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Grand Prix season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 1922 Grand Prix season had several notable events during the year. The AIACR governing body brought in a 2-litre formula for Grand Prix. French companies brought out straight-8 engines for their cars but it was FIAT's 6-cylinder engine that took the trophies. Veteran Felice Nazzaro won the French Grand Prix, held near Strasbourg. It was a tainted victory though, as Nazzaro's nephew was killed when his FIAT's suspension broke in the latter stages of the race. An almost identical accident also happened to team-mate Pietro Bordino, though he was only slightly injured. Pierre de Vizcaya's Bugatti finished second, nearly an hour behind.
The first Italian Grand Prix had been held in 1921 on public roads near Brescia. Following the example set elsewhere, land was leased in the Monza Park north-east of Milan to construct a closed circuit. The combined road course and racing oval was exactly 10 km in total length and built in just 101 days. After FIAT's dominance in France, most teams stayed away for the first Italian Grand Prix held at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza and only eight cars started. This time the junior driver beat the master, with Bordino leading home Nazzaro by two laps. De Vizcaya was the only other finisher, a further two laps back.
At the start of the season, Italian privateer Conte Giulio Masetti won the Targa Florio for a consecutive year, running a 1914 GP Mercedes. A number of manufacturers had sent works teams to this event, but Masetti's local knowledge and driving skill gave him a narrow victory over Jules Goux's Ballot.
Jimmy Murphy bought the Duesenberg he had won the French Grand Prix in the previous year and got it fitted with a Miller engine for the Indianapolis 500. There were also significant works teams from Duesenberg and Frontenac. Jules Goux also bought a pair of Ballots from France. Murphy set the fastest practice time and had a dominating drive to win by three minutes from Harry Hartz (Duesenberg) and Eddie Hearn (Ballot). He became the first driver to win the race from pole position. Duesenberg took eight of the top ten places.
Date | Name | Circuit | Race Regulations |
Race Distance |
Winner's Time |
Winning driver | Winning constructor |
Report |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 Apr | XIII Targa Florio | Medio Madonie | Targa Florio | 430 km | 6h 51m | Conte Giulio Masetti | Mercedes GP 18/100 | Report |
30 May | X International 500 Mile Sweepstakes | Indianapolis | AAA | 500 miles | 5h 18m | Jimmy Murphy | Duesenberg-Miller Special | Report |
30 May | I Circuito Sardo | Cagliari, Sardinia | Formula Libre | 500 km | 6h 13m | Ernesto Ceirano | Ceirano CS2H | Report |
5 Jun | II Grand Prix de MCF | Montargis | Cyclecar | 325 km | 3h 39m | Luis Ramon Bueno | Salmson GP | Report |
18 Jun | III Circuito di Mugello | Mugello | Formula Libre | 390 km | 5h 46m | Alfieri Maserati | Isotta Fraschini 5.9L Special[6] | Report |
22 Jun | VI Tourist Trophy | Isle of Man | Formula Libre | 300 miles | 5h 25m | Jean Chassagne | Sunbeam TT | Report |
22 Jun | I International 1500 Trophy | Voiturette | 225 miles | 4h 15m | Algernon Lee Guinness | Talbot-Darracq 56 | Report | |
16 Jul | XVI French Grand Prix | Strasbourg | AIACR | 800 km | 6h 17m | Felice Nazzaro | FIAT 804 | Report |
29 Jul | II Grand Prix de Boulogne | Boulogne-sur-Mer | Voiturette Cyclecar |
450 km | 4h 54m | Lucien Desvaux | Salmson VAL | Report |
27 Aug | II Coppa Montenero | Montenero | Formula Libre | 180 km | 2h 53m | Giulio Masetti | Bugatti Type 37 | Report |
3 Sep | I Junior Car Club Cyclecar 200 | Brooklands | Cyclecar | 200 miles | 2h 30m | Robert Benoist | Salmson VAL | Report |
3 Sep | II Junior Car Club 200 | Voiturette | 200 miles | 2h 18m | Kenelm Lee Guinness | Talbot-Darracq 56 | Report | |
3 Sep | II Gran Premio della Vetturette | Monza | Voiturette | 600 km | 4h 29m | Pietro Bordino | FIAT 502SS | Report |
10 Sep | II Italian Grand Prix | AIACR | 800 km | 5h 43m | Pietro Bordino | FIAT 804 | Report | |
16 Sep | IV Grand Prix de l’UMF | Le Mans | Cyclecar | 400 km | 4h 02m | Robert Benoist | Salmson VAL | Report |
18 Sep | X Coupe des Voiturettes | Voiturette | 440 km | 3h 52m | Kenelm Lee Guinness | Talbot-Darracq 56 | Report | |
15 Oct | II Circuito del Garda | Salò | Formula Libre | 250 km | 3h 02m | Guido Meregalli | Diatto Tipo 20 | Report |
22 Oct | GP d’Autunno | Monza | Formula Libre | 400 km | 3h 03m | André Dubonnet | Hispano-Suiza 9.4 | Report |
(21 May*) 29 Oct |
II Trofeo Armangué | Tarragona | Cyclecar | 360 km | 4h 18m | Robert Benoist | Salmson VAL | Report |
5 Nov | II Gran Premi Penya Rhin | Villafranca | Voiturette | 520 km | 4h 56m | Kenelm Lee Guinness | Talbot-Darracq 56 | Report |
19 Nov | VI Coppa Florio | Medio Madonie | Formula Libre | 430 km | 7h 09m | André Boillot | Peugeot 174 S | Report |
New regulations set up by the AIACR (forerunner of the FIA) came into force this season for Grand Prix. The previous maximum engine limit of 3.0-litres was reduced down to 2.0-litres. The minimum weight was also correspondingly reduced from 800 to 650kg. The cars were 2-seaters and the weight of the driver and mechanic had to be at least 120kg.[7]
It marked the end of the low-revving, long-stroke motors. The rules aimed to curb the increasing speeds and danger. Research moved into developing better engine alloys to save weight and to handle higher piston speeds.[8] Then, starting with Mercedes, ingenious engineers found a way around these rules by introducing forced induction with the supercharger and speeds were soon at least as fast as they had been in the 3-litre formula.[9]
The American Automobile Association (AAA) chose not to go to the new regulations, staying with the 3-litre limit. To take on the powerful Duesenbergs, innovative engineer Harry Miller built a new 183 cu in (3-litre) straight-8.
Once again the Targa Florio regulations were open to any-sized racing cars. Production cars (with at least 50 examples made), were now split into six classes based on engine-capacity. A maximum time-limit of 10 hours was stipulated, to qualify as a finisher.[10]
Up to now the Automobile Club de France (ACF) had laid sole-claim to dictate the rules for Grand Prix racing. But at the end of the year at the annual general meeting of the AIACR, held in London, a new regulatory body was created – the Commission Sportive Internationale (CSI). Representatives were elected from seven of the major automobile authorities – of France, Italy, Great Britain, Belgium, Spain, Austria and the United States. Their role was to set up international racing regulations, categories and sporting rules. The first chairman of the CSI was Belgian René de Knyff, who went on to hold the position until 1946.[7]
For the new regulations, three French manufacturers developed grand prix racers based on their touring or sports models. Ballot advanced its 2LS sports that Jules Goux had driven in the 1921 French Grand Prix. Bugatti used its 8-cylinder Type 29 (a racing adaptation of the Type 30). New entrants Rolland-Pilain had also developed a straight-8 engine and its A22 was unusual for the time in being left-hand drive.[11][9]
Having developed an 8-cylinder engine for the short-lived 3-litre formula, FIAT was able to easily adapt it for the 1.5-litre voiturette class. With a simpler two valves per cylinder and putting out 60 bhp, this 1.5-litre straight-four became the benchmark for small-car engines for many years. In the sports-model touring car, the 501 SS, it became a favourite for the Italian amateur racer and the grand prix version was the Type 803.[12] FIAT also introduced the first competitive racing 6-cylinder car: the 2-litre Type 804, using engine construction similar to the successful pre-war Mercedes racing cars utilising light alloys.[12][13]
Manufacturer | Model[8] | Engine | Power Output |
Max. Speed (km/h) |
Dry Weight (kg) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ballot | 2LS | Ballot 1994cc S4 | 90 bhp | 165 | 790 |
Bugatti | Type 29 | Bugatti 1991cc S8 | 90 bhp | 185 | 750 |
Fiat S.p.A. | 804-404 | FIAT 1991cc S6 | 112 bhp | 175 | 660 |
Alfa Romeo | RL | Alfa Romeo 2.0L S6 | 90 bhp | ||
Diatto | 20 S | Diatto 1997cc S4 | 75 bhp | 155 | 700 |
Sunbeam | TT | Sunbeam 1975cc S4 | 88 bhp | 160 | 680 |
Duesenberg | GP | Duesenberg 3.0L S8 | 115 bhp | 185 | 1170 |
Miller | 183 | Miller 3.0L S8 | 125 bhp | 185 | 990 |
Frontenac | Frontenac 3.0L S4 | 120 bhp | 185 | 1030 | |
Talbot-Darracq | 56 | Talbot 1486cc S4 | 54 bhp | >150[14] | |
Mercedes Benz | 10/40/65 | Mercedes 1.5L S4 supercharged |
54 bhp 82 bhp s/ch |
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