1926 Italian Grand Prix

The 1926 Italian Grand Prix was a Grand Prix motor race held at Monza on 5 September 1926.[2]

1926 Italian Grand Prix
Race 5 of 5 in the 1926 World Manufacturers' Championship
Race details
Date	5 September 1926
Official name	VI Gran Premio d'Italia
Location	Monza, Italy
Course	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza
Course length	10.00 km (6.21 mi)
Distance	60 laps, 600 km (372.6 mi)
Pole position
Driver	Emilio Materassi[1]	Maserati
Grid positions set by car number
Fastest lap
Driver	Meo Costantini	Bugatti
Time	3:47.0
Podium
First	Louis Charavel	Bugatti
Second	Meo Costantini	Bugatti
Third	No other finishers

The cars were divided into two classes, which raced simultaneously but over a different distance. The longer race, which was also the final race of the 1926 AIACR World Manufacturers' Championship season, was contested by 1.5-litre Grand Prix cars over 60 laps, while the shorter race was for up to 1.1 litre cyclecars, and held over 40 laps. Like the other races in the 1926 season, the Italian Grand Prix was quite dull, with just two cars running after the cyclecars had finished their race.[1]

Report

Costantini's Bugatti took the lead early, with the other two Bugattis battling with the two Maseratis over the first two laps, the gap between second and fifth place just 5 seconds after the first lap, with the Chiribiri of Serboli down the field with the 1100cc cars. After just four laps, Maserati retired with engine failure, followed one lap later by team-mate Materassi, also with engine failure, leaving just the three Bugattis and the lone struggling Chiribiri in the 1500cc class.[1]

The Chiribiri of Serboli eventually retired after 27 laps in a spectacular fire in the otherwise dull race. Goux and Sabipa swapped positions a few times mostly due to pitstops, but Goux ultimately retired after 36 laps. Once the cyclecars had finished their 40 laps, the two remaining Bugattis continued uneventfully until nearly the end of the race. However, on his 58th lap, Costantini, who had totally dominated the race experienced engine trouble, but was able to crawl around to the pits. Although he lost the lead to Sabipa, he was able to finish the race on just three (of eight) cylinders.[1]

Classification

1.1 Litre Cyclecar Results

Pos	No	Driver	Car	Laps	Time/Retired
1	23	André Morel	Amilcar	40	3h00m32.4
2	28	Arthur Duray	Amilcar	40	3h09m16.4
3	27	Henny De Joncy	BNC	40	3h16m05.4
DNF	24	Augusto Trevisani	Marino	10	Engine
DNF	21	Alberto Marino	Marino	6	Engine
DNF	26	Charles Martin	Amilcar	3	Supercharger
DNF	22	Gubernatis	BNC	1
Sources:[1]

1.5 Litre Grand Prix Results

Pos	No	Driver	Car	Laps	Time/Retired
1	16	Louis Charavel	Bugatti 39A	60	4h20m29
2	12	Meo Costantini	Bugatti 39A	60	4h27m01
Ret	7	Jules Goux	Bugatti 39A	36	Oil pressure
Ret	4	Roberto Serboli	Chiribiri 12/16	27	Fire
Ret	9	Ernesto Maserati	Maserati 26 (8C-1500)	5	Engine
Ret	3	Emilio Materassi	Maserati 26 (8C-1500)	4	Engine
DNS	5	Ferdinando Minoia	OM 8C		Withdrawn
DNS	10	Giuseppe Morandi	OM 8C		Withdrawn
Sources:[1]

References

1. Etzrodt, Hans. ""Sabipa" with Bugatti wins the Italian Grand Prix". The Golden Era of Grand Prix Racing. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
2. Darren Galpin. "1926 Grands Prix, The GEL Motorsport Information Page". Archived from the original on 2009-05-04. Retrieved 2009-03-24.