Difference between revisions of "Targa Florio"

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The '''Targa Florio''' was an open road [[endurance]] automobile race held near [[Palermo, Sicily]]. Founded in 1906, it used to be one of the oldest [[sports car racing]] events until it was discontinued in 1977 due to safety concerns. It is since run as a [[rallying]] event.
 
The '''Targa Florio''' was an open road [[endurance]] automobile race held near [[Palermo, Sicily]]. Founded in 1906, it used to be one of the oldest [[sports car racing]] events until it was discontinued in 1977 due to safety concerns. It is since run as a [[rallying]] event.
  
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[[Image:map24.jpg|thumb|250px|right|'''Map of the Targa Florio''']]
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== History ==
 
== History ==
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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.  
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 +
[[Image:Targa Florio 1923Piazza lopez.JPG|thumb|250px|Piazza-Lopez in Targa Florio 1923]]
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The race was created in 1906 by the wealthy pioneer race driver and automobile enthusiast, [[Florio|Vincenzo Florio]], who had started the "Coppa Florio" race in [[Brescia]], [[Lombardy]] in 1900.  
  
 
Always one of the toughest competitions in Europe, the first Targa Florio covered 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).
 
Always one of the toughest competitions in Europe, the first Targa Florio covered 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).
  
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[[Image:TargaFlorioposter.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[Jo Siffert]] in a [[JWA]] Gulf [[Porsche 908]]/3 winning the 1970 Targa Florio]]
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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 motor racing|Grand Prix]] races were still isolated events, not a series like today's F1.
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−
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 motor racing|Grand Prix]] races were still isolated events, not a series like todays F1.
 
  
−
The wins of [[Mercedes]] (still without [[Benz]]) in the 1920s made an big impression in Germany, especially the one of German [[Christian Werner]] in 1924, as it was the only non-Italian winner in 50 years! [[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.  
+
The wins of [[Mercedes (car)|Mercedes]] (not yet merged with [[Benz &Cie.|Benz]]) in the 1920s made a big impression in Germany, especially the one of German [[Christian Werner]] in 1924, as it was the only non-Italian winner in 50 years! [[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 the [[Le Mans 1955 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.
+
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 the [[Le Mans 1955 disaster]], but won the [[Tourist Trophy]] at [[Dundrod]]. [[Stirling Moss]]/[[Peter Collins (racing driver)|Peter Collins]] and [[Juan Manuel Fangio]]/[[Karl Kling]] finished minutes ahead of the best Ferrari and secured the title.
  
 
So, over the years, the greats of [[Grand Prix motor racing|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]], [[Maserati|Alfieri Maserati]], [[Achille Varzi]] and other, like local hero [[Nino Vaccarella]].
 
So, over the years, the greats of [[Grand Prix motor racing|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]], [[Maserati|Alfieri Maserati]], [[Achille Varzi]] and other, like local hero [[Nino Vaccarella]].
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Several versions of the track were used. It started with a length of 148km (92 miles) for a lap, then was shortened twice to the 72km lap that was used in the last decades, for usually 10 laps in the race. Start and finish was at [[Cerda]]. The counterclockwise lap lead from [[Caltavuturo]] and [[Collesano]] from over 600 meters down to [[sea level]], where the cars raced from [[Campofelice di Roccella]] on the [[Buonfornello]] straight along the coast, at over 6 km longer than at [[Le Mans]]. Also, even full tours around the island were done before and after the wars. T
 
Several versions of the track were used. It started with a length of 148km (92 miles) for a lap, then was shortened twice to the 72km lap that was used in the last decades, for usually 10 laps in the race. Start and finish was at [[Cerda]]. The counterclockwise lap lead from [[Caltavuturo]] and [[Collesano]] from over 600 meters down to [[sea level]], where the cars raced from [[Campofelice di Roccella]] on the [[Buonfornello]] straight along the coast, at over 6 km longer than at [[Le Mans]]. Also, even full tours around the island were done before and after the wars. T
  
−
The race cars were started one by one 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 1972 in an [[Alfa Romeo 33]] at 33'41 min or an average of 128,253 km/h. The fastest ever was [[Leo Kinnunen]] in 1970, qualifying the [[Porsche 908]]/3 at 128,571 km/h or 33'36 min. Due to the long track, 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 race cars were started one by one 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 1972 in an [[Alfa Romeo T33]] at 33'41 min or an average of 128,253 km/h. The fastest ever was [[Leo Kinnunen]] in 1970, qualifying the [[Porsche 908]]/3 at 128,571 km/h or 33'36 min. Due to the long track, 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.
  
 
After winning the race several times, [[Porsche]] named the convertible version of the 911 after the Targa. The name of the car with the large roll bar was a wise choice, as ''targa'' means ''shield''.
 
After winning the race several times, [[Porsche]] named the convertible version of the 911 after the Targa. The name of the car with the large roll bar was a wise choice, as ''targa'' means ''shield''.
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=== Between the Wars ===
 
=== Between the Wars ===
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*[[1919]] : [[André Boillot]], [[Peugeot|Peugeot EXS]]
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*[[1919]] : [[André Boillot]], [[Peugeot]] EXS
−
*[[1920]] : [[Guido Meregalli]], [[Nazzaro GP]]
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*[[1920]] : [[Guido Meregalli]], [[Nazzaro]] GP
 
*[[1921]] : [[Giulio Masetti]], [[Fiat|Fiat 451]]
 
*[[1921]] : [[Giulio Masetti]], [[Fiat|Fiat 451]]
−
*[[1922]] : [[Giulio Masetti]], [[Mercedes-Benz|Mercedes GP/14]]
+
*[[1922]] : [[Giulio Masetti]], [[Mercedes (car)|Mercedes]] GP/14
 
*[[1923]] : [[Ugo Sivocci]], [[Alfa Romeo|Alfa Romeo RLTF]]
 
*[[1923]] : [[Ugo Sivocci]], [[Alfa Romeo|Alfa Romeo RLTF]]
−
*[[1924]] : [[Christian Werner]], [[Mercedes-Benz|Mercedes PP]]
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*[[1924]] : [[Christian Werner]], [[Mercedes (car)|Mercedes]] PP
 
*[[1925]] : [[Meo Constantini]], [[Bugatti|Bugatti T35]]
 
*[[1925]] : [[Meo Constantini]], [[Bugatti|Bugatti T35]]
 
*[[1926]] : [[Meo Constantini]], [[Bugatti|Bugatti T35T]]
 
*[[1926]] : [[Meo Constantini]], [[Bugatti|Bugatti T35T]]
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=== World Championship races ===
 
=== World Championship races ===
−
*[[1955]] : [[Stirling Moss]]/[[Peter Collins]], [[Mercedes-Benz|Mercedes-Benz 300SLR]]
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*[[1955]] : [[Stirling Moss]]/[[Peter Collins (racing driver)|Peter Collins]], [[Mercedes-Benz|Mercedes-Benz 300SLR]]
 
*[[1956]] : [[Umberto Maglioli]]/[[Huschke von Hanstein]], [[Porsche 550]]
 
*[[1956]] : [[Umberto Maglioli]]/[[Huschke von Hanstein]], [[Porsche 550]]
−
*[[1957]] : [[Fabio Colona]], [[Fiat|Fiat 600]]
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*[[1957]] : [[Fabio Colona]], [[Fiat|Fiat 600]] (as [[regularity test]], following the [[Mille Miglia]] accident)
 
*[[1958]] : [[Luigi Musso]]/[[Olivier Gendebien]], [[Ferrari 250|Ferrari 250TR]]
 
*[[1958]] : [[Luigi Musso]]/[[Olivier Gendebien]], [[Ferrari 250|Ferrari 250TR]]
 
*[[1959]] : [[Edgar Barth]]/[[Wolfgang Seidel]], [[Porsche 718]] RSK
 
*[[1959]] : [[Edgar Barth]]/[[Wolfgang Seidel]], [[Porsche 718]] RSK
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*[[1969]] : [[Gerhard Mitter]]/[[Udo Schütz]], [[Porsche 908]]/2
 
*[[1969]] : [[Gerhard Mitter]]/[[Udo Schütz]], [[Porsche 908]]/2
 
*[[1970]] : [[Jo Siffert]]/[[Brian Redman]], [[Porsche 908]]/3
 
*[[1970]] : [[Jo Siffert]]/[[Brian Redman]], [[Porsche 908]]/3
−
*[[1971]] : [[Nino Vaccarella]]/[[Toine Hezemans]], [[Alfa Romeo 33]]/3
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*[[1971]] : [[Nino Vaccarella]]/[[Toine Hezemans]], [[Alfa Romeo T33]]/3
 
*[[1972]] : [[Arturo Merzario]]/[[Sandro Munari]], [[Ferrari 312]]P
 
*[[1972]] : [[Arturo Merzario]]/[[Sandro Munari]], [[Ferrari 312]]P
 
*[[1973]] : [[Herbert Müller]]/[[Gijs van Lennep]], [[Porsche 911]] Carrera RSR
 
*[[1973]] : [[Herbert Müller]]/[[Gijs van Lennep]], [[Porsche 911]] Carrera RSR
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=== Non-WC races ===
 
=== Non-WC races ===
 
*[[1974]] : [[Gérard Larrousse]]/[[Amilcare Ballestrieri]], [[Lancia|Lancia Stratos]]
 
*[[1974]] : [[Gérard Larrousse]]/[[Amilcare Ballestrieri]], [[Lancia|Lancia Stratos]]
−
*[[1975]] : [[Nino Vaccarella]]/[[Arturo Merzario]], [[Alfa Romeo 33]] TT 12
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*[[1975]] : [[Nino Vaccarella]]/[[Arturo Merzario]], [[Alfa Romeo T33]] TT 12
 
*[[1976]] : [[Armando Floridia]], [[Osella]]
 
*[[1976]] : [[Armando Floridia]], [[Osella]]
 
*[[1977]] : [[Raffaele Restivo]], [[Chevron Cars Ltd|Chevron]]
 
*[[1977]] : [[Raffaele Restivo]], [[Chevron Cars Ltd|Chevron]]
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== External links ==
 
== External links ==
 
*[http://www.ddavid.com/formula1/floria.htm Targa Florio History]  
 
*[http://www.ddavid.com/formula1/floria.htm Targa Florio History]  
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*[http://www.acs-protargaflorio.it/en/home.htm Italian Website "pro Targa Florio" with results etc. ]
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*[http://www.acs-protargaflorio.it/en/home.htm Italian Website "pro Targa Florio" with results etc.]
 
*[http://www.racingcircuits.net/Italy/TargaFlorio.html Track map]
 
*[http://www.racingcircuits.net/Italy/TargaFlorio.html Track map]
 
*[http://www.wspr-racing.com/wspr/results/wscc/nf_ms_home.html Results of WSC events]
 
*[http://www.wspr-racing.com/wspr/results/wscc/nf_ms_home.html Results of WSC events]
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*[http://www.targa-florio.net Photos ]
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*[http://www.targa-florio.net Photos]
  
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[[Category:Auto racing competitions]]
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[[Category:Auto races]]

Revision as of 21:28, 21 June 2007

The Targa Florio was an open road endurance automobile race held near Palermo, Sicily. Founded in 1906, it used to be one of the oldest sports car racing events until it was discontinued in 1977 due to safety concerns. It is since run as a rallying event.


History

Piazza-Lopez in Targa Florio 1923

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.

Always one of the toughest competitions in Europe, the first Targa Florio covered 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 the one of German Christian Werner in 1924, as it was the only non-Italian winner in 50 years! 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 the Le Mans 1955 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.

So, 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 other, like local hero Nino Vaccarella.

Several versions of the track were used. It started with a length of 148km (92 miles) for a lap, then was shortened twice to the 72km lap that was used in the last decades, for usually 10 laps in the race. Start and finish was at Cerda. The counterclockwise lap lead from Caltavuturo and Collesano from over 600 meters down to sea level, where the cars raced from Campofelice di Roccella on the Buonfornello straight along the coast, at over 6 km longer than at Le Mans. Also, even full tours around the island were done before and after the wars. T

The race cars were started one by one 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 1972 in an Alfa Romeo T33 at 33'41 min or an average of 128,253 km/h. The fastest ever was Leo Kinnunen in 1970, qualifying the Porsche 908/3 at 128,571 km/h or 33'36 min. Due to the long track, 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.

After winning the race several times, Porsche named the convertible version of the 911 after the Targa. The name of the car with the large roll bar was a wise choice, as targa means shield.

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 mountains villages while the people were sitting or standing 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, the last real Targa Florio as an international professional race was run in 1973. In that year, even a Porsche 911 won as the prototypes suffered crashes or other troubles. The Targa was continued as a national event for some years, before a fatal crash sealed its fate in 1977. It is since run as a rallying event.

Winners

Pre-WWI races

Between the Wars

Post-WW II races

World Championship races

Non-WC races

External links

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