1928 Grand Prix season

Last updated

The 1928 Grand Prix season saw the Monegasque driver Louis Chiron, and his Bugatti, take seven Grand Prix victories.

Contents

Louis Chiron, top driver of 1928 Louis Chiron en 1928.jpg
Louis Chiron, top driver of 1928

For 1928, the AIACR abandoned its 1.5-litre formula. Manufacturer interest was low, not helped by the increasing economic downturn. Instead cars would have to be between 550 and 750 kg to an open engine-formula. Originally, the World Manufacturers' Championship was planned on seven national races but as the year went on, five were cancelled and only the Indianapolis 500 and Italian Grand Prix were held. Falling under the mandatory races, the whole championship was cancelled. With the win for Bentley in the 1927 Le Mans and the success of the inaugural Mille Miglia road-race grabbing the public's attention, more races turned to sports- and touring-car racing.

The season is remembered primarily for a deadly accident at the Italian Grand Prix. The Talbot of Emilio Materassi swerved off the road at 200 km/h, rolled a number of times and crashed into the crowd, killing Materassi and 22 other people. The accident was the greatest single loss of life in motor-racing history to that time, and still the second worst to date, after the 1955 Le Mans disaster.

With the open formula, the Bugatti Type 35, and its variants was the dominant car. Talbot, Maserati and Alfa Romeo all had some success, but it was Bugattis that filled the entry-lists across Europe. Albert Divo won the Targa Florio for Bugatti's fourth successive year, after a well-prepared challenge from female Czech driver Eliška Junková. A month earlier, top Italian driver Pietro Bordino was killed in practice for the Alessandria Circuit. The rounds of the Italian Drivers Championship attracted many of the best drivers. A close contest developed between Chiron and Nuvolari (both Bugatti), Materassi (Talbot) and Campari (Alfa Romeo), with Campari taking the title. In the United States, the Indianapolis 500 was won by rookie Louis Meyer in a Miller. He went on to be crowned the season's AAA Champion.

Grandes Épreuves

DateNameCircuitRace
Regulations
WeatherRace
Distance
Winner's
Time
Winning driverWinning
constructor
Fastest
lap
Report
330 May Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg XVI International 500 Mile
Sweepstakes
Indianapolis AAA  ?500 miles5h 02m Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Louis Meyer Miller 91not recorded Report
1 Jul Flag of France.svg XXII Grand Prix de l’ACF
IV Grand Prix du Comminges
Saint-Gaudens [1] sports,
handicap
 ?260 km2h 28m Flag of the United Kingdom.svg William Grover-Williams
(“W. Williams”)
Bugatti Type 35C Flag of the United Kingdom.svg William Grover-Williams
Bugatti
Report
15 Jul Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg III Großer Preis von Deutschland Nürburgring sports ?510 km4h 54m Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg Rudolf Caracciola
Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg Christian Werner
Mercedes-Benz SS Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio).svg Rudolf Caracciola
Mercedes-Benz
Report
29 Jul Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg IV Spanish Grand Prix Lasarte sports,
handicap
 ?270 km2h 25m Flag of Monaco.svg Louis ChironBugatti Type 35C not recorded Report
109 Sep Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg VIII Italian Grand Prix /
VI European Grand Prix
Monza Formula Librecloudy600 km3h 45m Flag of Monaco.svg Louis ChironBugatti Type 37A Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Luigi Arcangeli
Talbot
Report

A pink background indicates the race was run for Sports Cars or Touring Cars this year. Sources: [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Major Races

DateNameCircuitRace
Regulations
WeatherRace
Distance
Winner's
Time
Winning driverWinning
constructor
Report
11 Mar [10] /
31 Mar [11]
Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg IV Gran Premio di Tripoli Tagiura [12] Formula Libre sunny420 km3h 20m Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Tazio Nuvolari Bugatti Type 35C Report
25 Mar Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg III Circuito del Pozzo Verona [13] Formula Librerain310 km2h 41m Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Tazio NuvolariBugatti Type 35C Report
26 Mar Flag of Australia (converted).svg 100 Miles Road Race Phillip Island [14] Formula Libre
2x handicap races
sunny100 miles1h 47m Flag of Australia (converted).svg Capt Arthur Waite Austin 7 Report
9 Apr Flag of France.svg I Grand Prix d’Antibes-Juan-les-Pins La Garoupe [15] Formula Libresunny310 km4h 11m Flag of Monaco.svg Louis Chiron Bugatti Type 35B Report
122 Apr [11] /
24 Apr [10]
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg V Circuito di Alessandria Alessandria [16] Formula Librecold,
showers
260 km2h 31m Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Tazio NuvolariBugatti Type 35C Report
26 May Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg XIX Targa Florio
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg XI Coppa Florio [note 1]
Medio Madonie [17] Targa Floriosunny540 km7h 21m Flag of France.svg Albert Divo Bugatti Type 35B Report
Flag of France (1794-1815).svg I Grand Prix d’Algèrie Staouéli [18] Formula Librerain360 km3h 53m Flag of France.svg Marcel Lehoux Bugatti Type 35C Report
13 May Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg II Coppa Messina Monti Peloritani [19] Formula Libresunny360 km4h 49m Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Edwald Probst Bugatti Type 37A Report
16 May Flag of France.svg I Coupe de Bourgogne Dijon Formula Libre ?490 km ? Flag of France.svg Jannine Jennky Bugatti Type 35C Report
20 May Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg III Coppa Etna Catania [20] Formula Libre ?350 km3h 35m Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Baconin Borzacchini Maserati 26B Report
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg III Grand Prix des Frontières Chimay [21] Voiturette  ?220 km2h 01m Flag of France.svg Yves Giraud-Cabantous Salmson GS Report
3 Jun Flag of Tunisia.svg I Grand Prix de Tunisie Le Bardo [22] Formula Librehot320 km2h 39m Flag of France.svg Marcel LehouxBugatti Type 35C Report
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg VIII Circuito del Mugello
(Targa Giulio Masetti) [23]
Mugello [24] Formula Libresunny370 km5h 15m Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Emilio Materassi Talbot 700 Report
410 Jun Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg IV Premio Reale di Roma Tre Fontane [25] Formula Librehot390 km3h 06m Flag of Monaco.svg Louis ChironBugatti Type 35C Report
Flag of France.svg IV Grand Prix de Picardie Péronne [26] Formula Libre ?190 km1h 59m Flag of France.svg Philippe AuberBugatti Type 37A Report
524 Jun Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg III Circuito di Cremona Cremona [27] Formula Librehot320 km1h 58m Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Luigi Arcangeli Talbot 700 Report
Flag of France.svg Grand Prix Bugatti Le Mans Formula Libre ?280 km2h 13m Flag of France.svg André Dubonnet Bugatti Type 37 Report
68 Jul Flag of France.svg IV Grand Prix de la Marne Reims-Gueux Formula Librecloudy400 km3h 01m Flag of Monaco.svg Louis ChironBugatti Type 35C Report
21 Jul Flag of the United Kingdom.svg VIII Junior Car Club 200 Brooklands Voiturette ?200 miles2h 35m Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Capt Malcolm Campbell Delage 135B Report
725 Jul Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg VI Gran Premio de San Sebastián
(Gran Criterium de los Ases)
Lasarte Formula Libresunny690 km5h 21m Flag of Monaco.svg Louis ChironBugatti Type 35C Report
84 Aug Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg V Coppa Acerbo Pescara Formula Librehot510 km4h 39m Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Giuseppe Campari Alfa Romeo P2 Report
919 Aug Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg VIII Coppa Montenero Montenero Formula Libresunny225 km2h 39m Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Emilio MaterassiTalbot 700 Report
23 Aug Flag of France.svg V Grand Prix de la Baule La Baule [28] Formula Librehot100 km48m Flag of France.svg Aimery Blacque BelairBugatti Type 35C Report
9 Sep Flag of France.svg VII Grand Prix de Boulogne Boulogne-sur-Mer [29] Formula Libre ?450 km3h 51m Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Capt Malcolm Campbell Delage 15SB Report
  1. The Targa Florio and the Coppa Florio were run simultaneously over the same route.

Teams and drivers

These tables only intend to cover entries in the major races, as keyed above. Sources: [30] [31] [32] [8] [33] [34] [35]

EntrantConstructorChassisEngineTyreDriverRounds
Flag of France.svg Usines Bugatti Bugatti Type 37A
Type 35C
Type 35B
Bugatti 1.5L S4 s/c
Bugatti 2.0L S8 s/c
Bugatti 2.3L S8 s/c
Flag of Monaco.svg Louis Chiron 2, 4
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Conte Gastone Brilli-Peri 2, 4
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Ferdinando Minoia 2, 4
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Conte Caberto Conelli2
Flag of France.svg Albert Divo 2
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg William Grover-Williams [4]
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Officine Alfieri Maserati SpA Maserati Tipo 26B
Tipo 26R
Tipo 26
Maserati 2.0L S8 s/c
Maserati 1.7L S8 s/c
Maserati 1.5L S8 s/c
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Ernesto Maserati 2, 4, [8], 9, 10
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Baconin Borzacchini 2, [4], [8], 9, 10
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Luigi Fagioli 2, [4], 8
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Marchese Diego de Sterlich2, [4], 8
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Conte Aymo Maggi 10
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Cesare Pastore10*
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Alfa Corse Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 MMSAlfa Romeo 1.5L S6 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Giuseppe Campari2
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Attilio Marinoni 2
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Duesenberg Bros Duesenberg Type 91Duesenberg 1.5L S8 s/c F Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Benny Shoaff 3
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Miller Automobiles Miller Type 91 FDMiller 1.5L S8 s/c F Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ralph Hepburn 3
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cooper Engineering
Marmon Motor Car Company
Cooper-MillerFD
Type 91 FD
Miller 1.5L S8 s/c
Miller 1.5L S8 s/c
F Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pete Kreis 3
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Johnny Seymour 3
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Russ Snowberger 3
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Green EngineeringGreenGreen 1.5L V8 s/c F Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Clarence Belt 3
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Harry Nichols3*
Flag of France.svg Société Nouvelle de
l'Automobile Amilcar
Amilcar COAmilcar 1.1L S6 s/c Flag of France.svg André Morel4
Flag of France.svg Charles Martin4
Flag of France.svg Jules Moriceau 4
Flag of Italy.svg Scuderia Materassi Talbot
Bugatti
700 GPLB
Type 35C
Talbot 1.5L S8 s/c
Bugatti 2.0L S8 s/c
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Emilio Materassi1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Luigi Arcangeli 1, 5, 8, 10
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Giuseppe Morandi4
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Carlo Rosti5
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Conte Gastone Brilli-Peri 10
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Gianfranco Comotti 10
Flag of Italy.svg Scuderia Nuvolari Bugatti Type 35C Bugatti 2.0L S8 s/c Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Tazio Nuvolari 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Achille Varzi 1
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Pietro Ghersi 1
Flag of Italy.svg Giulio Aymini Delage 2LCVDelage 2.0L V12 s/c Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Conte Giulio Aymini1, 4, [5], 10
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Federico Valpreda1
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Achille Varzi4
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill White Race CarsMillerType 91Miller 1.5L S8 s/c F Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg George Souders 3
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Fred Frame 3
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ralph Hepburn 3*
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Boyle ValveMillerType 91
Type 91 FD
Miller 1.5L S8 s/c F Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cliff Woodbury 3
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Fred Comer 3
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Billy Arnold 3
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Dave Evans 3*
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bill Spence 3*
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Elgin Piston PinMillerType 91Miller 1.5L S8 s/c F Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Henry Kohlert 3
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Shorty Cantlon 3*
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg W. E. Shattuc 3*
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Flying Cloud /
Peter DePaolo
MillerType 91 FDMiller 1.5L S8 s/c F Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Pete DePaolo [3]
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Wilbur Shaw 3
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ray Keech 3
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Stutz Blackhawk MillerType 91Miller 1.5L S8 s/c F Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Tony Gulotta 3

Significant Privateer drivers

EntrantConstructorChassisEngineDriverRounds
Private EntrantBugattiType 35BBugatti 2.3L S8 s/c Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Pietro Bordino[1]
Private EntrantBugattiType 37ABugatti 1.5L S4 s/c Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Cleto Nenzioni1, 2, 4, 5, 10
Private EntrantBugattiType 35CBugatti 2.0L S8 s/c Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Giulio Foresti2, 4, 10
Private EntrantBugattiType 35BBugatti 2.3L S8 s/c Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Eliška Junková 2
Private EntrantMillerType 91Miller 1.5L S8 s/c Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Leon Duray3
Private EntrantMillerType 91Miller 1.5L S8 s/c Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Louis Meyer 3
Private EntrantMaserati
Bugatti
Tipo 26
Type 37A
Maserati 1.5L S8 s/c
Bugatti 1.5L S4 s/c
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Carlo Tonini4, 5, 8, 9, 10
Private EntrantAlfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
P2
1700 MMS
Alfa Romeo 2.0L S8 s/c
Alfa Romeo 1.7L S6 s/c
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Giuseppe Campari5, 8, 9, 10*
Private EntrantBugattiType 35CBugatti 2.0L S8 s/c Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Achille Varzi5, 8, 10
Private EntrantBugattiType 35CBugatti 2.0L S8 s/c Flag of France.svg Robert Benoist 7
Private EntrantBugattiType 35CBugatti 2.0L S8 s/c Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Guy Bouriat10
Private EntrantBugattiType 35CBugatti 2.0L S8 s/c Flag of Monaco.svg Louis Chiron 10
Private EntrantTalbot700 GPLBTalbot 1.5L S8 s/c Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Marchese Antonio Brivio 10

Note: * raced in event as a relief driver. Those in brackets show, although entered, the driver did not race
Note: † driver killed during this racing season

Regulations and Technical

With poor fields and declining interest in Grand Prix racing, the AIACR had declared at the start of the 1927 season that it would be the last for the 1.5-litre formula. Manufacturer participation was negligible, and not helped by the increasing economic downturn. Its new formula was based on weight and fuel consumption: cars had to be a minimum 500 kg to a maximum of 750 kg, while Grands Prix were stipulated to be at least 600 km long. Once again, a minimum of three races had to be competed in to qualify for the championship, including the compulsory European Grand Prix, this year awarded to Great Britain. It was also declared that the European Grand Prix would be open to manufacturer-approved private entries and not just works teams. This apparently did not extend to the other races, although this is unclear. [36] [37]

At the end of 1927, a full seven national Grands Prix were scheduled, starting with the Indianapolis 500. Yet, as early as December 1927, the French organising body said it would not run a Grand prix and instead hold a sports-car race. The German federation announced a similar plan in February, while the British were looking at holding their race on the Isle of Man or Ireland. In March, it too was cancelled, and the Italian federation was instead awarded the European GP. After the race at Indianapolis was held, both the Spanish and Belgian authorities cancelled their races, so with just the two rounds left the AIACR was forced to concede and declare the 1928 championship null and void. [38]

However, with no formal international championship, virtually all organisers completely ignored the new regulations and chose to run to a Formula Libre, or open formula with no engine, weight, fuel or distance limitations. [39] This lack of formal regulations opened the door to privateer drivers to bring their older vehicles back to race. This also left the Targa Florio as the blue riband event for the European racers.

The Targa Florio organisers extended the classes back out to five to cover the larger cars – up to 1.1-litre, to 1.5-litre, to 2-litre, to 3-litre and over 3-litre. [40] As in the previous year, the 1100cc cars only ran three laps, while the rest did five laps. Two occupants were required for all cars, unless the driver carried a 70 kg ballast instead. The maximum time allowed for the five laps was 8½ hours. [41] The Coppa Florio, in its alternate year with France, was again put up for competition and being run to the same distance as the Targa, was an additional trophy for the overall winner.

In November 1927, former race-winner and decorated war-hero Eddie Rickenbacker bought the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from Carl Fisher and Jim Allison for $700 000. [42] Meanwhile, the AAA stuck with the 1.5-litre formula which was providing successful racing in America.

Technical Innovation

Maserati 26B 1928 Maserati Tipo 26B Monoposto (3) (15049397802).jpg
Maserati 26B

With both Delage and Talbot now out of motor-racing, the only works teams left in regular grand-prix racing were Bugatti and Maserati. The deteriorating economic situation meant companies saw racing as a luxury they could not afford, to concentrate on standard road-car manufacture to make money. This stifled technical advancement and development, and privateer drivers instead kept racing their older cars instead of pushing companies to develop better machines.

Ettore Bugatti chose not to bring out any new variants of the eponymous Type 35 chassis. The Maserati Brothers did develop their original Tipo 26 with the 26R with a slightly larger 1.7-litre engine. The troubles at Alfa Romeo continued: Giuseppe Merosi and Giorgio Rimini resigned from the technical board at the start of the year. Then in May, Nicola Romeo was ousted from the board of directors. [43]

1928 Indianapolis-winning Miller 91 Indy500winningcar1928.JPG
1928 Indianapolis–winning Miller 91

On 22 April, American Ray Keech raised the Land speed record to 207.6 mph with an 81-litre monster at the Daytona Beach Road Course. Three days later, 1926 Indianapolis winner Frank Lockhart was attempting to best him at the same venue. He had already been injured in an earlier attempt in February, and broke 220 mph on his first run. However, on the return run he crashed when a tyre blew and was killed instantly. [36] [44] [45] In March, Kurt C. Volkhart demonstrated Fritz von Opel's RAK-1 , the first rocket-powered automobile. In May, Opel did speed trials with the RAK-2 on the AVUS track in Berlin. He reached 230 km/h (140 mph) and got from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8 seconds. [36]

ManufacturerModel [46] [47] [48] EnginePower
Output
Max. Speed
(km/h)
Dry Weight
(kg)
Flag of France.svg Bugatti Type 37A Bugatti 1496cc S4 supercharged90 bhp180720
Flag of France.svg Bugatti Type 35B Bugatti 2.3L S8 supercharged140 bhp210710
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Maserati Tipo 26B Maserati 2.0L S8 supercharged
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Alfa Romeo P2 Alfa Romeo 2.0L S8 supercharged155 bhp240750
Flag of France.svg Talbot
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
700 GPLBTalbot 1489cc S4 supercharged140 bhp210700

Season review

The season opened with a second running of the Mille Miglia. Bugatti sent a strong works team of Pietro Bordino, Tazio Nuvolari and Gastone Brilli-Peri. To take them on, the Alfa Corse fielded six of their 6C sports cars, including the brand new, supercharged MMS version given to Giuseppe Campari. Although the Bugattis initially led, Campari came through to win by 8 minutes from the OM of race-organiser Franco Mazzotti. [49] [36] [50] OM repeated its success of the previous year: as well as second overall, it cleaned up the first eight places in the 2-litre class. [51]

In the first week of April, several towns of the French Riviera hosted a series of street races, culminating in the Grand Prix d'Antibes on Easter Monday. The race carried a lavish 150 000 francs in prize money and was won by Louis Chiron who had lapped the field twice. [52] It presaged another prestigious street race on the Riviera – the Monaco Grand Prix.

The Circuito di Alessandria was the third round of the Italian Championship. It was a contest between the privateer teams of Tazio Nuvolari and Emilio Materassi. Although Nuvolari won the race after a close duel with his teammate Achille Varzi, the race was overshadowed by the death of Italian racing hero Pietro Bordino. While practicing his brand new Bugatti the weekend before, he hit a dog that ran into the road. The car then tumbled down a ravine, killing Bordino and leaving his mechanic in a coma. [53] [54] [55]

With diminishing international racing, the Targa Florio took on greater significance, and hence attracted a good amount of works interest. Bugatti arrived with five cars for team regulars Ferdinando Minoia, Caberto Conelli and Louis Chiron, as well as Albert Divo (formerly of Talbot and Delage, replacing Bordino) and Gastone Brilli-Peri. Maserati also arrived with purpose. After his serious accident the year before, Alfieri Maserati stayed solely as team manager, while his brother Ernesto joined Baconin Borzacchini and Diego de Sterlich driving the 2-litre 26B, while Luigi Fagioli ran the 1.5-litre Tipo 26.

Eliska Junkova, with her Bugatti and Vincenzo Florio Elisabeth Junek a la Targa Florio 1928, au cote du chevalier Florio.jpg
Eliška Junková, with her Bugatti and Vincenzo Florio

The works Alfa Romeo team, Alfa Corse, returned after a 4-year absence with two new 6C sports cars for Campari and Attilio Marinoni. Campari was given the brand new Super Sport version to race. Bugattis again dominated the field with half the entries. The 1927 winner, Emilio Materassi, was one of the dozen privateer drivers. Others included Tazio Nuvolari, René Dreyfus and the popular female Czech driver Eliška Junková. Junková had arrived a month early with her husband and, with a car and guide provided by Vincenzo Florio, set about meticulously mapping the route in what was one of the earliest examples of race-notes, by marking trees and posts with braking points and landmarks. [56]

Albert Divo (Bugatti), winner of the Targa Florio Albert Divo in his Bugatti at the 1928 Targa Florio.jpg
Albert Divo (Bugatti), winner of the Targa Florio

Chiron put in the fastest time to lead at the end of the first lap on elapsed time, with barely thirty seconds back to Campari, Divo and Junková. [56] But when Chiron went off the road, and Divo had to pit, Junková found herself in the lead, racing right behind Divo, who had originally started two minutes earlier. Her meticulous preparation was paying off and despite Campari leading at the end of the third, a puncture dropped him back again, and she led going into the fifth and final lap. From the staggered start, Campari was the first to finish. Conelli brought in his works Bugatti soon after, barely 20 seconds slower, and then Divo stormed in to take the lead by 90 seconds. Unfortunately for Junková, she suffered a puncture, losing two minutes, and then engine overheating forced her to ease off to save the car. She eventually finished fifth behind Chiron, nine minutes behind Divo who gave Bugatti their fourth consecutive victory in the Targa. [57] [36] [58]

Indianapolis

Louis Meyer, winner of the Indianapolis 500 Louis Meyer at the 1928 Indianapolis 500.jpg
Louis Meyer, winner of the Indianapolis 500

The entry list for the Indianapolis 500 was once again dominated by Millers. Duesenberg had scaled back its participation, while Earl Cooper and Tommy Milton ran cars based around the Miller engines. The front-wheel drive Millers once again proved extremely fast, taking four of the top-six positions on the grid. They were led by George Stewart (who raced under the pseudonym “Leon Duray”) who established a new qualifying record. There were several major accidents in practice: Peter DePaolo rolled his Miller FD suffering mild injuries. His car would subsequently be repaired and Wilbur Shaw qualified it at the back of the grid. On a wet race-day morning L. L. Corum and Dutch Baumann both crashed their cars in warm-up and had to be scratched. This meant that George Souders, a rookie the year before, was the only previous race-winner among the starters. [59] [60]

By the time of the start, the track had dried and the sun was out. Duray bolted into the lead setting a record pace for the first quarter of the race. On lap 35 Benny Shoaff hit oil entering Turn 1 and spun into the wall. He ended up facing toward the traffic but only suffered a bloody nose. Then after 62 laps, Duray's car starting overheating and he slowed, eventually retiring at two-thirds distance. Babe Stapp and Souders then swapped the lead with rookies Jimmy Gleason and Louis Meyer close behind. Gleason's greater speed got him into the lead which he held for the next 100 miles. He then pitted and was relieved by Russ Snowberger who had earlier been the first retiree. Going into the last quarter of the race, the race was between Tony Gulotta in the lead, Gleason (back in his car), and Louis Schneider now relieving for Lou Moore. At lap 160, light rain started falling, with the drivers put under caution for two laps until the shower moved away. The only driver caught out was Earl Devore, who slid and crashed at Turn 1 on lap 161. With twenty laps to go, Gulotta slowed and had to pit because of dropping fuel pressure. On lap 195, Gleason pitted to top up water but his mechanic missed the radiator when pouring and cracked the engine. This left Meyer to take the victory by just under a lap from the Moore/Schneider Miller with Souders four minutes back in third. Ray Keech, despite bad burns on his legs from leaking fuel, came in fourth. Meyer had driven as a relief driver for Wilbur Shaw in 1927 but was technically another rookie winner. He went on to be crowned the 1928 AAA champion. [61] [60]

Mid-season races

Maserati finally broke the string of nine Bugatti victories in Europe at the Coppa Etna in Sicily, when Borzacchini won for the Italian team. Maserati took three of the top four places, in front of 40000 spectators. But the triumph was marred by an accident as the local Catanian driver Russo crashed into spectators. A teenager was killed and seven seriously injured, including Russo and his mechanic. [62] Racing was also developing in North Africa and the European colonies. Both the Casablanca GP (for touring cars) and Tripoli GP were well-established, but new races were also held that year in Algiers and Tunis. Both were won by Marcel Lehoux in his Bugatti 35C. Lehoux was a Frenchman who ran a successful automotive parts company in Algiers, and was the best of the North African drivers in the 1920s. [63] In the southern hemisphere, the 100-Mile Road Race was held on 6.5 -mile dirt track at Phillip Island in Victoria in April. It would later be known as the first Australian Grand Prix with prize-money of £30. It was won by Arthur Waite, who had worked for Austin in England before becoming the Austin agent in Melbourne. [45]

Materassi (Talbot) leading Chiron (Bugatti) in the Rome GP 1928-06-10 Rome GP Circuit des Trois-Fontaines, Materassi (Talbot) suivi par le futur vainqueur Chiron (Bugatti) du GP Royal d'Italie.jpg
Materassi (Talbot) leading Chiron (Bugatti) in the Rome GP

The Royal Rome GP was raced on a new 13 km road circuit on the southern outskirts of the city. A round of the Italian Championship, it attracted many of the top drivers. Nuvolari, Chiron, Brilli Peri, Minoia and Foresti represented Bugatti, in various guises. Maserati had six cars, including a works entry for Ernesto Maserati while Borzacchini drove as relief for Cesare Pastore with his new car. Materassi had Talbots for himself and Giuseppe Morandi, while Varzi and Aymini ran 1925 Delages. Finally, Amilcar arrived with a 3-car works team to contest the 1.1-litre voiturette class and 23 cars took the grid. Brilli Peri took the lead from the start and he, Chiron and Nuvolari broke away from the rest. They duelled for the first half of the race with Chiron on getting into the lead on the 13th lap. After the half-time pitstops, Chiron held a 1-minute lead over Brilli-Per, with Materassi and Minoia over six minutes behind. The rest of the race was fairly pedestrian, and after 30 laps Chiron won by four minutes from Brilli Peri, then Materassi and Minoia. Luigi Fagioli was the best-finishing Maserati, in fifth. [64] A fortnight later, at the extremely fast Cremona track, Materassi's newest team-mate Luigi Arcangeli won an exciting victory for the Talbot team, by narrowly beating Nuvolari in a race of attrition where only four of the nineteen starters finished. [65]

Eight days after the 24 Hours of Le Mans touring-car endurance race, Ettore Bugatti hosted his first Grand Prix Bugatti at Le Sarthe circuit. Exclusively for privateer Bugatti owners, it was run over two handicap elimination races and a 16-lap final. Prizes were three new Bugatti cars, including the first prize of a supercharged 2-litre grand-prix car (valued at FF165000). It attracted 29 drivers, including Dudley Benjafield, Louis Rigal, Louis Charavel and Goffredo Zehender who had just raced there the week beforehand. The race was won by the wealthy liqueur magnate André Dubonnet. [66] The formerly pre-eminent French GP was a shadow of its past. The Comminges GP was designated the national race, and run as a handicap event for sports cars. Williams won the race in a road-adapted Bugatti 35C ahead of a field of 1100cc cars. [67] [39] [68] The German GP was also a sports car race, and run on the full Nürburgring track. Won by Rudolf Caracciola and Christian Werner in their big 7-litre Mercedes-Benz SS, the race was notable for the death of Čenĕk Junek. Distraught at the death of her husband, Eliška immediately retired from racing. [67] [69] [70]

The San Sebastián Grand Prix was a Bugatti-only affair, as the entry by Caracciola's Mercedes did not eventuate. Although there were only nine starters, it was a high-quality field. Divo led initially until his brakes gave out. Zehender, Lehoux and Robert Benoist then all had a turn at leading until Chiron was once again able to get to the front and claim the victory. Chiron also won the Spanish Grand Prix four days later, which was held as a series of handicap elimination heats for sports cars, before a final race. [71]

The next two rounds of the Italian Championship were the Coppa Acerbo and Coppa Montenero. Campari easily won in his four-year old Alfa on the long straights at Pescara, while Materassi got his revenge at the twisty circuit of the lucrative Livorno race. [72]

The European Grand Prix

The last major race of the year was the only international Grand Prix. The AIACR declared that their races were no longer exclusive to manufacturer teams. Instead, privateer drivers would be allowed to enter if they got the permission of their car's manufacturer. Without the restrictions of a set formula, the Italian Grand Prix finally drew a sizeable field. Maserati was the only company to send a works team, with two new 1.7-litre Tipo 26R for Baconin Borzacchini and Conte Aymo Maggi, and an older 2-litre 26B for Ernesto Maserati. Bartolomeo Costantini, works team manager for Bugatti, was present to support the privateers. The strongest Bugatti drivers were Louis Chiron, Tazio Nuvolari and “Williams”. Emilio Materassi had bought the cars from the defunct Talbot works team, setting up one of the first private racing teams in Europe – the Scuderia Materassi (being the first use of the term Scuderia for a motor-racing team [73] ). His drivers with him, were Conte Gastone Brilli-Peri, Luigi Arcangeli and Gianfranco Comotti. Conte Giulio Aymini had been running a team with 2-litre Delages, but only his own car was entered for this race. Young motorcycle champion, Achille Varzi, a sometime driver for both Aymini and Nuvolari was this time entered to drive Giuseppe Campari's Alfa Romeo P2. [74] On a sunny day, a huge crowd gathered for the race. The start line had been moved to the back straight of the road course and 22 cars lined up on the grid, drawn by lot. At the end of the first lap, Williams had a small lead from Nuvolari and Borzacchini, then the Talbots of Materassi and Brilli-Peri. Williams had built a 20-second lead by the 5th lap when he slowed with a blown engine. Materassi had a misfiring engine and also had to pit to change two tyres, dropping down to ninth. Nuvolari took over the lead, pursued by Varzi who had moved up the field. After 100 km (10 laps), the leading group was Brilli Peri, Nuvolari, Varzi and Chiron covered by only ten seconds and changing positions regularly. Arcangeli then put in the fastest lap of the race to join the group.

Materassi in his Talbot, refuelling at the Italian GP Emilio Materassi on Talbot Darracq 700.jpg
Materassi in his Talbot, refuelling at the Italian GP

On the 18th lap, Materassi was fifth, a minute behind the leading pack and pushing hard to make up time. He was coming off the banking to start a new lap and travelling at 200 km/h. He had closed up behind Foresti's Bugatti to lap him when the Talbot suddenly veered off to the right, then left. It shot across the grass verge, a barbed-wire security fence and then over the 3-metre ditch into the crowd for 50 metres before tumbling back into the ditch. Materassi was thrown clear and died on impact. Twenty-two spectators were killed and another 36 injured. The senior officials immediately met and decided to keep the race running to avoid starting panic. The other four Talbots were withdrawn in respect for their team leader.

While the rescue operation proceeded, Chiron and Varzi fought for the lead, with Nuvolari a minute behind and Borzacchini's Maserati in fourth over two minutes further back, about to be lapped. Then on lap 26 another accident occurred, near the previous one. Borzacchini came off the road course at speed to go onto the banked oval. He hit a retired Bugatti parked between the two parallel tracks, tearing off the Maserati's wheel and skating along the pit-straight for 200 metres before coming to rest. However, this time it had not burst through the fence, and Borzacchini got out shaken, but uninjured. By two-thirds distance, Varzi had been relieved by Campari at his regular fuel-stop. The leading two had built a two-lap lead over the rest of the field. The Bugattis of Nuvolari and Drouet scrapped for third with Maggi's Maserati (now driven by Borzacchini) five laps in arrears. The positions stayed like this for the rest of the race, with Chiron, and Bugatti, winning by two minutes from the Alfa Romeo with Nuvolari a distant fourteen minutes back in third. [75] [73] [76] [68]

This event highlighted the need for better safety measures at the Italian circuit. Examination of the cars found no evidence of them hitting each other, and it was ruled that Materassi's steering manoeuvre to overtake was too strong and caused the car to lose adhesion. For the following two seasons the Italian Grand Prix was not held, while the Monza circuit underwent a complete upgrade. [77] A subsequent official court decision in 1931 found the race organisers and Automobile Club of Italy had not taken sufficient precautions for crowd safety and were ordered to pay reparations to the families of the victims. [78]

Louis Chiron was the dominant driver of the season, winning major races for Bugatti in France, Italy and Spain. [60] Bugatti dominated the podiums through the year, and before his fatal accident, Materassi's Talbot team had won most of the others. Materassi himself had ended the Italian season with the highest earnings (185000 lire) ahead of Nuvolari's (178000 lire). Consistency gave Giuseppe Campari the Italian Driver's Championship. [79] Despite the lack of technical development, the opening up of racing to privateers gave bigger grids and close racing, and had proven popular with spectators.

Results of the season's major races

PosDriverTeam ALS
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg
TGF
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg
IND
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg
ROM
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg
CRE
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg
MAR
Flag of France.svg
SEB
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg
CAC
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg
CMN
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg
ITA
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg
Flag of Monaco.svg Louis ChironUsines Bugatti
Private Entry
41111
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Tazio NuvolariScuderia Nuvolari1RetRet2423
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Giuseppe CampariSA Alfa Romeo2Ret13[2]
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Luigi ArcangeliScuderia MaterassiRet12WD
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Emilio MaterassiScuderia Materassi4Ret33Ret [2]1Ret †
Flag of France.svg Albert DivoUsines Bugatti1Ret
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Louis MeyerPrivate Entry1
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Achille VarziScuderia Nuvolari
Giulio Aymini
SA Alfa Romeo
2RetRetRet2
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Lou MoorePrivate Entry2
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Gastone Brilli-PeriUsines Bugatti
Scuderia Materassi
Ret2RetWD
Flag of France.svg Robert GauthierPrivate Entry2
Flag of France.svg Robert BenoistPrivate Entry2
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Carlo ToniniPrivate EntryRetRet34Ret
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Federico ValpredaGiulio Aymini3
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Caberto ConelliUsines Bugatti3
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg George SoudersBill White Race Cars3
Flag of France.svg Philippe AubertPrivate Entry3
Flag of France.svg Marcel LehouxPrivate Entry3
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Tommaso SaccomanniPrivate Entry45
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Ferdinando MinoiaUsines Bugatti64
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Ray KeechPeter de Paolo / Flying Cloud4
Flag of France.svg José ScaronPrivate Entry4
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Goffredo ZehenderPrivate Entry4
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Guy DrouetPrivate EntryRet4
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Luigi FagioliOfficine Alfieri Maserati75Ret7
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Luigi BeccariaPrivate Entry5Ret
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Eliška JunkováPrivate Entry5
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Norman BattenPrivate Entry5
Flag of France.svg Antonio ValettePrivate Entry5
Flag of Argentina.svg Manuel BlancasPrivate Entry5DNS
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Letterio CucinottaPrivate EntryRet5
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Aymo MaggiOfficine Alfieri Maserati5
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Ernesto MaseratiOfficine Alfieri Maserati11RetDNS96
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Mario LeporiPrivate Entry96DSQ
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Clemente BiondettiPrivate Entry13Ret6
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Cleto NenzioniPrivate Entry6RetRetRetRet
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Elbert 'Babe' StappPrivate Entry6
Flag of France.svg ? Vincent TersenPrivate Entry6
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg Francisco TorresPrivate Entry6
PosDriverTeam ALS
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg
TGF
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg
IND
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg
ROM
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg
CRE
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg
MAR
Flag of France.svg
SEB
Flag of Spain (1785-1873, 1875-1931).svg
CAC
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg
CMN
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg
ITA
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg

italics show the driver of the race's fastest lap.
Only those drivers with a best finish of 6th or better are shown. Sources: [80] [81] [82] [8] [83] [84] [85]

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References