Circuit de Meyrin
| Location | Meyrin, Switzerland |
|---|---|
| Opened | 9 June 1923 |
| Closed | 1931 |
| Major events | Geneva Grand Prix (1931) Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix (1923–1929) |
| Length | 9.300 km (5.779 miles) |
| Turns | 3 |
The Circuit de Meyrin was a temporary motor racing circuit in Meyrin, Switzerland. It had a triangular layout of 9.3 km (5.78 mi) starting from Route de Meyrin, turning right on Avenue de Vaudagne, then right again on Route de Prevessin (now Rue Robert-Adrien-Stierlin), before rejoining Route de Meyrin at Bouchet to complete the lap, with grandstands for spectators built on Route de Meyrin.[1][2] The location of the circuit was chosen due to its proximity to the city.[3]
The track was first used in 1923 hosting the Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix as well as grand prix for sidecars and for cyclecars[2] which was the first car race in Switzerland.[4] The success of the first event propelled the track to prominence, making it the premier motorsport event in Switzerland attracting international talent for the 1924 event, including racing for motorcycles (250cc, 350cc and 500cc), sidecars (600cc and 1000cc), voiturettes and cyclecars (750cc, 1100cc and 1500cc).[5][6]
Racing at the circuit continued throughout the 1920s[7] until the final event held at the track was the 1931 Geneva Grand Prix. The event was won by Marcel Lehoux,[8] however a crash involving the car of Stanisław Czaykowski resulted in the death of a bystander in a house adjacent to the circuit.[9][10] As a result of the crash, races at the circuit were discontinued because it was determined that racing on public roads in towns and near houses was too unsafe.[11]
Today, most of the public roads that made up the circuit are still in use, however a section road was removed to make way for the expansion of Geneva Airport.
Results
[edit]Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix Winners by year
[edit]| Year | 125cc | 175cc | 250cc | 350cc | 500cc | Report | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | ||
| 1929 |  "Crotti"
|
Zehnder | Georges Trezza
|
Allegro | Otto Zehnder
|
Zehnder |  François Gaussorgues
|
Monet-Goyon | Emil Frey
|
Radco | Report |
| 1928 | Paul Lehmann
|
Moser |  Alfredo Panella
|
Ladetto-Blatto |  Cecil Ashby
|
OK-Supreme | Wal Handley
|
Motosacoche | Wal Handley
|
Motosacoche | Report |
| 1927 | O. Graf
|
Zehnder | Alexandre Hommaire
|
Monet-Goyon | Licinio Lasagni
|
Moto Guzzi | Jimmie Simpson
|
AJS |  Stanley Woods
|
Norton | Report |
| Year | 250cc | 350cc | 500cc | 1000cc | Report | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | Rider | Manufacturer | ||
| 1924 | Léon Divorne
|
Condor | Tommy de la Haye
|
Sunbeam | Graham Walker
|
Sunbeam | Report | ||
| 1923[13] | Paul Dinkel
|
Condor | Isacco Mariani
|
Garelli | Paul Péan
|
Peugeot | Report | ||
Source:[14]
Geneva Grand Prix Winners by year
[edit]| Year | Winning driver | Winning constructor | Report |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1931[8] | Marcel Lehoux
|
Bugatti
|
Report |
References
[edit]- ^ "Un circuit et des Grands prix à Meyrin" (PDF). Archives de la commune de Meyrin (in French). Retrieved February 1, 2025.
- ^ a b "Le Grand-prix". Journal de Geneve (in French). May 30, 1923. p. 5.
- ^ "Les Sports". Journal de Geneve (in French). June 7, 1923. p. 6.
- ^ Cimarosti 1997, p.63
- ^ "Le Grand-Prix suisse". Journal de Geneve (in French). June 6, 1924. pp. 5–6.
- ^ "I Grand Prix de Suisse de Cyclecars". Racing Years. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
- ^ a b "Brooklands Thrill". Daily News (London). July 30, 1928. pp. 8–9.
- ^ a b "1931 Geneva Grand Prix". Motorsport Magazine. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
- ^ "Il G.P. di Ginevra funestato da un mortale investimento". La Stampa (in Italian). June 8, 1931. p. 4.
- ^ "Victor Zaninetti". Motorsport Memorial. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
- ^ "La mort va vite". Journal de Geneve (in French). June 9, 1931. p. 4.
- ^ "Il Gran Premio Motociclistico d'Europa". La Stampa (in Italian). July 30, 1928. p. 2.
- ^ "Le Grand-Prix de Suisse". Journal de Geneve (in French). June 11, 1923. p. 5.
- ^ "L'HISTOIRE DU GRAND PRIX DE SUISSE". racingmemo (in French). Retrieved February 1, 2025.
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