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Népliget Park
There have been many
plans to hold a Grand Prix of Hungary in the early thirties, but all of them
where cancelled. Than finally in 1936 it really happen! At the Népliget Park (Peoples
Park) in the Hungarian capital Budapest the First ever Hungarian
Grand Prix was held on june 21st.
The twisty road course
was created in a park in Budapest, with a length of 4,989 km, and was driven
anti clockwise. Because of the twisty character of the track handling was more
important rather than engine power. Nuvolari took that opportunity! More than
100.000 spectators saw him beating the dominant Mercedes and Auto Union teams at
that legendary Grand Prix.
After the Second World War motor racing returned to Hungary in
the sixties. First at the Ferihegy Airport in Budapest and in 1964 they returned
to Népliget park for a race of the European Touring Car Championship. Compare to the 1936
lay out the track was a little bid modified. In 1972 the last race for the
European Touring car Championship was held in Hungary. After this the Népliget
Park circuit was never used anymore!
In the early eighties, Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone wanted a
Grand Prix behind the iron curtain. In 1983 the Hungarian goverment ordered to
investigate the possibility to organize a Grand Prix at the Old Népliget Park
circuit. There where big plans to modify the track to make it suitable For
Formula one. But after all they came to the conclusion it was better to
build a brand new circuit, the Hungaroring.
The Silver Arrow's from
the thirties in 1998 back in Hungary for a demonstration.
This time at the Hungaroring!
With the Hungaroring near Budapest it will be inconceivable
that they will ever raced again at Népliget Park. Today the lay out is almost
unchanged. But no big crowds, watching the Hungarian Grand Prix, anymore!
Népliget Park is given back to the people. To the walkers, who come there for
their rest, and to the vagrants who sleep there. But sometimes someone comes with a camera to take
pictures from the former Grand Prix circuit!
Discuss this circuit at the forum.
© Text and pictures: Herman Liesemeijer |
