Parnell Reginald Harold Haslam Parnell was a racing driver and team manager from England. He participated in seven Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, achieving one podium, and scoring a total of 9 championship points.-Driving career:Before World War II Parnell was a very successful racing...	Maserati 4CL
DNF	Luigi Villoresi Luigi Villoresi Luigi Villoresi was an Italian Grand Prix motor racing driver who continued racing on the Formula One circuit at the time of its inception.-Biography:...	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) 2900 m (1.8 mi), or 206 km (128 mi), at an average speed of 98.15 kilometre per hour.

Position	Pilot	Team	Car
1	Raymond Sommer Raymond Sommer Raymond Sommer was a Grand Prix motor racing driver....	Equipe Gordini	Simca-Gordini Gordini Gordini is a French sports car manufacturer. The firm was founded by Amédée Gordini nicknamed "Le Sorcier" .Gordini competed in Formula One from 1950 to 1956....  T11
2	Prince Bira Prince Bira 12th, 1956 Melbourne, Star 19th, 1960 Rome, Star 22nd, 1964 Tokio, Dragon 21st, 1972 Munich, TempestPrince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh better known as Prince Bira of Siam , or by his nom de course B...	Equipe Gordini	Simca-Gordini T11
3	Robert Manzon Robert Manzon Robert Manzon is a former racing driver from France. He was born in Marseille. He participated in 29 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on May 21, 1950. He achieved 2 podiums, and scored a total of 16 championship points...	Equipe Gordini	Simca-Gordini T11
4	Harry Schell Harry Schell Harry O'Reilly Schell was an American Grand Prix motor racing driver.-Early life:...	Ecurie Bleue	Cisitalia Cisitalia Cisitalia was an Italian sports and racing car constructor. The name "Cisitalia" derives from "Compagnia Industriale Sportive Italia", a business conglomerate founded in Turin in 1946 and controlled by the wealthy industrialist and sportsman Piero Dusio...  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 Roger Loyer Roger Loyer was a motorcycle road racer and racing driver from France. He won the 1937 250cc French motorcycle Grand Prix and the 1938 350cc French motorcycle Grand Prix....	Ecurie de Paris	Cisitalia D46-Fiat
DNF	Maurice Trintignant Maurice Trintignant Maurice Bienvenu Jean Paul Trintignant was a motor racing driver and vintner from France. He competed in the Formula One World Championship for fourteen years, between 1950 and 1964, one of the longest careers in the early years of F1...	Equipe Gordini	Simca-Gordini T11
DNF	Hans Stuck Hans Stuck Hans Stuck was a German motor racing driver...	Hans Stuck	Cisitalia D46-Fiat
DNF	Rudolf Fischer Rudolf Fischer Rudolf Fischer may refer to:* Rudi Fischer , Swiss racing driver* Rudolf Fischer , German musician* Rudolf Fischer , German writer...	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) 2900 m (1.8 mi) or 236 km (146.6 mi), at an average speed of 98.18 kilometre per hour.

Position	Pilot	Car
1	Giuseppe Farina Giuseppe Farina Emilio Giuseppe "Nino" Farina was an Italian racing driver. He stands out in the history of Grand Prix motor racing for his much copied 'straight-arm' driving style and his status as the first ever Formula One World Champion.-Biography:Born in Turin, Italy and nicknamed "Nino", Farina was a doctor...	Maserati 4CLT
2	Emmanuel de Graffenried	Maserati 4CL
3	Raymond Sommer Raymond Sommer Raymond Sommer was a Grand Prix motor racing driver....	Ferrari 166SC Ferrari 166 S The Ferrari 166 S was an evolution of Ferrari's 125 S sports race car that became a sports car for the street in the form of the 166 Inter. Only 39 Ferrari 166 S's were produced, soon followed by the production of the 166 Mille Miglia which was made in much larger numbers from 1949 to 1952...
4	Eugène Chaboud Eugène Chaboud Marius Eugène Chaboud was a racing driver from France. He participated in three Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, scoring one championship point...	Delahaye Delahaye Delahaye automobile manufacturing company was started by Emile Delahaye in 1894, in Tours, France. His first cars were belt-driven, with single- or twin-cylinder engines. In 1900, Delahaye left the company.-History:...  135S
5	Henri Louveau Henri Louveau Henri Louveau was a racing driver from France. He participated in two Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on September 3, 1950. He scored no championship points....	Delage Delage Delage was a French luxury automobile and racecar company founded in 1905 by Louis Delage in Levallois-Perret near Paris; it was acquired by Delahaye in 1935 and ceased operation in 1953.-History:...  D6.70
6	Clemar Bucci Clemar Bucci Clemar Bucci was a racing driver from Argentina. He participated in five World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 17 July 1954 and several non-Championship Formula One races. He scored no championship points...	Maserati 4CL
DNF	Jean-Pierre Wimille Jean-Pierre Wimille Jean-Pierre Wimille was a Grand Prix motor racing driver and a member of the French Resistance during World War II.-Biography:...	Simca-Gordini T15
DNF	Charles Pozzi Charles Pozzi Charles Pozzi was a French racing driver who participated in one World Championship Formula One race in 1950, the year of its inception....	Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago was a French automobile manufacturer based in Suresnes, Hauts de Seine, outside of Paris.-Origins:The Anglo-French STD combine collapsed in 1935. The French Talbot company was acquired and reorganised by a Venetian born engineer called Anthony Lago and after that, the Talbot-Lago...  T150C
DNF	Louis Rosier Louis Rosier Louis Rosier was a racing driver from France.-Career highlights:...	Talbot-Lago 150SS
DNF	Yves Giraud-Cabantous	Talbot-Lago 150C
DNF	Nello Pagani Nello Pagani Cirillo "Nello" Pagani was an Italian Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and Formula One driver. He was born in Milan, Lombardy, and died in Bresso....	Maserati 4CL
DNF	Luigi Villoresi Luigi Villoresi Luigi Villoresi was an Italian Grand Prix motor racing driver who continued racing on the Formula One circuit at the time of its inception.-Biography:...	Maserati 4CL
DNF	Luigi Fagioli Luigi Fagioli Luigi Fagioli , nicknamed "the Abruzzi robber", was an Italian motor racing driver.-Career:Born in the small city of Osimo, Ancona Province in the Marche region of central Italy, as a boy Luigi Fagioli was fascinated by the relatively new invention of the automobile and the ensuing racing...	Maserati 4CL
DNF	Maurice Trintignant Maurice Trintignant Maurice Bienvenu Jean Paul Trintignant was a motor racing driver and vintner from France. He competed in the Formula One World Championship for fourteen years, between 1950 and 1964, one of the longest careers in the early years of F1...	Simca-Gordini T15
DNF	Prince Bira Prince Bira 12th, 1956 Melbourne, Star 19th, 1960 Rome, Star 22nd, 1964 Tokio, Dragon 21st, 1972 Munich, TempestPrince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh better known as Prince Bira of Siam , or by his nom de course B...	Maserati 4CL
DNF	Richard Ramseyer	Maserati 4CL
DNF	Louis Chiron Louis Chiron Louis Alexandre Chiron was a Grand Prix driver.-Career:As a teenager, Louis Chiron fell in love with cars and racing. He learned to drive at a young age and joined the Grand Prix circuit after World War I where he had been requisitioned from the artillery section to serve as a chauffeur...	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 3900 m (2.4 mi) or 180 km (111.8 mi), at an average speed of 120.93 kilometre per hour.

Position	Pilot	Team	Car
1	Maurice Trintignant Maurice Trintignant Maurice Bienvenu Jean Paul Trintignant was a motor racing driver and vintner from France. He competed in the Formula One World Championship for fourteen years, between 1950 and 1964, one of the longest careers in the early years of F1...	Equipe Gordini	Simca-Gordini T15
2	André Simon	Equipe Gordini	Simca-Gordini T15
3	Dorino Serafini Dorino Serafini Teodoro "Dorino" Serafini was a motorcycle road racer and racing driver from Italy.A native of Pesaro , he won the 1939 500cc European Championship on a Gilera...	Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari 166F2
4	Roberto Mieres Roberto Mieres Roberto Mieres is a former racing driver from Mar del Plata, Argentina. He participated in 17 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on June 7, 1953. He scored a total of 13 championship points....	Automovil Club Argentina	Maserati 4CLT/48
5	André Canonica	André Canonica	Simca-Gordini T11
6	Lance Macklin Lance Macklin Lance Noel Macklin was a British racing driver from England. He participated in 15 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 18 May 1952....	HW Motors Ltd.	HWM/Alta
7	Alfred Dattner	Alfred Dattner	Simca-Gordini T11
8	Luigi Villoresi Luigi Villoresi Luigi Villoresi was an Italian Grand Prix motor racing driver who continued racing on the Formula One circuit at the time of its inception.-Biography:...	Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari 166F2
9	Toni Branca Toni Branca Antonio Branca was a Formula One driver from Switzerland who mainly raced a Maserati 4CLT. According to legend, his motor racing career was financed by an admiring Belgian countess....	Mme. Walckiers	Simca-Gordini T15
10	"Robert"	Ecurie Paris	Cisitalia D46/Fiat
DNF	Mario Tadini	Scuderia Ferrari	Ferrari 166F2
DNF	Aldo Gordini Aldo Gordini Aldo Gordini was a racing driver from France. Born in Bologna, Italy, he was the son of Amédée Gordini, owner of the French sports car manufacturer Gordini...	Equipe Gordini	Simca-Gordini T15
DNF	Roger Loyer Roger Loyer Roger Loyer was a motorcycle road racer and racing driver from France. He won the 1937 250cc French motorcycle Grand Prix and the 1938 350cc French motorcycle Grand Prix....	Ecurie Paris	Simca-Gordini T16
DNF	Paul Glauser	Ecurie Suisse	Veritas Veritas (Automobile) Veritas was a famous West German post World War II sports and race car company, located in the village of Hausen am Andelsbach, near Sigmaringen, Baden-Württemberg, later at Meßkirch and Muggensturm and moved finally to the Nürburgring....  Meteor
DNF	Alexander Orley	Alexander Orley	Veritas Meteor
DNF	George Abecassis George Abecassis George Edgar Abecassis DFC was an English racing driver, and co-founder of the HWM Formula One team.-Pre-1946 career:...	HW Motors Ltd.	HWM Hersham and Walton Motors Hersham and Walton Motors is the world's longest established Aston Martin business and is well known as a racing car constructor. As a constructor, it is best known for its involvement in Formula Two from 1950 to 1953 and Formula One in 1954... /Alta
DNF	Ernesto Tornqvist	Equipe Gordini	Simca-Gordini T11
DNF	Harry Schell Harry Schell Harry O'Reilly Schell was an American Grand Prix motor racing driver.-Early life:...	Horschell Racing Corporation	Cooper T12 Cooper Mark IV The Cooper Mark IV was a Formula Three and Formula Two racing car designed and built by the Cooper Car Company at Surbiton, Surrey, England, in 1950.Following the adoption of the 500cc formula for F3 in 1949, Cooper evolved the Mark III to use a JAP single.... /JAP JA Prestwich Industries Ltd JA Prestwich Industries, was an English engineering company named after founder John Alfred Prestwich, which produced cinematographic equipment, internal combustion engines , and other examples of precision engineering.-History:J. A...

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 3900 m (2.4 mi) or 272 km (169 mi), at an average speed of 127.6 kilometre per hour.

Position	Pilot	Car
1	Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio Juan Manuel Fangio , nicknamed El Chueco or El Maestro , was a racing car driver from Argentina, who dominated the first decade of Formula One racing...	Alfa Romeo 158
2	Emmanuel de Graffenried	Alfa Romeo 158
3	Piero Taruffi Piero Taruffi Piero Taruffi , was a racing driver from Italy, and also the father of lady racer Prisca Taruffi.-Sports car career:...	Alfa Romeo 158
4	Alberto Ascari Alberto Ascari Alberto Ascari was an Italian racing driver and twice Formula One World Champion. He is one of only two Italian Formula One World Champions in the history of the sport, and the only one winning his two championships in a Ferrari....	Ferrari 125 Ferrari 125 F1 The 125 F1 was Ferrari's first Formula One car. It shared its engine with the 125 S sports racer which preceded it by a year, but was developed at the same time by Enzo Ferrari and famed designer, Gioacchino Colombo....
5	Yves Giraud-Cabantous	Talbot-Lago T26C
6	Giuseppe Farina Giuseppe Farina Emilio Giuseppe "Nino" Farina was an Italian racing driver. He stands out in the history of Grand Prix motor racing for his much copied 'straight-arm' driving style and his status as the first ever Formula One World Champion.-Biography:Born in Turin, Italy and nicknamed "Nino", Farina was a doctor...	Alfa Romeo 158
7	Robert Manzon Robert Manzon Robert Manzon is a former racing driver from France. He was born in Marseille. He participated in 29 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on May 21, 1950. He achieved 2 podiums, and scored a total of 16 championship points...	Simca-Gordini T15
8	Louis Chiron Louis Chiron Louis Alexandre Chiron was a Grand Prix driver.-Career:As a teenager, Louis Chiron fell in love with cars and racing. He learned to drive at a young age and joined the Grand Prix circuit after World War I where he had been requisitioned from the artillery section to serve as a chauffeur...	Maserati 4CLT-48
9	Luigi Villoresi Luigi Villoresi Luigi Villoresi was an Italian Grand Prix motor racing driver who continued racing on the Formula One circuit at the time of its inception.-Biography:...	Ferrari 125
10	Johnny Claes Johnny Claes Octave John "Johnny" Claes was a racing driver from Belgium. Before his fame as a racing driver, Claes was also a jazz trumpeter and successful bandleader in Britain.-Early life and jazz career:...	Talbot-Lago T26C
11	Felice Bonetto Felice Bonetto Felice Bonetto was a racing driver who raced in Formula One for the Maserati, Scuderia Milano and Alfa Romeo teams....	Maserati Milano 4CLT-50 Scuderia Milano Scuderia Milano was an Italian motor racing team run by the Ruggeri brothers that raced Maseratis in the early post-war period. They participated in a single Formula One Grand Prix as a constructor in 1950....
12	Franco Rol Franco Rol Franco Rol was a racing driver from Italy. He participated in five Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on May 21, 1950. He scored no championship points. He also participated in many non-championship Formula One events.-Complete Formula One World Championship results:-References:...	Maserati 4CLT-48
13	Toni Branca Toni Branca Antonio Branca was a Formula One driver from Switzerland who mainly raced a Maserati 4CLT. According to legend, his motor racing career was financed by an admiring Belgian countess....	Maserati 4CL
DNF	Raymond Sommer Raymond Sommer Raymond Sommer was a Grand Prix motor racing driver....	Talbot-Lago T26C
DNF	Reg Parnell Reg Parnell Reginald Harold Haslam Parnell was a racing driver and team manager from England. He participated in seven Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, achieving one podium, and scoring a total of 9 championship points.-Driving career:Before World War II Parnell was a very successful racing...	Maserati 4CLT-48
DNF	Prince Bira Prince Bira 12th, 1956 Melbourne, Star 19th, 1960 Rome, Star 22nd, 1964 Tokio, Dragon 21st, 1972 Munich, TempestPrince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh better known as Prince Bira of Siam , or by his nom de course B...	Maserati 4CLT-48
DNF	David Murray	Maserati 4CLT-48
DNF	Gianfranco Comotti	Maserati Milano 4CLT-50
DNF	Harry Schell Harry Schell Harry O'Reilly Schell was an American Grand Prix motor racing driver.-Early life:...	Maserati 4CLT-48
DNF	Jose Froilan Gonzalez José Froilán González José Froilán González is an Argentine former racing driver, particularly notable for scoring Ferrari's first win in a Formula One World Championship race at the 1951 British Grand Prix. He made his Formula One debut for Scuderia Achille Varzi in the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix...	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

1955 Le Mans disaster

The 1955 Le Mans disaster occurred during the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race, when a crash caused large parts of racing car debris to fly into the crowd. The driver was killed, as were 83 spectators. A further 120 people were injured...

race.