7 replies to this topic

[Drinky]

As most here know, the "Grand Prix of Europe" was an honorary title given to a different country every year. It was a relic from the days that the GP d'Europe was a sort of European championship, decided in one race. In the eighties it became an convenient title to give to a second GP in a country that already had one, as it still is today.

Now, I was wondering if any of the TNF'ers could complete or correct this list:
(Only post-WWII GPs)
Year__Grand Prix
-----------------
1947: ???
1948: Swiss GP
1949: Italian GP
1950: British GP
1951: French GP
1952: Belgian GP
1953: ???
1954: German GP
1955: Monaco GP
1956: Italian GP
1957: British GP
1958: Belgian GP
1959: French GP
1960: Italian GP
1961: German GP
1962: Dutch GP
1963: Monaco GP
1964: British GP
1965: Belgian GP
1966: French GP
1967: Italian GP
1968: ???
1969: ???
1970: ???
1971: ???
1972: British GP
1973: Belgian GP
1974: German GP
1975: Austrian GP
1976: Dutch GP
1977: British GP
1978-1982: ???

Perhaps anyone can explain how a particular GP would get this title. Was it random or was there a system to it?

[Roger Clark]

1953: it was announced, by the CSI in late Jan or early Feb, that tte German GP would be the GP de l'Europe. However, the Germans declined the honour, so it was announced that the Spanish GP would carry the title. The Spaninsh race was later cancelled so there was no European GP that year.

[William Hunt]

In the 1920's there already was a European GP every year, its starts earlier. I will look it up for U.

[alessandro silva]

23 Italy
24 France
25 Belgium
26 Spain (S. Sebastian)
27 Italy
28 Italy
30 Belgium
nothing in between
47 Belgium

[Vitesse2]

1968 - Germany

I don't think the title was awarded in the other post-war years.

[FEV]

1926 was the only year the European Grand Prix was not an honorary title given to a national GP. There was a Spanish Grand Prix that year and a European Grand Prix on the same track. Those races were part of a great Lasarte Speedweek whose schedule was:
July 18th : Grand Prix d'Europe (Formula Libre)
July 22nd : Guipuzcoa Grand Prix (12 Hours sportscar race)
July 25th : Spanish Grand Prix (Formula Libre)

The European GP as an event in itself came back in 1983 at Brands.

FEV

[Hans Etzrodt]

Originally posted by FEV
July 18th : Grand Prix d'Europe (Formula Libre)

This event was part of the World Championship that year. All five races were held for grand prix cars of 1.5-liter, which was the formula in place at that time.
May 30 Indy 500 (Indianapolis)
Jun 27 French GP (Miramas)
Jul 18 European GP (Lasarte)
Aug 7 British GP (Brooklands)
Sep 5 Italian GP (Monza)

[Drinky]

I'm dragging this one up for one last time. Thanks for the answers, but can no-one explain how and why they were chosen? I take it there was no European GP in 1969-1971, so why was it reinstated and then apparently(?) abandonned again after 1977 until it came back as a real GP in 1983?