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Grand Prix season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 1920 Grand Prix season saw further activity in motor-racing gradually increase. Europe was still recovering from the end of the war and the terrible pandemic that swept the continent. Automotive companies were gradually re-establishing themselves after re-tooling from a wartime footing and getting production lines rolling again.
A new 3-litre formula was adopted on both sides of the Atlantic and the Indianapolis 500 would be a close contest between the best of the new designs from France and the USA. Ralph DePalma led for over half the race in his Ballot, only for it to catch fire with four laps to go. Gaston Chevrolet inherited the lead and held on to win by six minutes. His Monroe-Frontenac was the first American car to win the great race since 1912. DePalma got his revenge later in the year, winning the last Elgin Trophy, on the only road-course in the AAA Championship. Chevrolet won the AAA season championship; despite being killed at the end of the year in a collision at the Beverley Hills race he had already accumulated enough points.
Racing was gradually returning to Europe, although there was no Grand Prix. Club racing started again at Brooklands. A new race at Mugello in Italy was won by veteran Giuseppe Campari in an Alfa Romeo. Voiturette racing resumed with the Coupe des Voiturettes held on a shortened circuit at Le Mans. It was won by Ernest Friderich in a Bugatti. Near the end of the year, the Targa Florio was run again on the island of Sicily. It was won by Guido Meregalli in a Nazzaro GP.
Date | Name | Circuit | Race Regulations |
Race Distance |
Winner's Time |
Winning driver | Winning constructor |
Report |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
30 May | VIII International 500 Mile Sweepstakes | Indianapolis | AAA | 500 miles | 5h 39m | Gaston Chevrolet | Monroe-Frontenac | Report |
13 Jun | I Circuito di Mugello | Mugello | Formula Libre | 390 km | 6h 24m | Giuseppe Campari | Alfa Romeo 40/60 | Report |
28 Aug | Elgin National Trophy | Elgin, Illinois | AAA | 250 miles | 3h 10m | Ralph DePalma | Ballot | Report |
28 Aug | II Grand Prix de l’UMF | Le Mans | Voiturette | 275 km | 3h 37m | Marcel Violet | Major | Report |
29 Aug | VIII Coupe des Voiturettes | Le Mans | Voiturette | 410 km | 4h 28m | Ernest Friderich | Bugatti Type 13 | Report |
24 Oct | XI Targa Florio | Medio Madonie | Targa Florio | 430 km | 8h 27m | Guido Meregalli | Nazzaro GP | Report |
At the end of 1919 the AIACR (forerunner of the FIA) had set down new regulations for motor-racing.[6] An engine limit of 3.0-litres was imposed along with a minimum weight of 800kg. The AAA also adopted those regulations for their racing season.[7][6] So, in line with this, the Indianapolis regulations also changed – with the maximum engine size reduced to 183 cu in (3.0 litres) from 300 cu in (4.92 litres).[8] The Targa Florio regulations were for production cars available to the public, divided into seven engine-capacity categories.[7] Voiturette regulations were set at a maximum of 1400cc capacity engine, and weighing between 350 and 500kg.[8]
The general unification of regulations encouraged manufacturers to build new designs that could run on both sides of the Atlantic. The new Peugeot had an intricate triple-overhead cam 3-litre engine with five valves per cylinder.[9][8] As it would turn out, after a decade of leading racing development, this would be the last grand prix car designed and built by Peugeot.[8] Ernest Henry followed up his Indianapolis design for Ballot with a new car with a 3-litre straight-eight engine.[10]
Louis Chevrolet, as well as building a new Frontenac, was engaged by Indianapolis industrialist William Small, of the Monroe Motor Car Company, to build four 3-litre specials.[9]
In June, Sunbeam, bought out the French Talbot and British-owned Darracq companies, setting up the headquarters of the new company, STD Motors, in Paris.
Manufacturer | Model[11] | Engine | Power Output |
Max. Speed (km/h) |
Dry Weight (kg) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Peugeot | Peugeot 3.0L S4 | 105 bhp | 165 | 1000 | |
Ballot | 3-Litre | Ballot 3.0L S8 | 108 bhp | 180 | 920 |
Duesenberg | GP | Duesenberg 3.0L S8 | 115 bhp | 185 | 1160 |
Frontenac | -Monroe | Frontenac 3.0L S4 | 98 bhp | 165 | 1060 |
Frontenac | Frontenac 3.0L S4 | 120 bhp | 185 | 1020 |
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