The Italian street circuit at Pescara, hometown
from Jarno Trulli, was operational from 1924 to 1961 and hosted the
annual Pescara Grand Prix, which was only counting for the Formula 1
championship in 1957. With a length of 25,579 km (15,89 mile) it
was the longest circuit that ever hosted a Formula 1 race.
Click on the map for a lap around the circuit!
The triangle shaped circuit was very challenging
and included two long straights and a spectacular twisty part trough
the hills. Start/finish was in the outskirts of Pescara and after a
typical "city circuit ride" you arrived at Villa Raspa where you was
leaving the urban part, turning into the hill section which was only
interrupted by a few villages.
Start/finish in 1957
Start/finish in 2007
After long series of twisting turns and many fast
kinks trough the hills, only interrupted by the villages Spoltoire
and Cappelle, the drivers arrived at a 4 mile long straight which
was leading back to the more urban part of the circuit. At the last
part of this straight there was a primitive kind of speed trap. Over
a distance from one kilometre they clocked the time and calculated
the speed. In 1950 Fangio was reaching an average speed from 309
km/h (192 mph) at this so called "flying kilometre". At the end of
the straight you're arrived at Montesilvano, a suburb from Pescara,
where you had to brake very hard for a right hand corner which was
leading into another long straight leading back to start/finish
(Click here to see a lap at the circuit).
The last race ever at Pescara was in 1961. After
questions about the safety of the track it was closed and there was
never raced anymore. Today the public roads, who formed once this
great circuit, are still there. Only two roundabouts have been
added.
