Circuit de Meyrin

Circuit de Meyrin
Promotional postcard for the 1923 event.
LocationMeyrin, Switzerland
Opened9 June 1923 (1923-06-09)
Closed1931 (1931)
Major eventsGeneva Grand Prix (1931)
Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix (1923–1929)
Length9.300 km (5.779 miles)
Turns3

The Circuit de Meyrin was a temporary motor racing circuit in Meyrin, Switzerland. It had a triangular layout of 9.3 km (5.78 mi) starting from Route de Meyrin, turning right on Avenue de Vaudagne, then right again on Route de Prevessin (now Rue Robert-Adrien-Stierlin), before rejoining Route de Meyrin at Bouchet to complete the lap, with grandstands for spectators built on Route de Meyrin.[1][2] The location of the circuit was chosen due to its proximity to the city.[3]

The track was first used in 1923 hosting the Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix as well as grand prix for sidecars and for cyclecars[2] which was the first car race in Switzerland.[4] The success of the first event propelled the track to prominence, making it the premier motorsport event in Switzerland attracting international talent for the 1924 event, including racing for motorcycles (250cc, 350cc and 500cc), sidecars (600cc and 1000cc), voiturettes and cyclecars (750cc, 1100cc and 1500cc).[5][6]

Racing at the circuit continued throughout the 1920s[7] until the final event held at the track was the 1931 Geneva Grand Prix. The event was won by Marcel Lehoux,[8] however a crash involving the car of Stanisław Czaykowski resulted in the death of a bystander in a house adjacent to the circuit.[9][10] As a result of the crash, races at the circuit were discontinued because it was determined that racing on public roads in towns and near houses was too unsafe.[11]

Today, most of the public roads that made up the circuit are still in use, however a section road was removed to make way for the expansion of Geneva Airport.

Results

Swiss motorcycle Grand Prix Winners by year

Year 125cc 175cc 250cc 350cc 500cc Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
1929 "Crotti" Zehnder Georges Trezza Allegro Otto Zehnder Zehnder François Gaussorgues Monet-Goyon Emil Frey Radco Report
1928

[7][12]

Paul Lehmann Moser Alfredo Panella Ladetto-Blatto Cecil Ashby OK-Supreme Wal Handley Motosacoche Wal Handley Motosacoche Report
1927 O. Graf Zehnder Alexandre Hommaire Monet-Goyon Licinio Lasagni Moto Guzzi Jimmie Simpson AJS Stanley Woods Norton Report
Year 250cc 350cc 500cc 1000cc Report
Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer Rider Manufacturer
1924 Léon Divorne Condor Tommy de la Haye Sunbeam Graham Walker Sunbeam Report
1923[13] Paul Dinkel Condor Isacco Mariani Garelli Paul Péan Peugeot Report

Source:[14]

Geneva Grand Prix Winners by year

Year Winning driver Winning constructor Report
1931[8] Marcel Lehoux Bugatti Report

References

  1. ^ "Un circuit et des Grands prix à Meyrin" (PDF). Archives de la commune de Meyrin (in French). Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Le Grand-prix". Journal de Geneve (in French). May 30, 1923. p. 5.
  3. ^ "Les Sports". Journal de Geneve (in French). June 7, 1923. p. 6.
  4. ^ Cimarosti 1997, p.63
  5. ^ "Le Grand-Prix suisse". Journal de Geneve (in French). June 6, 1924. pp. 5–6.
  6. ^ "I Grand Prix de Suisse de Cyclecars". Racing Years. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Brooklands Thrill". Daily News (London). July 30, 1928. pp. 8–9.
  8. ^ a b "1931 Geneva Grand Prix". Motorsport Magazine. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  9. ^ "Il G.P. di Ginevra funestato da un mortale investimento". La Stampa (in Italian). June 8, 1931. p. 4.
  10. ^ "Victor Zaninetti". Motorsport Memorial. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
  11. ^ "La mort va vite". Journal de Geneve (in French). June 9, 1931. p. 4.
  12. ^ "Il Gran Premio Motociclistico d'Europa". La Stampa (in Italian). July 30, 1928. p. 2.
  13. ^ "Le Grand-Prix de Suisse". Journal de Geneve (in French). June 11, 1923. p. 5.
  14. ^ "L'HISTOIRE DU GRAND PRIX DE SUISSE". racingmemo (in French). Retrieved February 1, 2025.


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