Coppa Ciano

The Coppa Ciano was an automobile race held in Italy. Originally referred to as Coppa Montenero or Circuito Montenero, the Coppa Ciano name was officially in use between 1927 and 1939.

Circuito Montenero - Coppa Ciano

History
Coppa Ciano poster, 1931.

During the years immediately following World War I several road circuits were created in Italy. These included the Montenero Circuit at Livorno, which became home for the annual Coppa Montenero from its inauguration in 1921. In the beginning it was only a local affair and the organizers quickly found themselves in financial troubles. In 1923 the event was taken over by the Automobile Club of Italy and the future was secured.

In 1927, the Livorno-born politician Costanzo Ciano donated a victory trophy: the Coppa Ciano. At first, this was awarded to the victor in a separate sports car race, run within a week of the Coppa Montenero. In 1929, however, the Coppa Ciano was merged into the main event and at the same time became the name most often used.

The driver Emilio Materassi won 4 years in a row 1925-1928 and earned the nickname "King of Montenero".

In the 1930s, Italian Hall of Fame driver Tazio Nuvolari won this race five times, more than any other driver. In his 1936 victory he made his way through the field, beating the otherwise superior German cars. This victory was one of the reasons leading to the Italian Grand Prix being held at the Montenero circuit in 1937, instead of the usual venue, Monza.

The 1939 race was run to Voiturette regulations and became the last before World War II stopped all racing for many years. In 1947 the 20th and final edition of the Coppa Montenero was run, with 1500 cc unsupercharged cars. At that point, due to Costanzo Ciano's connections with the now abolished Fascist regime, it was no longer called Coppa Ciano.

Coppa Ciano by year
Year Race Name Dist. Circuit Formula Driver Manufacturer Time Report
1927 VII Circuito Montenero 225 km 22.5 km Formula Libre Emilio Materassi Bugatti T35C 2:45:18 Report
I Coppa Ciano (Sport) 225 km 22.5 km Sports car Attilio Marinoni Alfa Romeo 6C-1500 2:52:42 Report
1928 VIII Circuito Montenero 225 km 22.5 km Grand Prix Emilio Materassi Talbot 700 2:38:57 Report
II Coppa Ciano (Sport) 225 km 22.5 km Sports car Mario Razzauti Alfa Romeo 6C-1500 2:52:42 Report
1929 III Coppa Ciano (Circuito Montenero) 225 km 22.5 km Grand Prix Achille Varzi Alfa Romeo P2 2:38:51 Report
1930 IV Coppa Ciano (Circuito Montenero) 225 km 22.5 km Grand Prix Luigi Fagioli Maserati 26M 2:33:50 Report
1931 V Coppa Ciano (Circuito Montenero) 200 km 20.0 km Grand Prix Tazio Nuvolari Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza 2:23:40 Report
1932 VI Coppa Ciano (Circuito Montenero) 200 km 20.0 km Grand Prix Tazio Nuvolari Alfa Romeo Tipo-B 'P3' 2:18:19 Report
1933 VII Coppa Ciano (Circuito Montenero) 240 km 20.0 km Grand Prix Tazio Nuvolari Maserati 8CM 2:45:08 Report
1934 VIII Coppa Ciano (Circuito Montenero) 240 km 20.0 km Grand Prix Achille Varzi Alfa Romeo Tipo-B 'P3' 2:49:52 Report
1935 IX Coppa Ciano (Circuito Montenero) 240 km 20.0 km Grand Prix Tazio Nuvolari Alfa Romeo Tipo-B 'P3' 2:42:08 Report
1936 X Coppa Ciano (Circuito Montenero) 216.5 km 7.218 km Grand Prix Nuvolari / Pintacuda Alfa Romeo 8C-35 1:44:54.4 Report
1937 XI Coppa Ciano (Gran Premio d'Italia) * 360.0 km 7.218 km Grand Prix Rudolf Caracciola Mercedes-Benz W125 2:44:54.4 Report
1938 XII Coppa Ciano (Circuito Montenero) 232.0 km 5.80 km Grand Prix Hermann Lang Mercedes-Benz W154 1:00:35.2 Report
XII Coppa Ciano (Circuito Montenero) 145.0 km 5.80 km Voiturette Emilio Villoresi Maserati 6CM 1:05:21.6 Report
1939 XIII Coppa Ciano (Circuito Montenero) 348.0 km 5.80 km Grand Prix Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo 158 2:30:10.4 Report
* (AIACR European Driver Championship round) [1] - Sources: [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

See also

References
  1. "AIACR European Driver Championships". dlg.speedfreaks.org. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  2. "1924 IV Circuito Montenero". teamdan.com. Archived from the original on February 13, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  3. "1927 VII Circuito Montenero - I Coppa Ciano (Sport)". teamdan.com. Archived from the original on May 15, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  4. "1928 VIII Circuito Montenero - II Coppa Ciano (Sport)". teamdan.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  5. "1929 IX Circuito Montenero - III Coppa Ciano". Leif Snellman. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  6. "1930 X Circuito Montenero - IV Coppa Ciano". Leif Snellman. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  7. "1931 XI Circuito Montenero - V Coppa Ciano". Leif Snellman. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  8. "1932 XII Circuito Montenero - VI Coppa Ciano". Leif Snellman. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  9. "1933 XIII Circuito Montenero - VII Coppa Ciano". Leif Snellman. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  10. "1934 XIV Circuito Montenero - VIII Coppa Ciano". Leif Snellman. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  11. "1935 XV Circuito Montenero - IX Coppa Ciano". Leif Snellman. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  12. "1936 XVI Circuito Montenero - X Coppa Ciano". Leif Snellman. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  13. "1937 - XVII Circuito Montenero - XI Coppa Ciano". Leif Snellman. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  14. "1938 XVIII Circuito Montenero - XII Coppa Ciano". Leif Snellman. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  15. "1939 XIX Circuito Montenero - XIII Coppa Ciano". Leif Snellman. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
  16. "1947 XX Circuito del Montenero". formula2.net. Retrieved April 16, 2014.
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