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1938 - 7 agosto
Percorso: Rotonda d Ardenza Mare - Via della Torre - Ardenza Terra - Via del Littorale - Via Aurelia - Via dei Bagni - Viale Vittorio Emanuele - Rotonda d Ardenza - (lunghezza: 5,875 km).
XVIII Coppa Ciano Formula 1 4,5 litri asp. 3,0 litri comp. (40 giri - 235 km)
1) LANG Hermann, su Mercedes) 1h. 40 .35 .1/5 (media 138,388 km/h);
2) FARINA Giuseppe, su Alfa Romeo, in 1h. 41 .23 .1/5;
3) BIONDETTI Clemente/WIMILLE J.Pierre, su Alfa Romeo, a un giro;
4) BELMONDO Vittorio, su Alfa Romeo, a due giri;
5) DREYFUS René, su Delahaye a tre giri.
Giro pi veloce il 31 di von Brauchitsch Manfred ed il 32 di Lang Hermann in 2 .25 .2/5 a 143,603 Km/h.
Ritirati: ZEHENDER Goffredo (Maserati) al 2 giro; COMOTTI Gianfranco (Delahaye) al 7 giro; TEAGNO Edoardo (Maserati) al 12 giro; TROSSI Carlo Felice (Maserati) al 16 giro; CARACCIOLA Rudolph (Mercedes) al 26 giro.
N.B.: Manfred Von Brauchitsch (Mercedes) era transitato primo al traguardo in 1h 39 56 2/5 ma venne squalificato perch dopo un testa coda nei pressi del traguardo la sua vettura era stata rimessa in pista dal pubblico, azione non consentita dal regolamento delle gare internazionali.
Vetturette 1500 cmc (25 giri - 145 km)
1) VILLORESI Emilio, su Alfa Romeo,in 1h.05 .21 3/5 (media 133,108 km/h);
2) BIONDETTI Clemente, su Alfa Romeo, in 1h. 05 .23 .4/5;
3) MARAZZA Aldo, su Maserati, in 1h.06 .22 .1/5;
4) CORTESE Franco, su Maserati, in 1h.06 .42 .4/5;
5) BARBIERI Ferdinando, su Macerati, a un giro;
6) SEVERI Francesco, su Alfa Romeo, a due giri.
7) CORSI Secondo, su Maserati, in a quattro giri.
Giro pi veloce il 13 di Villoresi Emilio in 2 .21 . 2/5 a 137,912 km/h
Ritirati: PELASSA Giorgio (Maserati) al 5 giro; TEAGNO Edoardo (Maserati) all 8 giro; MORELLI Angelo (Maserati) al 9 giro; PIETSCH Paul (Maserati) al 19 giro; BREZZI Andrea(Maserati) al 20 giro.
(Da: Maurizio Mazzoni: Lampi sul Tirreno , Firenze 2006)
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XVIII° CIRCUITO DEL MONTENERO - (XIIa) COPPA CIANO
Ardenza Circuit, Livorno (I), 7 August 1938
40 laps x 5.8 km (3.6 mi) = 232.0 km (144.2 mi)
Lang wins the Coppa Ciano
by Hans Etzrodt and Leif Snellman
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The 1938 Coppa Ciano over 40 laps was a minor event. Of the 11 starters the two Mercedes of Caracciola and Lang took the lead ahead of Farina (Alfa Romeo), Trossi (Maserati), Brauchitsch (Mercedes) followed by six others.
On the 2nd lap Zehender (Maserati) retired. On the 4th lap Trossi took the lead ahead of Caracciola, Lang, Farina and Brauchitsch. At this time Comotti (Delahaye) retired. When Trossi stopped on lap nine, Caracciola
re-took the lead, Lang became second ahead of Brauchitsch who had passed Farina. Trossi had fallen one lap behind and stopped again on the 13th lap when Brauchitsch spun into the straw bales and backed out with reverse gear.
Enthusiastic spectators helped push his car on the track, which was a rules violation. Trossi eventually retired on the 16th lap including Teagno (Maserati). After 20 laps Caracciola led ahead of Lang, Farina and Brauchitsch.
When Caracciola stopped to change tires, Lang took the lead ahead of Farina, Caracciola and Brauchitsch. On lap 24 the sick Wimille handed his Alfa Romeo to Biondetti. Caracciola retired after 26 laps when Farina stopped
at the pits and Brauchitsch became second behind Lang. Brauchitsch chased after Lang who stopped near the end to change rear wheels, so Brauchitsch took the lead which he kept until the finish. After Brauchitsch was
presented to the Contessa Ciano as the winner to receive the first prize, a protest was placed by Alfa Corse and the German was disqualified. So then Lang was declared the winner and received the Ciano Cup. Farina came
second, Wimille/Biondetti third, Belmondo fourth, and Dreyfus fifth.
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The organization of the 18th Coppa Ciano was overseen by RACI. The event counted towards the 1938 Italian and European Championships, to be held on the Ardenza town circuit, which was shortened from 7.200 km to
5.800 km, leading through narrow streets and being bordered by walls, located just south of Livorno (Leghorn in English). From the start at Rotonda Ardenza, Via del Mare, Ardenza terra, Via del Litorale, Via Aurelia,
Piazza Bartolomei (Antignano), Piazza del Castello, then along the narrow 1.4 km coastal straight of Viale Vittorio Emanuele, the only place to pass another car, then back to Rotonda Ardenza.
The Coppa Ciano was to be the first severe confrontation of the season among the three manufacturers. The total cash prizes for the 1500 cc class were 35,000 Lire, and for the Grand Prix class 90,000 Lire. Thus, the
general total cash prizes of 125,000 Lire was less than the 150,000 lire of the past.
The Coppa or trophy was donated by the Italian Navy hero Costanzo Ciano for a 1927 Montenero sports car race, which was named after the trophy. The Coppa Ciano name was applied for the second time to the 1928 Montenero
sports car race. As of 1929, when the sports car race was dropped from the program, the Coppa Ciano name was assigned to the racecar event for the first time.
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Entries:
There were 11 entries listed. Daimler-Benz was present with four cars, one of them for practice, for the three drivers, Rudolf Caracciola, Manfred von Brauchitsch and Hermann Lang. Seaman was not entered and Walter
Bäumer was the reserve driver. The radiators of the three Mercedes were again painted and framed in different colors to enable the pit crew to recognize the cars from a long distance. Brauchitsch's radiator was framed
in red, Lang blue and Caracciola gray. Because of the high outside temperatures all W 154 drove without covered exhaust pipes. For the same reason the cars of Lang and Brauchitsch both had an additional oil cooler
installed to the right side of a wider radiator grill. Caracciola drove a lighter experimental version of the W 154 with a different tank lay-out to improve the car's handling. The car had two little cowls on top
of the radiator. The additional oil cooler opening to the right side of the radiator grill was installed rather elegantly.
The Auto Union team had not entered their cars and instead prepared seriously for the Coppa Acerbo race, one week later.
Alfa Corse managed the Alfa Romeo team with four Grand Prix cars present at the pits. Two red type 312, 3-L 12-cylinder cars for Giuseppe Farina and Jean-Pierre Wimille, who drove the first time with the team.
A 16-cylinder car type 316 was tested but not raced.
The official Maserati Team entered two of the new 8CTF type with 3-liter 8-cylinder engine for Carlo Felice Trossi and Goffredo Zehender, driving instead of Varzi, who was still sick.
René Dreyfus and Gianfranco Comotti were driving for Ecurie Bleu, managed by Madame Schell from Paris, who entered two Delahaye 145 types with 4.5-L, V-12 engines not supercharged.
Edoaro Teagno drove a 3-L 8CM Maserati entered by Scuderia Sabauda. Vittorio Belmondo drove an Alfa Romeo type 308, with Renato Belestrero his reserve driver.
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Practice:
August 4 - Thursday, was the first day of official practice on a very hot day with ground temperature of 45 degrees Celsius. Maserati and Alfa Romeo cars were announced, and when the circuit closed at 1pm, almost all
drivers were present. The timetable for Thursday, Friday and Saturday practice remained the same: from 1 to 2 pm, the 1500 cc cars had practice and from 2 to 3 pm, the large cars were on the track. All participants
had to be at 12.30 at the finish line in Ardenza. Brauchitsch in the Mercedes drove the fastest time in 2m26.0s at 143.013 km/h average speed. Caracciola and Lang drove laps at 135.913 km/h in 2m 33.6s. The new Maseratis
were expected to practice on Friday.
| Thursday times |
| Brauchitsch (Mercedes-Benz) | 2m26.0s - 2m29.8s - 2m33.6s |
| Farina (Alfa Romeo 12-cyl.) | 2m29.6s - 2m30.8s |
| Wimille (Alfa Romeo 12-cyl.) | 2m31.2s - 2m42.6s |
| Caracciola (Mercedes-Benz) | 2m32.8s - 2m33.6s - 2m33.8s |
| Uhlenhaut (Mercedes-Benz) | 2m33.0s |
| Lang (Mercedes-Benz) | 2m33.6s - 2m35.0s - 2m44.0s |
| Farina (Alfa Romeo 16-cyl.) | 2m34.8s |
| Belmondo (Alfa Romeo 8-cyl.) | 2m38.6s |
| Severi (Alfa Romeo 1500) | 2m39.2s |
| Biondetti (Alfa Romeo 1500) | 2m40.0s |
| L. Villoresi (Maserati 1500) | 2m45.4s |
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August 5 - Friday practice took place with temperatures unchanged hot. After the first two practice days, the times achieved by the drivers of the two teams proved that there was a great balance. Apart from the fast lap
completed by Trossi in 2m35s with a 6-cylinder Maserati, Viloresi had lapped in just over 2m36s and Biondetti, who had the best time of 1500 Alfa Romeos in 2m37s. Farina with the Alfa Romeo 12-cylinder, lapped in 2m29.6s,
an excellent time even if compared to Caracciola with 2m25s and Lang with 2m27.6s. Trossi, with the eight-cylinder Maserati even scored a magnificent 2m26.0s. The Delahaye were not practicing.
| Friday times |
| Caracciola (Mercedes-Benz) | 2m25.0s - 2m26.8s - 2m35s |
| Trossi (Maserati 8-cyl.) | 2m26.0s - 2m26.6s |
| Brauchitsch Mercedes-Benz) | 2m26.4s - 2m29.4s - 2m30.0s |
| Lang (Mercedes-Benz) | 2m27.6s - 2m29.6s - 2m33.0s |
| Farina (Alfa Romeo 12-cyl.) | 2m29.6s |
| Wimille (Alfa Romeo 12-cyl.) | 2m31.2s |
| Trossi (Maserati 6-cyl.) | 2m35.0s - 2m35.2s |
| L. Villoresi (Maserati 6-cyl.) | 2m36.2s - 2m37.2s |
| Biondetti (Alfa Romeo 1500) | 2m31.8s - 2m37.0s |
| Belmondo (Alfa Romeo 8-cyl.) | 2m49.0s |
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August 6 - Saturday was the last practice and took place under a scorching sun. Emilio Villoresi with the new 1500 Alfa Romeo set a record of 2m31s, followed by Severi with 2m33s and Biondetti with 2m34.0s. Luigi Villoresi
recorded 2m35s, while Cortese lapped in 2m37s and Marazza in 2m42s. The best time of the day was set by Trossi in the 8-cylinder Maserati with 2m26s, repeated twice in a row. The Mercedes did not go below 2m27s today,
recorded by Lang. Farina lapped in 2m28s improving yesterday's time, again with the 12-cylinder, and Wimille, recovering from his disturbance yesterday, in 2m31s also with the 12-cylinder. The 16-cylinder Alfa Romeo
would not race as it was expected until yesterday. Farina and Wimille will start with the 12-cylinders, while Belmondo will drive his eight-cylinder in which he set a time of 2m38s. The second 8-cylinder Maserati will
not be driven by Varzi because as he was still sick. Instead, the car will be driven by Zehender, who on Saturday practiced in 2m36s, his best time of the day. The two Delahayes of Comotti and Dreyfus did not record
notable times.
| Saturday times |
| Trossi (Maserati 8-cyl.) | 2m26.0s - 2m26.2s |
| Lang (Mercedes-Benz) | 2m26.8s - 2m27.0s |
| Farina (Alfa Romeo 12-cyl.) | 2m27.8s - 2m28.0s |
| Caracciola (Mercedes-Benz) | 2m29.0s |
| Brauchitsch (Mercedes-Benz) | 2m29.0s |
| E. Villoresi (Alfa Romeo 1500) | 2m31.0s - 2m31.2s |
| Wimille (Alfa Romeo 12-cyl.) | 2m31.0s |
| Severi (Alfa Romeo 1500) | 2m33.0s |
| Biondetti (Alfa Romeo) | 2m33.4s - 2m34.0s - 2m34.6s |
| L. Villoresi (Maserati 1500) | 2m35.0s |
| Zehender (Maserati 8-cyl.) | 2m31.0s - 2m36.0s |
| Belmondo (Alfa Romeo 8-cyl.) | 2m38.0s |
| Teagno (Maserati) | 2m39.2s |
| Comotti (Delahaye) | 2m49.0s |
| Dreyfus (Delahaye) | 2m52.4s |
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Scrutineering of the cars and other formalities took place Saturday morning at the Hotel Palazzo at 10 am. From 10 to 10:30 the 1500 cars, with the exception of those belonging to Maserati and Alfa Corrse.
From 10:30 to 11 Alfa Corse. From 11 to 11:30 Mercedes. From 11:30 to 12 Delahaye and Maserati. At 6 pm at the RACI offices, presided by Giuseppe Verdi, the drawing of the pits took place.
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Race:
Sunday was again a very hot day with blue sky. The 145 km race of the 1500 cars held in the great heat of the afternoon preceded the Grand Prix cars and was won by Emilio Villoresi in 1h05m21.6s with a new Alfa Romeo.
The starting grid was supposed to be arranged by order of the best practice times of each driver. The organizer published only the order of the staring grid but not the practice times. The best times of each driver shown
in the starting grid below were published in the various practice press reports. Evidently, the order of the starting grid was not by order of the practice times achieved but by intuition.
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50
Farina
Alfa Romeo
2m27.8s
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46
Lang
Mercedes-Benz
2m26.8s
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44
Caracciola
Mercedes-Benz
2m25.0s
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56
Trossi
Maserati
2m26.6s
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52
Zehender
Maserati
2m31.0s
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54
Brauchitsch
Mercedes-Benz
2m26.0s
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62
Wimille
Alfa Romeo
2m31.0s
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60
Teagno
Maserati
2m39.2s
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48
Dreyfus
Delahaye
2m52.4s
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58
Comotti
Delahaye
2m49s
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42
Belmondo
Alfa Romeo
2m38.0s
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After the presentation of the drivers made to Costanto Ciano, the timekeeper engineer Ghio lowered the silky flag to start the race. Caracciola and Lang were in front, followed by Farina. Trossi, the fastest in practice,
started slow in fourth position, although still ahead of Brauchitsch and Wimille. The others were further behind, but did not count for absolute victory. During the first three laps they passed in this order. Zehender's
Maserati retired on the 2nd lap with clutch failure. Trossi in fourth place passed first Farina; then Lang. After the next lap Trossi overhauled Caracciola and took the lead with a record lap of 2m26.8s, just as his Maserati
and the Mercedes crossed the finish line next to each other. The enthusiastic roar of the crowd was said to be higher than the noise of the engines. Trossi in the lead with his red Maserati meant that the crowd began to
cheer. On lap five Comotti retired the Delahaye. After 29 km, Trossi led when the order was as follows after 5 laps:
| 1. | Trossi (Maserati) | 12m34.4s |
| 2. | Caracciola (Mercedes Benz) | 12m37.6s |
| 3. | Lang (Mercedes-Benz) | 12m39.0s |
| 4. | Farina (Alfa Romeo) | 12m40.0s |
| 5. | Brauchitsch (Mercedes-Benz) | 12m42.0s |
Trossi dominated for four laps, while the gap between his car and Caracciola's was getting progressively bigger and on lap eight the gap was five seconds. Lang and Brauchitsch both passed slightly delayed and with a dented
bonnet, a clear sign of road contacts due to excessive enthusiasm. On lap nine Trossi stopped to change spark plugs and Caracciola retook the lead while Trossi still lingered after a few laps to adjust brakes, then changed
spark plugs again. Farina was fourth behind the three Mercedes, after having held up Brauchitsch for a few laps. After 58 km, Caracciola led at an average of 139.107 km/h when the order was as follows after 10 laps:
| 1. | Caracciola (Mercedes Benz) | 25m00.0s |
| 2. | Lang (Mercedes Benz) | 25m05.0s |
| 3. | Brauchitsch (Mercedes-Benz) | 25m10.4s |
| 4. | Farina (Alfa Romeo) | 25m15.4s |
| 5. | Wimille (Alfa Romeo) | 26m09.4s |
Behind the five leading cars, the others were far away and no longer counted, including Zehender and Comotti who had retired earlier. The race went on like this, up to the 13th lap, when Trossi again stopped at the pits.
On the same lap Farina passed in third position instead of Brauchitsch who had lost time. As he and Lang passed the pits to enter the fast long right-hand bend which follows, they were side by side, both sliding towards
the outside of the curve when Lang eased up slightly and Brauchitsch accelerated too much, got into a slide, turning right around and finishing into the straw bales. He brought the car with running engine in reverse gear
back onto the track but could not fend off helping spectators pushing his undamaged car back into the race despite his protest calls. So, he formally violated the regulations using outside assistance. Trossi retired on
lap 16, including Teagno's Maserati. The official explanation that caused Trossi's Maserati to retire, was caused by the perforation of the float of one of the two carburetors. The race went on like this with Caracciola
first, Lang second, Farina third and Brauchitsch fourth. After 116 km, Caracciola led at an average of 140.105 km/h with the times as follows after 20 laps:
| 1. | Caracciola (Mercedes Benz) | 49m40s |
| 2. | Lang (Mercedes Benz) | 50m10s |
| 3. | Farina (Alfa Romeo) | 50m21s |
| 4. | Brauchitsch (Mercedes-Benz) | 50m50s |
| 5. | Wimille (Alfa Romeo) | 53m01s |
| 6. | Dreyfus (Delahaye) | 57m41s |
This order remained until the 21st lap, at the end Caracciola stopped at the pits with the right rear tire in shreads. The tire cover had flung off, causing a hole in the rear tank, so Caracciola rejoined the race with a
leaking tank. Now Lang held the lead, Farina was second, Brauchitsch third and fouth was Caracciola who did a new fastest lap in 2m26.4s. Lang on lap 25 improved this time. Wimille who drove his first race for
Alfa Corse, stopped on lap 24 as he was suffering from kidney trouble and handed over his car to reserve driver Biondetti. After 145 km, Lang led with order as follows after 25 laps:
| 1. | Lang (Mercedes Benz) | 1h02m33.0s |
| 2. | Farina (Alfa Romeo) | 1h02m53.6s |
| 3. | Brauchitsch (Mercedes-Benz) | 1h03m09.0s |
| 4. | Caracciola (Mercedes-Benz) | 1h03m10.0s |
| 5. | Wimille / Biondetti (Alfa Romeo) | 1h05m41.8s |
| 6. | Belmondo (Alfa Romeo) | 1h06m08.4s |
| 7. | Dreyfus (Delahaye) | 1h11m10.4s |
Lang held a lead of 23 seconds to Farina. Caracciola retired after 26 laps due to his leaking tank. On the following lap Farina had to stop to refuel and Brauchitsch gained second place. The field was now down to
six cars. After 174 km Lang led at an average of 139.249 km/h when the order was as follows after 30 laps:
| 1. | Lang (Mercedes Benz) | 1h14m58.6s |
| 2. | Brauchitsch (Mercedes Benz) | 1h15m26.2s |
| 3. | Farina (Alfa Romeo) | 1h16m06.4s |
| 4. | Wimille / Biondetti (Alfa Romeo) | 1h18m32.0s |
| 5. | Belmondo (Alfa Romeo) | 1h20m27.0s |
| 6. | Dreyfus (Delahaye) | 1h24m29.0s |
Meanwhile, Lang and Brauchitsch began a battle for the fastest lap. On the 31st lap it was Brauchitsch who made a lap in 2m25.4s and on the following lap Lang did the same time. The gap between the two was 24 seconds with
Farina third, about 1m30s behind the leader. After 203 km, Lang led with the times as follows after 35 laps:
| 1. | Lang (Mercedes Benz) | 1h27m12.6s |
| 2. | Brauchitsch (Mercedes Benz) | 1h27m35.4s |
| 3. | Farina (Alfa Romeo) | 1h28m43.2s |
| 4. | Wimille / Biondetti (Alfa Romeo) | 1h31m24.0s |
| 5. | Belmondo (Alfa Romeo) | 1h33m49.6s |
| 6. | Dreyfus (Delahaye) | 1h37m52.4s |
All that remained now was the wait for Lang's arrival, but he experienced the same damage that Caracciola had suffered, when the cover of the left rear tire came off and knocked a hole through the rear fuel tank. But it
happened in the last laps, so Lang had the rear wheels changed and the tank refilled. It took only 37 seconds but was enough for Brauchitsch to take the lead by 48 seconds at the finish. Farina ended up third on the
same lap, fourth was Biondetti in Wimille's car one lap behind, fifth Belmondo two laps behind, sixth and last Dreyfus three laps behind.
At the end of the race, Brauchitsch, Lang and Farina were guided to the grandstand to receive congratulations of the Contessa Ciano. Only thereafter did Alfa Corse file a protest against Brauchitsch's victory. It was
Giuseppe Furmanik personally who was responsible for the disqualification and he overruled the organizers wishes in his position of being President of the RACI Sporting Commission. Brauchitsch had received outside help
to rejoin after his spin into the straw bales and thereby had violated the regulations. Brauchitsch declared that the engine had not stalled and he used the reverse gear to drive out of the straw bales but he could not
prevent overzealous spectators pushing the car. In spite of it, Brauchitsch, who finished first, was then disqualified. As a result, Lang was then declared the winner and all other cars moved ahead one place in the
standings. Mercedes intended to file a protest but then changed their mind.
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Results
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Entrant | Car | Type | Engine | Laps | Time/Status | Diff |
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| DSQ | 54 | Manfred von Brauchitsch | Daimler-Benz AG | Mercedes-Benz | W 154 | 3.0 | V-12 | 40 | 1h39m56.2s | Disqualified |
| 1. | 46 | Hermann Lang | Daimler-Benz AG | Mercedes-Benz | W 154 | 3.0 | V-12 | 40 | 1h40m35.2s |
| 2. | 50 | Giuseppe Farina | Alfa Corse | Alfa Romeo | Tipo 312 | 3.0 | V-12 | 40 | 1h41m23.2s | + 48.0s |
| 3. | 62 | J-P. Wimille / C. Biondetti | Alfa Corse | Alfa Romeo | Tipo 312 | 3.0 | V-12 | 39 | 1h41m49.2s |
| 4. | 42 | Vittorio Belmondo | V. Belmondo | Alfa Romeo | Tipo 308 | 3.0 | S-8 | 38 | 1h41m53.2s |
| 5. | 48 | René Dreyfus | Ecurie Bleue | Delahaye | 145 | 4.5 | V-12 | 37 | 1h43m15.0s |
| DNF | 44 | Rudolf Caracciola | Daimler-Benz AG | Mercedes-Benz | W 154 | 3.0 | V-12 | 26 | fuel tank |
| DNF | 60 | Edoardo Teagno | Scuderia Sabauda | Maserati | 8CM | 3.0 | S-8 | 15 | |
| DNF | 56 | Carlo Felice Trossi | Officine A. Maserati | Maserati | 8CTF | 3.0 | S-8 | 15 | engine |
| DNF | 58 | Gianfranco Comotti | Ecurie Bleue | Delahaye | 145 | 4.5 | V-12 | 4 | |
| DNF | 52 | Goffredo Zehender | Officine A. Maserati | Maserati | 8CTF | 3.0 | S-8 | 1 | clutch |
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Fastest lap: Hermann Lang & Manfred von Brauchitsch (Mercedes Benz) on lap 31 and 32 in 2m25.4s = 143.6 km/h (89.2 mph)
Winner's medium speed: 138.4 km/h (86.0 mph)
Fastest qualifying lap speed: 144.0 km/h (89.5 mph)
Weather: great heat, dry
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In retrospect:
Practice and intermediate times differed now and then between the sources. We believe to have selected the correct times.
Charles Faroux wrote in L'Auto: A big incident - Shortly after the finish, a protest was lodged against the winner for the following fact: Brauchitsch spun, then coming from behind in contact with the straw bales,
reversed to resume his direction and, he is pushed by some spectators, for no other reason than feeling, since the engine was still running. Admittedly, a regulation is formal. Again, you might agree that it was thought
to make it impossible for the spectators, out of overzealousness, or even for another less honorable reason, to cause a driver to be disqualified.
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Primary sources researched for this article:
Aachener Anzeiger, Aachen
Allgemeine Automobil-Zeitung, Berlin
AUTOMOBIL-REVUE, Bern
Corriere del Tirreno, Livorno
DDAC Motorwelt, München
IL LITTORIALE, Roma
IL Telegrafo, Livorno
KölnischeZeitung, Köln
La Gazzetta dello Sport, Milano
La Stampa, Torino
L'AUTO, Paris
Motor Sport, London
MOTOR und SPORT, Pössneck
RACI settimanale, Roma
Rheinisch-Westfälische Zeitung, Essen
Special thanks to:
Alessandro Silva
Giuseppe Prisco
Vladislav Shaikhnurov
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(by Hans Etzrodt in: The Golden Era of Grand Prix Racing)
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EMILIO VILLORESI
Memi Villoresi, l aquilotto dell Alfa-Corse , cos titolava Auto Italiana del 20 settembre 1938, all indomani della vittoria di Emilio Villoresi su Alfa Romeo al Gran Premio Milano. Gi : perch di Villoresi piloti ce ne furono due, Luigi ed Emilio, fratelli tra di loro. Emilio, minore di un anno, sembra quasi precedere il maggiore come precocit di inclinazione e di risultati. Inizia a correre nel 1933, partecipa alla Mille Miglia, alla corsa in salita dello Stelvio, alla Como-San Maurizio, e continua, con risultati non sfolgoranti, negli anni successivi. Nel 1938 la svolta: viene confermato nel vivaio di piloti - tra cui Nuvolari, Farina, Sommer, Tadini, Pintacuda, Siena, Biondetti e Severi - dell Alfa Corse, il nuovo organismo sportivo deciso dall ing. Gobbato all inizio di quell anno. Troppe infatti erano le difficolt derivanti dall avere l Alfa Romeo a Milano e la Scuderia Ferrari, ovvero la sua propaggine sportiva, a Modena: e i risultati di gare nel 1937, non certo brillanti per i colori italiani, ne erano la conferma. Cos fu decisa la costituzione della nuova societ Alfa Corse, indipendente dall Alfa, ma fisicamente attigua alla fabbrica, con tutti i vantaggi che questa vicinanza comportava (in un mondo senza fax, senza cd-rom, senza internet e videoconferenze). E nel 1938 che l albo d oro di Emilio Villoresi si arricchisce improvvisamente: primo assoluto alla XII Parma - Poggio di Berceto, 2 assoluto alla XII Pontedecimo - Giovi, 1 assoluto alla XVIII Coppa Ciano, 1 assoluto al III Gran Premio di Milano. La prima di queste gare segna l esordio di Wimille unico pilota sull Alfa Romeo 8 cilindri 2900 cc (il suo debutto infatti era avvenuto con la Mille Miglia sullo stesso modello di vettura, in coppia con Eugenio Siena), ed anche la sua prima gara nell Alfa Corse. La sua media non strabiliante, infatti il record di Tadini dell edizione precedente resta imbattuto, ma pur sempre sufficiente per vincere: 114 km/h. Sicuramente con suo grande disappunto, il fratello Gigi, su Lancia Aprilia, arriva soltanto decimo di categoria, nella classe fino a 1500 cc, e nono assoluto. La Pontedecimo-Giovi di quell anno vede schierati addirittura 57 partecipanti: e tra questi, oltre all asso gi affermato Farina che infatti si porter a casa il trofeo, viene citato il giovane acquisto dell Alfa Corse, Memi Villoresi, concorrente minaccioso vista la sua precedente affermazione . E difatti arriva secondo, segnando un tempo inferiore di due secondi al primato stabilito nell edizione precedente, confermando, come scrive la stampa, le sue ragguardevoli possibilit . E si arriva a settembre, a Monza. Il Gran Premio d Italia preceduto dal Gran Premio Milano per la Coppa del Fascio primogenito. Emilio, su Alfa Romeo naturalmente, in prima fila con il n. 8; in seconda fila il fratello con il n. 6 su Maserati. Gli altri concorrenti non sono certo da poco: Sommer, Cortese, Castelbarco, Pietsch, Plat . Alla partenza e per i primi giri Emilio e Luigi corrono appaiati, ma al quinto Emilio passa in testa per rimanervi sino alla fine, mentre Gigi costretto al ritiro per la rottura di un pistone. La marcia delle Alfa Romeo in questa gara davvero trionfale: tre delle quattro macchine iscritte si classificano, due di esse ai primi due posti con un solo secondo di distacco. E di questo trionfo Emilio il riconosciuto protagonista. Anche per questo quel suo inspiegabile, fatale incidente nel giugno 1939, in una seduta di prove a Monza, apparve ancora pi doloroso. Si parl di un malore per aver ripreso gli allenamenti troppo a ridosso di un pasto abbondante; di una uscita di pista ad una curva sciaguratamente alberata; del troppo caldo che aveva rallentato i riflessi. In un intervista rilasciata nel 1989 Luigi ebbe a dire che, venti anni dopo, qualcuno aveva ammesso la rottura dello sterzo. Certo che fu un colpo tremendo per la famiglia Villoresi, cinque fratelli tutti molto legati tra di loro. Luigi decise che l unico modo per superare lo choc sarebbe stato ributtarsi a correre subito: e convinse i Maserati, che esitavano, ad iscriverlo ad una gara che si correva quindici giorni dopo.
(Donatella Biffignandi. Pubblicato su Auto d Epoca , ottobre 1997)
Emilio Villoresi (1914 June 20, 1939) was an Italian Grand Prix motor racing driver. Emilio Villoresi was born in Milan, Lombardy, the younger brother of the star Maserati driver, Luigi Villoresi who co-piloted with him in several races at the beginning of their careers. Emilio Villoresi and his brother competed in the 1935 and 1936 Mille Miglia driving a Fiat 508CS Balilla Sport but after a disappointing finish they purchased a Maserati which they drove individually in different races. Emilio was so successful that he was signed to drive an Alfa Romeo for Scuderia Ferrari in the 1937 season. Nicknamed "Mim ," at the 1937 Coppa Principessa di Piemonte, Emilio Villoresi earned a third place finish behind team-mates Giuseppe Farina and Clemente Biondetti and another third place at the inaugural "Circuito della Superba" at Genoa. In 1938, when the German Silver Arrows were dominating everything in Grand Prix events, Villoresi won the voiturette class at both the Coppa Ciano and the Italian Grand Prix. In May 1939, he finished a strong third to the still dominant Mercedes-Benz cars of Hermann Lang and Rudolf Caracciola but his career was cut short the following month by his death while testing an Alfa Romeo 158 Alfetta for Enzo Ferrari at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.
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