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I already looked back at the 2005 season, now I want to do something similar to a year where F1 wasn't even a thing. We go way back to 1947 with this little thread. (Pic: GP at Milan, Alessandro Gaboardi in an Alfa Romeo 158) https://twitter.com/DavidNCook1/status/1348300795163209730
The 1947 Grand Prix season was the second post-war year for Grand Prix racing. It featured four "Grandes Épreuves", the Swiss GP at Bremgarten
, the Belgium GP Spa
, the Italian GP at Fiera Campionaria
and the French GP at Lyon-Parilly
. (Pic: Milan)
, the Belgium GP Spa, the Italian GP at Fiera Campionaria and the French GP at Lyon-Parilly. (Pic: Milan)
In this year there were about 25 other big races where Grand Prix cars started. The most famous one of these were: the Buenos Aires Grand Prix 1 and 2
, the Pau Grand Prix, the Roussillon Grand Prix, the Grand Prix de Reims, and of course the Indy 500
.
, the Pau Grand Prix, the Roussillon Grand Prix, the Grand Prix de Reims, and of course the Indy 500.
The first of two 1947 Buenos Aires Grand Prix was held on the 9th of February. The track (pic) was 2.410 km long and they raced 50 laps (120.5km). Luigi Villoresi (Maserati) won the race only one second in front of Achille Varzi (Alfa Romeo).
was held on the 9th of February. The track (pic) was 2.410 km long and they raced 50 laps (120.5km). Luigi Villoresi (Maserati) won the race only one second in front of Achille Varzi (Alfa Romeo).
Chico Landi 
Alfa Romeo finished 3rd with one lap behind. (pic: the race winner Villoresi)
Alfa Romeo finished 3rd with one lap behind. (pic: the race winner Villoresi)
The second of two 1947 Buenos Aires Grand Prix was held one week later (same track and same distance). Villoresi also won the second race with Pablo Pessatti (Alfa Romeo) in 2nd and Giacomo Palmeri (Maserati) in 3rd. They all finished in the same lap and after 65 minutes.
was held one week later (same track and same distance). Villoresi also won the second race with Pablo Pessatti (Alfa Romeo) in 2nd and Giacomo Palmeri (Maserati) in 3rd. They all finished in the same lap and after 65 minutes.
The next big race was the Pau Grand Prix , it was held on the Pau Circuit and on the 4th of April. The track was 2.760km long an the race went over 110 laps (304.590 km). The track:
, it was held on the Pau Circuit and on the 4th of April. The track was 2.760km long an the race went over 110 laps (304.590 km). The track:
Nello Pagani (Maserati) won in 3h 38mins two laps in front of Pierre Levegh (Delage) and Henri Louveau (Maserati) in 3rd.
Pagani at the 1949 Dutch TT:
(Maserati) won in 3h 38mins two laps in front of Pierre Levegh (Delage) and Henri Louveau (Maserati) in 3rd.Pagani at the 1949 Dutch TT:
The 1947 Roussillon Grand Prixwas held on the 8th of May 1947. The track was 2.538km long and they raced over 58 laps (147.204 km). In the first few laps there was a four car accident with no one injured. The polesitter Raymond Sommer retired in the lead 14 laps before the end.
was held on the 8th of May 1947. The track was 2.538km long and they raced over 58 laps (147.204 km). In the first few laps there was a four car accident with no one injured. The polesitter Raymond Sommer retired in the lead 14 laps before the end.
Eugène Chaboud won the race on Talbot Tago after 1h 35mins, one lap ahead of everybody else. Henri Louveau (Delage) finished second just ahead of Yves Giraud-Cabantous (Delahaye).
The winning car Talbot Tago T26:
won the race on Talbot Tago after 1h 35mins, one lap ahead of everybody else. Henri Louveau (Delage) finished second just ahead of Yves Giraud-Cabantous (Delahaye). The winning car Talbot Tago T26:
The 31st Indy 500 was held on Friday, May 30, 1947. It was the opening round of the 11 races that comprised the 1947 AAA Championship Car season. 30 drivers qualified for the race. It went (of course) over 200 laps and 500 miles. It was the coldest Indy 500 ever with just 10°C
was held on Friday, May 30, 1947. It was the opening round of the 11 races that comprised the 1947 AAA Championship Car season. 30 drivers qualified for the race. It went (of course) over 200 laps and 500 miles. It was the coldest Indy 500 ever with just 10°C
It was also the second fastest Indy 500 at that time, the winner took 4h 17mins to complete the 500 miles, only the one in 1938 was faster. The race was overshadowed by a 41st lap crash that claimed the life of Shorty Cantlon RIP
.
The winning car:
RIP. The winning car:
The teammates Holland and Rose were running 1st and 2nd. Holland believed he held a lap lead over Rose, and allowed him to catch up. The two drivers waved as Rose passed Holland, with Holland believing it was not more than a congratulatory gesture. In reality he gave him the win.
Mauri Rose (pic) won in front of Bill Holland and Ted Horn .
(pic) won in front of Bill Holland and Ted Horn .
The 1947 Swiss Grand Prix was held at Bremgarten on 8 June 1947. During the two qualification runs, three spectators died in accidents, including a young boy who wanted to cross the street. RIP×3 
. The circuit was 7.262km long and they raced 30 laps (217.867 km).
was held at Bremgarten on 8 June 1947. During the two qualification runs, three spectators died in accidents, including a young boy who wanted to cross the street. RIP×3 . The circuit was 7.262km long and they raced 30 laps (217.867 km).
Jean-Pierre Wimille (Alfa Romeo) won +44.7 in front of Achille Varzi (Alfa Romeo) and +1:17.4 in front of Carlo Felice Trossi (Alfa Romeo).
Jean-Pierre Wimille after winning the 1936 Grand Prix de Deauville:
(Alfa Romeo) won +44.7 in front of Achille Varzi (Alfa Romeo) and +1:17.4 in front of Carlo Felice Trossi (Alfa Romeo).Jean-Pierre Wimille after winning the 1936 Grand Prix de Deauville:
The 1947 Belgian Grand Prix was held at Spa-Francorchamps on 29 June 1947. The race was also known as the European Grand Prix. It was the second Grandes Épreuves after the race in Switzerland. The track was 14.066 km long and they raced over 50 laps (492.322 km).
was held at Spa-Francorchamps on 29 June 1947. The race was also known as the European Grand Prix. It was the second Grandes Épreuves after the race in Switzerland. The track was 14.066 km long and they raced over 50 laps (492.322 km).
Alfa Romeo showed (again) how dominant they were with a 1-2-3 finish. Jean-Pierre Wimille won one lap ahead of Achille Varzi two laps behind the leaders finished Carlo Felice Trossi and Giovanbattista Guidotti , both in third place.
Achille Varzi, Paris in 1931:
won one lap ahead of Achille Varzi two laps behind the leaders finished Carlo Felice Trossi and Giovanbattista Guidotti , both in third place.Achille Varzi, Paris in 1931:
The XVI (16th) Grand Prix de Reims was held on July 6, 1947, at the Reims-Gueux circuit near Reims in north-eastern France. The race was run over 51 laps on a 7.816 km circuit.
Christian Kautz achieved Pole and also won the race on a Maserati 4CL after 2h 34mins. Louis Chiron 
(Talbot-Lago) came home 2nd three minutes later. Bob Gerard 
and Cuth Harrison came home third on an ERA B-Type, three laps behind the leader.
The race winning car:
achieved Pole and also won the race on a Maserati 4CL after 2h 34mins. Louis Chiron (Talbot-Lago) came home 2nd three minutes later. Bob Gerard and Cuth Harrison came home third on an ERA B-Type, three laps behind the leader.The race winning car:
The third Grandes Epreuves of the year was the 1947 Italian Grand Prix which was held in Portello district on 7 September 1947. The race went over 344.728 km 8n 100 laps. Alfa Romeo achieved an incredible 1-2-3-4 finish at thier home grand prix.
which was held in Portello district on 7 September 1947. The race went over 344.728 km 8n 100 laps. Alfa Romeo achieved an incredible 1-2-3-4 finish at thier home grand prix.
Carlo Felice Trossi won after 3 hours, Achille Varzi came home in second and Consalvo Sanesi finished in third but 1 Lap down.
The winning car which was first built ten years earlier in 1937:
won after 3 hours, Achille Varzi came home in second and Consalvo Sanesi finished in third but 1 Lap down.The winning car which was first built ten years earlier in 1937:
Finally, the last Grandes Épreuves and the last big race of the season was the 1947 French Grand Prix which was held at Lyon-Parilly on 21 September. The drivers had the race 70 laps (510,37 km).
which was held at Lyon-Parilly on 21 September. The drivers had the race 70 laps (510,37 km).
A tragedy developed on lap 23. In anticipation of the Le Mans catastrophe of 1955, Levegh (pic) skidded with his Maserati on the long straight at full speed into the spectator seats. Between two to four people were killed in the accident and sixteen others injured. RIP .
(pic) skidded with his Maserati on the long straight at full speed into the spectator seats. Between two to four people were killed in the accident and sixteen others injured. RIP .
Louis Chiron (Talbot-Lago) (pic) won the race in front of Henri Louveau (Maserati) Eugène Chaboud (Talbot-Lago Spéciale) who finished one lap down.
(Talbot-Lago) (pic) won the race in front of Henri Louveau (Maserati) Eugène Chaboud (Talbot-Lago Spéciale) who finished one lap down.
As you can see here 1947 was a very good year for Alfa Romeo and Maserati. Jean-Pierre Wimille was the only driver who could win more than one Grandes Épreuves. In the meantime Luigi Villoresi could win 6 Grand Prix in total.
was the only driver who could win more than one Grandes Épreuves. In the meantime Luigi Villoresi could win 6 Grand Prix in total.
It was really funny and interesting to learn something about that year of Grand Prix Racing. I hope you enjoyed it if you have read it completely.
1947 Nice Grand Prix:
1947 Nice Grand Prix:
@MsportXtra @TheBishF1 @PeterDWindsor I put a lot of time into this little thread. If you would retweet it I would be really happy.
(Also please follow this three guys if you want more Motorsport).
(Also please follow this three guys if you want more Motorsport).
