Coppa Acerbo
The Coppa Acerbo was an automobile race held in Italy, named after Tito Acerbo (the brother of Giacomo Acerbo).
The 150 mile Coppa Acerbo was held over a 15 mile circuit beginning and ending at Pescara, Italy, a city on the Adriatic coast. The course layout featured a four mile long straight running next to the sea followed by an inland route through the Abruzzo hills that passed through several villages. The first Coppa Acerbo was staged in 1924 and won by an unheard of rookie by the name of Enzo Ferrari. Tragedy struck in the 1934 race when Guy Moll, one of the most promising young drivers of the day, was killed during the race. In the 1930s, the German Silver Arrows dominated.
After World War II, the name of the race was changed because of its Fascist connections and became known as the Circuito di Pescara.In 1955, as a result of the disaster at the 24 hours of Le Mans, the race was cancelled.
Sometimes referred to as the "Pescara Grand Prix," in 1957 it hosted a round of the Formula One World Championship. The layout holds the record as the longest circuit to ever to host a F1 World Championship, with the Nürburgring coming second. By the early 1960s, safety issues had become a major concern and the Pescara racecourse was seen as too dangerous for major international events and the race was discontinued after the 1961 event.
Bernd Rosemeyer, Luigi Fagioli, and Achille Varzi all won the race twice but Giuseppe Campari is the only driver to win it on three occasions.
Winners:
- 1961 - Lorenzo Bandini / Giorgio Scarlatti (Ferrari 250TRI)
- 1960 - Dennis Hulme (Cooper (Car) BMC)
- 1957 - Stirling Moss (Vanwall VW5)
- 1956 - Robert Manzon (Gordini T14)
- 1954 - Luigi Musso (Maserati 250F)
- 1953 - Umberto Maglioli / Mike Hawthorn (Ferrari 375MM)
- 1952 - Giovanni Bracco / Paolo Marzotto (Ferrari 250S)
- 1951 - José Froilán González (Ferrari 375)
- 1950 - Juan Manuel Fangio (Alfa Romeo 158)
- 1949 - Franco Rol (Alfa Romeo 2.5)
- 1948 - Giovanni Bracco (Maserati A6G)
- 1947 - Vincenzo Auricchio (Stanguellini-Fiat 1100)
- 1939 - Clemente Biondetti (Alfa Romeo 158)
- 1938 - Rudolf Caracciola (Mercedes-Benz W154)
- 1937 - Bernd Rosemeyer (Auto Union 6.0L Typ.1936 Rennwagen)
- 1936 - Bernd Rosemeyer (Auto Union 6.0L Typ.1936 Rennwagen)
- 1935 - Achille Varzi (Auto Union 5.6L Typ.1935 Rennwagen)
- 1934 - Luigi Fagioli (Mercedes-Benz W25)
- 1933 - Luigi Fagioli (Alfa Romeo Tipo-B 'P3')
- 1932 - Tazio Nuvolari (Alfa Romeo Tipo-B 'P3')
- 1931 - Giuseppe Campari (Alfa Romeo Tipo-A)
- 1930 - Achille Varzi (Maserati 26M)
- 1928 - Giuseppe Campari (Alfa Romeo P2)
- 1927 - Giuseppe Campari (Alfa Romeo P2)
- 1926 - Luigi Spinozzi (Bugatti T35)
- 1925 - Guido Ginaldi (Alfa Romeo RL)
- 1924 - Enzo Ferrari (Alfa Romeo RL)
See also Coppa Ciano and the List of major automobile races in Italy