1927 Grand Prix season

Third AIACR World Manufacturers' Championship season 1927 AIACR World Manufacturers' Championship 1926 none 1927 Grand Prix season 1926 1928 The 1927 Grand Prix season was the third (and final) AIACR World Manufacturers' Championship season and the second run to a 1.5-litre engine limit. In a dominant display, the championship was won by Delage, with team driver Robert Benoist winning four of the five Grand Prix. thumb|300px|right|Robert Benoist, winner of four World Championship GPs in 1927 The championship opened with the Indianapolis 500 – once again a contest between Duesenberg and Miller engines. Previous year's winner Frank Lockhart started on pole position and led for over half the race until his car suffered a broken con-rod. Rookie George Souders, driving Peter DePaolo’s 1925 race-winning Duesenberg, came through and took a comfortable victory with an eight lap margin. DePaolo went on to secure the season's AAA Championship with three wins and four second places. After major re-working over the close season to sort out the chronic exhaust and heating issues, the Delages proved unbeatable. They were the only manufacturer to enter the requisite three races to qualify for the championship. Bugatti and Talbot challenged them at the next Grand Prix, in France, but then the Talbot team was shut down. Three Americans, including Indy-winner George Souders, came over for the mandatory Italian round but their oval-track car-designs were unsuitable for European circuit-racing. The final round, the British Grand Prix attracted a bigger field, but once again Delage was able to romp to a dominating 1-2-3 victory. It was already readily apparent that the 1.5-litre formula was not attracting consistent manufacturer interest. The AIACR had stated, before the season started, that from 1928 it would not continue this racing format but instead run its Grands Prix to an open Formula Libre, as most other European races were already being done. The season had opened with the advent of a new road-race across northern Italy – the Mille Miglia was a race for touring cars from Brescia to Rome and back. Ferdinando Minoia led home a triumphant 1-2-3 for OM. In a rain-affected Targa Florio, Emilio Materassi kept control to win for Bugatti. His success continued and he went on to be the winner of Italy's inaugural Driver's Championship. The other significant event of the racing year was the opening of a major new racetrack in Germany. The Nürburgring was over 30 km of winding road with 172 corners, situated near the Ardennes Forest just across the border from the Belgian Spa-Francorchamps circuit. The opening race in June was won by Rudolf Caracciola in a 6.8-litre Mercedes sports-car. Manufacturers' World Championship Sources: Rendall 1993, p.360ChampCar Stats http://www.champcarstats.com/year/1927.htm 2020-05-21MotorSport AAA results https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/championships/indycars/1927-aaa-national-championship 2020-05-21 Rnd Date Name Circuit RaceRegulations Weather RaceDistance Winner'sTime Winning driver Winningconstructor Fastestlap Report 1 30 May USA 1912 XV International 500 Mile Sweepstakes Indianapolis AAA ? 500 miles 5h 08m USA 1912 George Souders Duesenberg 91 Report 2 3 Jul FRA XXI Grand Prix de l’ACF Montlhéry AIACR cloudy 600 km 4h 46m FRA Robert Benoist Delage 15 S8 FRA Robert BenoistDelage Report 3 31 Jul ESP 1874 III Spanish Grand Prix Lasarte AIACR sunny 690 km 5h 21m FRA Robert Benoist Delage 15 S8 FRA Robert BenoistDelage Report 4 4 Sep ITA 1861 VII Italian Grand Prix /V European Grand Prix Monza AIACR rain 500 km 3h 27m FRA Robert Benoist Delage 15 S8 FRA Robert BenoistDelage Report 5 1 Oct GBR II RAC Grand Prix BrooklandsOuter circuit AIACR cold, showers 530 km 3h 49m FRA Robert Benoist Delage 15 S8 not recorded Report The Indianapolis 500 also counted towards the 1927 AAA Championship Car season held in the United States Other Races Major non-championship races are in bold Sources:1927 Season http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp27.htm 2020-05-21Speedfreaks.org http://www.dlg.speedfreaks.org/archive/gen/1927.html https://web.archive.org/web/20150405025213/http://www.dlg.speedfreaks.org/archive/gen/1927.html 2020-05-21 2015-04-056th Gear http://www.forix.com/8w/6thgear/gp-yby.html#1927 2020-05-21La Targa Florio http://www.targaflorio.info/18.htm 2020-05-21 Rnd Date Name Circuit RaceRegulations Weather RaceDistance Winner'sTime Winning driver Winningconstructor Report 6 Mar Italian Libya III Gran Premio di Tripoli TagiuraAfrican Circuits http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t9.htm#TRIPOLI 2020-04-21 2020-02-18 https://web.archive.org/web/20200218010002/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t9.htm#TRIPOLI dead Formula LibreVoiturette sunny 420 km 3h 10m ITA 1861 Emilio Materassi Bugatti Type 35C Report 13 Mar FRA III Grand Prix de l’Ouverture Montlhéry Formula Librecyclecar rain 250 km 2h 02m FRA Robert Benoist Delage 15S8 Report 20 MarGolden Era of Grand Prix Racing http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2701.htm#2 2020-05-21 2019-06-30 https://web.archive.org/web/20190630064926/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2701.htm#2 dead/29 MarTeamDan http://www.teamdan.com/archive/gen/1927.html https://web.archive.org/web/20081027015345/http://www.teamdan.com/archive/gen/1927.html 2020-05-21 2008-10-27 ITA 1861 II Circuito del Pozzo VeronaItalian Circuits http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t3.htm#POZZO 2020-04-21 2019-10-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20191019211012/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t3.htm#POZZO dead Formula Libre sunny 250 km 1h 57m ITA 1861 Gaspare Bona Bugatti Type 35T Report 27 Mar FRA III Grand Prix de Provence Miramas Formula Libre rain thendry 250 km /25 km* (12m) MCO Louis Chiron Bugatti Type 35B Report 17 Apr FRA II Grand Prix des Voiturettes Montlhéry Voiturette ? 250 km 2h 19m FRA Arthur Duray Amilcar 6C Report A 24 Apr ITA 1861 XVIII Targa Florio Medio MadonieItalian Circuits http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t3.htm#MADONIEM 2020-04-21 2019-10-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20191019211012/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t3.htm#MADONIEM dead Targa Florio cloudy thenrain 540 km 7h 36m ITA 1861 Emilio Materassi Bugatti Type 35C Report 8 May ITA 1861 IV Circuito di Alessandria AlessandriaItalian Circuits http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t3.htm#ALVACA 2020-04-21 2019-10-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20191019211012/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t3.htm#ALVACA dead Formula Libre rain 260 km 2h 47m ITA 1861 Gaspare Bona Bugatti Type 35B Report ITA 1861 I Coppa Messina Monti PeloritaniItalian Circuits http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t3.htm#MESSINA 2020-04-21 2019-10-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20191019211012/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t3.htm#MESSINA dead Formula Libre sunny 310 km 4h 14m ITA 1861 Antonio Caliri Bugatti Type 37 Report 15 May ITA 1861 V Circuito del Savio RavennaItalian Circuits http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t3.htm#SAVIO 2020-04-21 2019-10-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20191019211012/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t3.htm#SAVIO dead Formula LibreCyclecar sunny 290 km 2h 12m ITA 1861 Gaspare Bona Bugatti Type 35C Report 29 May ITA 1861 IV Coppa della Perugina PerugiaItalian Circuits http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t3.htm#PERUGIA 2020-04-21 2019-10-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20191019211012/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t3.htm#PERUGIA dead Formula LibreCyclecar sunny 330 km 2h 57m ITA 1861 Emilio Materassi Itala Special 5.8L Report B 12 Jun ITA 1861 III Premio Reale di Roma ParioliItalian Circuits http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t3.htm#PARIOLI 2020-05-21 2019-10-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20191019211012/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t3.htm#PARIOLI dead Formula Libre hot 420 km 3h 47m ITA 1861 Tazio Nuvolari Bugatti Type 35 Report FRA III Grand Prix de Picardie PéronneFrench Circuits http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t1.htm#PERONNE 2020-05-21 2020-06-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20200608015614/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t1.htm#PERONNE dead Formula Libre ? 190 km 2h 02m FRA Philippe Auber Bugatti Type 37 Report 19 Jun ITA 1861 Premio di Bologna BolognaItalian Circuits http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t3.htm#BOLOGNA 2020-05-21 2019-10-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20191019211012/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t3.htm#BOLOGNA dead Formula Libre sunny 120 km 1h 28m ITA 1861 Emilio Materassi Bugatti Type 35C Report 2 Jul FRA Course de Formula Libre de l’ACF Montlhéry Formula Libre rain 125 km 1h 02m FRA Albert Divo Talbot 700 Report FRA Coupe de la Commission Sportive 400 km 3h 53m FRA André Boillot Peugeot 176 Report 10 Jul FRA III Grand Prix de la Marne Reims-Gueux Formula Libre cloudy 400 km 3h 26m FRA Philippe Étancelin Bugatti Type 35B Report C 25 Jul ESP 1874 V Gran Premio de San Sebastián Lasarte Formula Libre sunny 690 km 5h 28m ITA 1861 Emilio Materassi Bugatti Type 35C Report D 6 Aug ITA 1861 IV Coppa Acerbo Pescara Formula LibreVoiturette hot 510 km 4h 54m ITA 1861 Giuseppe Campari Alfa Romeo P2 Report 7 Aug FRA III Grand Prix du CommingesMay 2026 Saint-GaudensFrench Circuits http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t1.htm#LA_GAUDENS 2020-04-21 2020-06-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20200608015614/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t1.htm#LA_GAUDENS dead Formula Librehandicap ? 410 km 3h 49m TUN François Eysermann Bugatti Type 37 Report 14 Aug ITA 1861 VII Coppa Montenero Montenero Formula Libre sunny 225 km 2h 47m ITA 1861 Emilio Materassi Bugatti Type 35C Report 25 Aug FRA IV Grand Prix de la Baule La BauleFrench Circuits http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t1.htm#LA_BAULE 2020-04-21 2020-06-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20200608015614/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t1.htm#LA_BAULE dead Formula Libre sunny 100 km 50m GBR George Eyston Bugatti Type 35B Report E 4 Sep ITA 1861 II Gran Premio di Milano Monza Formula Libre rain heats +50 km final 20m ITA 1861 Pietro Bordino Fiat 806 Report 10 Sep FRA VII Grand Prix de Boulogne Boulogne-sur-MerFrench Circuits http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t1.htm#BOULOGNE 2020-04-21 2020-06-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20200608015614/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t1.htm#BOULOGNE dead Formula Libre rain 450 km 4h 09m GBR Capt Malcolm Campbell Bugatti Type 39A Report 18 Sep GER Weimar III SolituderennenMay 2026 SolitudeGerman Circuits http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t2.htm#SOLITUDE 2020-04-21 2020-11-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20201108070630/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t2.htm#SOLITUDE dead Formula Libre rain 21 km 12m Germany Weimar August Momberger Bugatti Type 35B Report 9 Oct ITA 1861 V Circuito del Garda SalòItalian Circuits http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t3.htm#GARDA 2020-04-21 2019-10-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20191019211012/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/t3.htm#GARDA dead Formula Libre sunny 300 km 3h 30m ITA 1861 Tazio Nuvolari Bugatti Type 35 Report F 15 Oct GBR VII Junior Car Club 200 BrooklandsOuter circuit AIACRVoiturette cloudy 200 miles 2h 38m GBR Capt Malcolm Campbell Bugatti Type 39A Report 16 Oct FRA II Grand Prix du Salon Montlhéry AIACR ? 50 km 24m FRA Michel Doré Corre-La Licorne Report 28 Oct ITA 1861 Apuano Circuit Carrara Formula Libre ? ? ? ITA 1861 "Niccoli" Bugatti Report Note: *Race stopped because of crowd-invasion of track Teams and drivers These tables only intend to cover entries in the Championship Grands Prix and the major non-Championship races, as keyed above. Sources:TeamDan http://www.teamdan.com/archive/gen/1927.html https://web.archive.org/web/20081027015345/http://www.teamdan.com/archive/gen/1927.html 2020-05-21 2008-10-27Formula 2 http://formula2.se/Targa27.html 2020-05-21MotorSport https://database.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/1927-indianapolis-500 2020-05-21ChampCar Stats http://www.champcarstats.com/races/192703.htm 2020-05-21 Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre Driver Rounds FRA Usines Bugatti Bugatti Type 39AType 37AType 35C Bugatti 1.5L S8 s/c Bugatti 1.5L S4 s/c Bugatti 2.0L S8 s/c ITA 1861 Emilio Materassi [2], 3, [4], 5; A, C, E ITA 1861 Conte Caberto Conelli [2], 3, [4], 5; A, C FRA André Dubonnet [2], 3; A, C FRA Jules Goux [2] MCO Louis Chiron 3, [4], 5; C ITA 1861 Meo Constantini [2*]; C* FRA “Sabipa” (Louis Charavel) 3* ITA 1861 Ferdinando Minoia A FRA Automobiles Delage Delage 15 S82LCV Delage 1.5L S8 s/c Delage 2.0L V12 s/c FRA Robert Benoist 2, 3, 4, 5; [E] FRA Edmond Bourlier 2, 3, 5 FRA André Morel 2, 3, 5* FRA Albert Divo 5 FRA Robert Sénéchal 2*, 3*, 5* BEL Guy Bouriat 3* United States 1912 Duesenberg Bros Duesenberg Type 91 Duesenberg 1.5L S8 s/c Firestone United States 1912 Wade Morton 1 United States 1912 Benny Shoaff 1 United States 1912 Babe Stapp 1 United States 1912 Ralph Holmes 1* United States 1912 Fred Winnai 1* United States 1912 George Souders 4; E United States 1912 Miller Automobiles Miller Type 91 Miller 1.5L S8 s/c Firestone United States 1912 Dutch Baumann 1 United States 1912 Cooper Engineering CooperMiller FDType 91 FD Miller 1.5L S8 s/cMiller 1.5L S8 s/c Firestone United States 1912 Earl Cooper 4; E United States 1912 Pete Kreis 1, 4; E United States 1912 Bennett Hill 1 United States 1912 Bob McDonogh 1 United States 1912 Jules Ellingboe 1 United States 1912 Locomobile Junior 8 Miller Type 91 Miller 1.5L S8 s/c Firestone United States 1912 Frank Elliott 1 United States 1912 Boyle Valve Miller Type 91 Miller 1.5L S8 s/c Firestone United States 1912 Cliff Woodbury 1 United States 1912 Ralph Hepburn 1 United States 1912 Jack Petticord 1 United States 1912 Fred Clemons / Jynx Miller Type 91 Miller 1.5L S8 s/c Firestone United States 1912 Wilbur Shaw 1 United States 1912 Louis Meyer 1* United States 1912 F. P. Cramer Miller Type 91 Miller 1.5L S8 s/c Firestone United States 1912 Earl Devore 1 United States 1912 Zeke Meyer 1* United States 1912 Harry Hartz Miller Type 91 Miller 1.5L S8 s/c Firestone United States 1912 Harry Hartz 1 United States 1912 Eddie Hearne 1 United States 1912 Ira Vail 1* United States 1912 Bill White Race Cars Duesenberg Type 91 Duesenberg 1.5L S8 s/c Firestone United States 1912 George Souders 1 FRA STD Motors LtdGBR Talbot 700 GPLB Talbot 1.5L S8 s/c FRA Albert Divo 2, [3]; [C] FRA Louis Wagner 2, [3]; [C] GBR William Grover-Williams 2, [3]; [C] FRA Jules Moriceau 2* FRA SA des Automobiles Jean Graf Jean Graf Spéciale Dorman 1.5L S6 FRA Jean Graf [3] ITA 1861 Fiat SpA Fiat 806 Fiat 1.5L L12 s/c ITA 1861 Pietro Bordino [4], [5]; E ITA 1861 Carlo Salamano [4], [5] ITA 1861 Felice Nazzaro [5] ITA 1861 Officine Meccaniche O.M. Tipo 8C GP O.M. 1.5L S 8s/c ITA 1861 Ferdinando Minoia 4; E ITA 1861 Giuseppe Morandi 4; EGBR Alvis Car & Engineering Co Alvis GP Alvis 1.5L S8 s/c GBR Maurice Harvey [5]; F GBR George Duller F ITA 1861 Officine Alfieri Maserati SpA Maserati Tipo 26Tipo 26B Maserati 1.5L S8 s/c Maserati 2.0L S8 ITA 1861 Alfieri Maserati A ITA 1861 Ernesto Maserati A ITA 1861 Conte Aymo Maggi A ITA 1861 Baconin Borzacchini [D] FRA SA des Autoset Cycles Peugeot Peugeot Type 174 Sport Peugeot 3.9L S4 FRA André Boillot A FRA Louis Rigal A FRA Société Nouvelle del'Automobile Amilcar Amilcar C6 Amilcar 1.1L S6 FRA André Morel C, F FRA Charles Martin C, F GBR Vernon Balls F FRA Bucciali Frères Bucciali Buc AB6 Bucciali 1.5L S6 FRA Jean de Maleplane CGBR Frazer Nash Ltd Frazer Nash Slug Frazer Nash 1.5L S4 GBR Archie Frazer Nash F GBR Brian LewisBaron Essendon F FRA Société des Moteurs Salmson Salmson VAL Salmson 1.1L S4 FRA Georges Casse F FRA Pierre Goutte F FRA Lionel de Marmier F GBR George Newman F Significant Privateer drivers Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Driver Rounds Private Entrant Miller Type 91 Miller 1.5L S8 s/c United States 1912 Pete DePaolo 1 Private Entrant Miller Type 91 Miller 1.5L S8 s/c United States 1912 “Leon Duray” 1 Private Entrant Miller Type 91 Miller 1.5L S8 s/c United States 1912 Tony Gulotta 1 Private Entrant Miller Type 91 Miller 1.5L S8 s/c United States 1912 Frank Lockhart 1 Private Entrant HalfordBugatti SpecialType 39A Halford 1.5L S6 s/cBugatti 1.5L S8 s/c GBR Capt George Eyston 2, [3], 5; F Private Entrant MaseratiBugatti Tipo 26 Type 35C Maserati 1.5L S8 s/cBugatti 2.0L S8 s/c ESP 1874 Joaquin Palacio 3; A, [C] Private Entrant Bugatti Type 39A Bugatti 1.5L S8 s/c GBR Capt Malcolm Campbell 5; [F] Private Entrant Thomas Special ... 1.5L S6 GBR Harold Purdy 5; [F] Private Entrant Bugatti Type 35C Bugatti 2.0L S8 s/c ITA 1861 Renato Balestrero A, B Private Entrant Bugatti Type 35C Bugatti 2.0L S8 s/c FRA “Sabipa” (Louis Charavel) A, C Private Entrant Bugatti Type 35B Bugatti 2.0L S8 s/c ITA 1861 Gaspare Bona B, D, E Private Entrant Bugatti Type 35B Bugatti 2.3L S8 s/c ITA 1861 Conte Aymo Maggi B, E Private Entrant Bugatti Type 35C Bugatti 2.0L S8 s/c ITA 1861 Tazio Nuvolari B, E Private Entrant Alfa Romeo P2 Alfa Romeo 2.0L S8 s/c ITA 1861 Giuseppe Campari D, E Note: * raced in event as a relief driver. Those in brackets show, although entered, the driver did not race Regulations and Technical The AIACR (forerunner of the FIA) kept with its 1.5-litre formula, despite the low manufacturer interest. The only modification to the regulations was that the minimum dry weight of the car was increased from 600 to 700kg. Although two seats were the usual, a single-seat was now also accepted if the seat was a minimum 80cm wide and 25cm high. This year, the European Grand Prix was awarded back to the Italian Automobile Club. Once again, each team had to compete in at least three of the races, including the mandatory Italian Grand Prix to qualify for the championship.1927 Championship http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/cha27.htm 2020-05-21 2019-12-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20191208062604/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/cha27.htm dead All races were supposed to be at least 600km long, however the Italian and British Grand Prix did not meet this, and there is no apparent explanation why.British GP http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2709.htm#64 2020-08-13 2021-07-31 https://web.archive.org/web/20210731075448/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2709.htm#64 dead At its October 1926 meeting, the AIACR had faced its reality that the 1.5-litre formula had not worked. The committee therefore agreed that the current format would only extend for one more year, to be replaced in 1928 by an open engine regulation. With the Targa Florio, the organisers reduced the classes to just three – up to 1100, to 1500 and over 1500. This put the 2-litre Bugattis in the same category as the bigger-engined Peugeot and Alfa Romeo.1927 Season http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2701.htm 2020-05-21 2019-06-30 https://web.archive.org/web/20190630064926/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2701.htm dead The 1100cc cars only ran three laps, while the rest did five laps (with a maximum of 9 hours). Two occupants were mandatory for all cars. Fondi 2006, p.348 This year, as part of the ongoing stipulations from Peugeot who had won the Coppa Florio in 1925, that race was not held in conjunction with the Targa Florio.1926 Targa Florio http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2602.htm#8 2020-04-21 Instead, the Coppa was raced in France as a sports and touring car event. Rendall 1993, p.1198W: When Brittany became Italian http://forix.autosport.com/8w/coppaflorio.html 2020-07-07 Fondi 2006, p.349 Georgano 1971, p.79 Motorsport now started getting political. Italian leader Benito Mussolini, a keen follower of motor-racing, saw it as a propaganda advantage and an opportunity to enhance national prestige. So, this year the Italian Automobile Club set up its first national championship. It was to comprise twelve events, including the major races of the Italian and Rome Grands Prix and the Targa Florio, with a view of increasing competition and experience of Italian drivers. To promote Italian car manufacturers, a new event was organised – the Mille Miglia (“1000 Miles”). The concept planned by four wealthy gentlemen-drivers from Brescia, it was a race for touring and sports cars on public roads from Brescia to Rome and back and would soon become an iconic annual event. Rendall 1993, p.118 Technical Innovation thumb|300px|right|Bugatti Type 35C Ettore Bugatti had a winning formula with his Type 35 chassis and its variants, and changed little over the close-season aside from fitting a larger supercharger to the Type 39A grand prix car. However, after the exhaust debacle of the previous year, Delage set about making fundamental changes to their car. The two superchargers replaced by a single one, while the engine block was reversed and offset from centre to move the exhaust away from the driver. The result was a greatly improved car. Rendall 1993, p.120 Venables 2009, p.47Grand Prix History http://www.grandprixhistory.org/delage15.htm 2020-08-13 thumb|300px|right|Delage 15 S8 The Maserati Brothers developed their first model, the Tipo 26, as the 26B with its supercharged straight-8 engine bored out to 2.0-litres. Ludvigsen 2008, p.68 Fiat had retired from racing at the end of 1924. Yet in September, the astonishing new 806 model appeared at the Italian Grand Prix weekend. Designed by Carlo Cavalli and Tranquillo Zerbi, the V12 1.5-litre engine had two 6-cylinder engine-blocks mounted side by side on a common crankcase and geared together. With the valves driven by three overhead camshafts it could develop 185 bhp at 8500rpm. Ludvigsen 2008, p.37 The engine unit itself was offset to the left with the driver in the right-hand seat and the fuel-tank beside him. The low profile gave it a blistering top speed of 250 km/h, easily 40 km/h faster than any of the current competition. That it only ever competed in one race left many commentators wondering what might have been.Milan Grand Prix http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2708.htm#54 2020-08-13 2021-08-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20210816152718/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2708.htm#54 dead Cimarosti 1997, p.76 In the United States, Harry Miller continued to develop his supercharged 1.5-litre engines. Designed for oval-track racing, his streamlined single-seater cars were powered by engines that produced 230 brake horsepower (bhp) when running on alcohol fuel. At the time, this output made Miller's engine among the most powerful racing engines in the world. During the year Eddie Rickenbacker, decorated war-hero and former racing driver, bought the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from Carl Fisher and Jim Allison for $700 000. Georgano 1971, p.99 On 29 March, Henry Segrave became the first man to break the 200 mph land speed barrier in a Sunbeam 1000 hp Slug. Called Mystery, the car was powered by two 22-litre V12 aircraft engines. Manufacturer Model Cimarosti 1997, p.81 Cimarosti 1997, p.87 Engine PowerOutput Max. Speed (km/h) Dry Weight (kg) FRA Bugatti Type 37A Bugatti 1496cc S4 supercharged 90 bhp 180 720 FRA Bugatti Type 39A Bugatti 1492cc S8 supercharged 120 bhp 190 740 FRA Delage 15 S8 Delage 1487cc S8 supercharged 170 bhp 210 750 ITA 1861 Fiat 806 Fiat 1484cc V12 supercharged 187 bhp 250 700 ITA 1861 Maserati Tipo 26 Maserati 1491cc S8 supercharged 120 bhp 200 720 ITA 1861 Officine Meccaniche 865 GP OM 1496cc S8 supercharged 118 bhp 195 715 United States 1912 Miller Type 91 1927 Miller 1468cc S8 supercharged 230 bhp United States 1912 Duesenberg Type 91 Duesenberg 1.5L S8 supercharged GBR Alvis GP Alvis 1498cc S8 supercharged 95 bhp 190 750 FRA Talbot 700 GPLB Talbot 1489cc S4 supercharged 140 bhp 210 700 FRA Bugatti Type 35B Bugatti 2.3L S8 supercharged 140 bhp 210 770 Season review The Italian road-races A new event in March started the racing season. Four young gentleman-drivers (including Conte Aymo Maggi and Franco Mazzotti), wanting to restore Brescia's former pre-eminence in Italian motorsport, put a proposal to the government for a national road-race that was promptly approved. The race for touring and sports-cars harked back to the city-to-city races from the turn of the century. Called the Mille Miglia, as it covered a non-stop run across one thousand miles of public roads. It ran from Brescia to Rome via Bologna, before crossing the Apennines to Ancona and back to Brescia via Ferrara, Padua and Vicenza. It attracted many of the top Italian drivers and captured the imagination of country. Aymo Maggi himself, driving an Isotta Fraschini with Alfieri Maserati, was the first away at 8am as the largest car in the field. Georgano 1971, p.251 Although Gastone Brilli-Peri in his Alfa Romeo led into Rome, after 21 hours, it was Ferdinando Minoia who arrived at Brescia first. In OM's finest hour, their cars finished 1-2-3 in the inaugural race of this iconic event, made all the better as the cars were built in Brescia. Acerbi 2015, p.17-20 Rendall 1993, p.117 Ludvigsen 2008, p.49Grand Prix History http://grandprixhistory.org/mille_miglia_1927.htm 2020-05-21 The Targa Florio, in April, was the opening round of the new Italian Championship. Peugeot and Bugatti returned to renew their rivalry. This year Peugeot only had a single 174 S 4-litre sports car for André Boillot. Former Targa winner Bartolomeo Costantini was now the Bugatti team manager and brought four cars. Caberto Conelli had a 1.5-litre Type 37A, while the other drivers, veteran Jules Goux and Ferdinando Minoia, Emilio Materassi and liqueur-heir André Dubonnet, had the new 2-litre Type 35C. They were supported by a squadron of seven privateers making up half the field. In the absence of Fiat and Alfa Romeo, Italian honour would be upheld by Maserati. Alfieri Maserati drove the new Tipo 26B himself, while his brother Ernesto and Aymo Maggi had older Tipo26s. As the initial car was a non-starter, the first car left at 8:04am. At the beginning Dubonnet and Boillot duelled for the lead. Conelli was first to arrive back at the line, but on elapsed time, Minoia had a five-second lead over Dubonnet with Materassi and female Czech driver Eliška Junková less than a minute behind. But going into the second lap, the order changed significantly. A third of the way around, Junková slid off the road when the steering rod broke. Georgano 1971, p.245 Soon after, Minoia retired with a broken universal joint and Dubonnet was having engine problems. Materassi set a new lap record opening a 6-minute lead over Maserati (who pitted with a flat tyre) and Conelli. Three Bugattis were fighting with the three Maseratis with Boillot's Peugeot in seventh. Rain started falling on the fourth lap making the roads treacherous, and causing several drivers to go off the road. But Materassi kept control throughout with he and Conelli getting a comfortable 1-2 victory for Bugatti, the third straight win for the team. Alfieri Maserati was twenty minutes back with Boillot in fourth, over fifty minutes behind the winner. Only six of the 22 starters were classified at the finish.1927 Targa Florio http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2702.htm#10 2020-04-21 2021-02-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20210213091448/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2702.htm#10 dead Fondi 2006, p.91 Two weeks later, another race - the Coppa Messina - was held on the mountain roads of Sicily. Materassi crashed his Bugatti in practice but bought one of the works Maseratis to race instead. A Bugatti won again, but Alfieri Maserati was severely injured when he crashed, blinded by dust, overtaking two other cars. Several major newspapers mistakenly reported his death, however he did slowly recover despite losing a kidney.1927 Targa Florio http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2702.htm#12 2020-04-21 2021-02-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20210213091448/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2702.htm#12 dead Georgano 1971, p.254 thumb|300px|right|Materassi and his Bugatti, winner of the Targa Florio thumb|300px|right|Ernesto Maserati before retiring in the Targa Florio Indianapolis Once again, the Indianapolis 500 would be a two-way contest between Duesenberg and Miller. All cars had either of those two engines. Harry Miller had dramatically developed his engine to an impressive 230 bhp. Rookie Dutch Baumann drove the works car, while a number of customer teams backed them up with experienced drivers like previous winners Frank Lockhart and Peter DePaolo, as well as Ralph Hepburn, Leon Duray, Harry Hartz and Eddie Hearne. The Duesenberg brothers had three works cars for Wade Morton and rookies Babe Stapp and Benny Shoaff. Another ten rookies started this year's race including Wilbur Shaw, Louis Schneider, Cliff Bergere and Fred Frame. Two-time winner Tommy Milton had been working on Cliff Durant’s new Detroit-Miller Special, and when the latter was too ill to race, Milton qualified the car. Georgano 1971, p.262 Former racer and champion Earl Cooper built four Miller-powered front-wheel drive specials, sponsored by the Buick Motor Company. His drivers were Bennett Hill, Pete Kreis, Bob McDonogh and Jules Ellingboe.Adams Views https://adamsviews.net/1927-cooper-miller 2020-07-07 Adams John E. In qualifying, the 1927 winner Frank Lockhart set a new lap record of 120.9 mph. Joining him on the front row were DePaolo and Duray. Lockhart dominated the race for 120 laps until he was put out by a broken con-rod. In a race of attrition only ten cars were flagged. Rookie George Souders drove a reliable race in his Duesenberg and came through for the victory. It was the same car that Peter DePaolo had won with in 1925 although Souders had denied that at the time. Duesenberg was in line for a 1-2 finish until, with two laps to go, the rear gearing broke on Babe Stapp’s car that he was running relief for Benny Shoaff. Earl Devore inherited second place, finishing 12 minutes (effectively 8 laps) behind Souders. It was the largest winning margin since 1913 and Souders was the first driver to win the race without the help of a relief driver or a riding mechanic. There were several major incidents in the race. On lap 24, Norman Batten’s Miller caught fire. The driver stood up in his seat to drive it away from the pits to safety before jumping out. Soon after Jules Ellingboe was seriously injured when his car crashed into the wall and rolled.Indy Star https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/motor/2016/03/05/1927-indy-500-victory-goes-steady-driving-souders/81361182/ 2020-06-27 In an abbreviated season of only 11 races, the 1927 AAA championship was won for the second time by Pete DePaolo, with 3 wins and 4 seconds. That consistency was better than second-placed Frank Lockhart's 4 wins alone.Racing Reference https://www.racing-reference.info/yeardet/1927/UO 2020-07-07Racing Reference http://www.champcarstats.com/year/1927.htm 2020-07-07 In 1926, after his mathematical work for college football, Professor Frank G. Dickinson at the University of Illinois developed a points system for the AAA. The 1927 championship used that, and the AAA retroactively calculated it on the previous seasons’ results going back to 1909 that would be published in their February 1929 bulletin.IMRRC https://www.racingarchives.org/tag/aaa/ 2020-07-07 thumb|300px|right|George Souders, winner of the Indianapolis 500 The Championship in Europe The start of the European leg of the World Championship was the French Grand Prix, held at Montlhéry. Ten cars were entered, from four manufacturers. Bugatti had their drivers from the Targa Florio – Materassi, Conelli and Dubonnet. The Delage cars had been considerably revised and upgraded over the close-season. The team drivers were Robert Benoist, Edmond Bourlier and André Morel. The third trio was the Talbot team of Albert Divo, veteran Louis Wagner and William Grover-Williams. The final entry was the Halford Special, recently sold by Frank Halford to George Eyston. Earlier in the weekend, Divo had won the Course de Formula Libre in his Talbot, while Wagner and Williams raced Sunbeams but retired. After race-practice, Ettore Bugatti withdrew his team saying his cars were too uncompetitive, much to the anger of the big French crowd. Despite that, there was a close race with Divo leading Benoist and Williams at the end of the first lap. Wagner's Talbot had been left on the start line, unwilling to start, and he lost five minutes getting going. On the fourth lap Benoist and Williams both passed Divo, taking turns setting the fastest lap. But when Williams joined Morel and Eyston in the pits with engine issues, Benoist was able to open up a 2-minute lead over Divo. Just before the halfway point, Divo retired with a failed supercharger and the Talbot challenge was blunted with Wagner now a lap behind. While all the other cars had assorted issues, Benoist kept circulating at a rapid pace. Benoist ran away to lead a 1-2-3 victory for Delage. Venables 2009, p.481927 French GP http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2705.htm#38 2020-08-13 2020-02-09 https://web.archive.org/web/20200209065525/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2705.htm#38 dead After the French Grand Prix, Louis Wagner announced his retirement. After a notable career, he was the last active driver from the original 1906 Grand Prix. thumb|300px|right|Benoist in the French GP at Montlhéry By the time of the next Grand Prix, in Spain, Talbot had withdrawn from motor-racing with the company facing an uncertain financial future. Bugatti did arrive to contest the race with Delage. The seventh and final starter was local Bilbao driver José Joaquín Palacio driving a Maserati Tipo 26. At noon, from a rolling start, Benoist took the lead. Palacio's Maserati was immediately in trouble and out of the race. Benoist and Materassi pulled away from the others, over a minute behind by lap 5. Materassi lost a minute when he skidded at a corner and bumped a wall, but pitted early to refuel to get him to the end of the race. At halfway Benoist had his fuel stop and came out less than a minute ahead of Materassi. Conelli was a further minute behind for Bugatti, now well ahead of Louis Chiron (reserve driver for Dubonnet) and Bourlier. When Benoist had to stop again five laps later to change spark plugs, Materassi took the lead. When he then stopped to change a wheel, Materassi came out barely a car-length ahead of Benoist. They duelled back and forth for thirty minutes until Materassi cut a corner too tight, went off the road and hit another wall. Although uninjured, this time his car's suspension was too damaged to continue. Benoist only narrowly missed both the Bugatti and a quarry-wagon. Chiron crashed with four laps to go, and was fortunate not to get a serious head injury as he had chosen to wear a hard crash-helmet. These left only three cars in the race, leaving Benoist to take another comfortable victory, ahead of Conelli's Bugatti, and teammate Bourlier's Delage.Spanish GP http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2706.htm#44 2020-08-13 2020-12-02 https://web.archive.org/web/20201202130629/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2706.htm#44 dead Venables 2009, p.52 Bugatti failed to show, once again, at the nominally mandatory Italian Grand Prix. Fiat withdrew their entries for Pietro Bordino and Carlo Salamano, citing that the new cars were untested over a grand prix distance. But the Americans returned after a year away, with Indianapolis-winner George Souders in his Duesenberg, and Earl Cooper and Pete Kreis in front-wheel-drive Cooper-Millers. Delage confidence was such that only Benoist was entered. The American cars were designed for oval-racing and unsuited to the European road-courses. Compared to the five-speed gearboxes of the Delage, the Miller (used to rolling starts) only employed a two-speed gearing. It was ironic, that even though there were only six starters, the race had more manufacturers represented than in any GP race of the 2-year 1.5-litre formula.Italian GP http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2708.htm#56 2020-08-13 2021-08-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20210816152718/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2708.htm#56 dead Montagna 1989, p.35 thumb|300px|right|Start of the 1927 Italian GP The race started in pouring rain, with Benoist jumping into the lead followed by Souders and Minoia. Cooper and Kreis crawled off the line and Morandi's OM would not start. The American cars were very disappointing: Kreis’ Miller did not finish the first lap, retiring with a broken crankshaft. Souders was running in second until he had to retire a dozen laps with rainwater in his fuel. Cooper was finding his car almost undriveable in the wet weather and stopped soon after to be relieved by Kreis. Meanwhile, Benoist had established his dominance, having lapped the field after ten laps and holding a 15-minute lead after thirty (300km). Benoist went on to win by over 20 minutes (4 laps) back to Morandi. Kreis had driven hard and was able to get up to pass Minoia for third on the last lap. Montagna 1989, p.36 The British Grand Prix at Brooklands would be another Delage-Bugatti contest. This last race of the 1.5-litre formula provided the biggest entry list of any of the European rounds. Souders’ Duesenberg and the Fiats withdrew. The Bugatti team were Materassi, Conelli and Chiron. Delage's cars were driven by Benoist and Bourlier. Albert Divo was hired by Delage after the Talbot team was folded. British car company Alvis entered its latest front-wheel drive Grand Prix car for regular team driver Maurice Harvey.Alvis Archive 30 August 2019 https://alvisarchive.com/vintage/grand-prix-cars/ 2020-08-17 There were also three privateer Bugattis run by Malcolm Campbell, George Eyston and the Parisian-resident Romanian Prince Gheorghe Ghica-Cantacuzino. The final entrants were two Thomas Specials driven by Harold Purdy and William “Bomber” Scott. They were built by J.G. Parry-Thomas, based on the Leyland Eight luxury saloon chassis. The cars had been sold after Parry-Thomas was killed earlier in the year making a Land Speed Record attempt at Pendine Sands. For the sake of the neighbouring farms and houses, all the cars had to be fitted with noise-reducing exhaust mufflers. The Saturday was cold and wet. In the morning, Harvey's Alvis broke its oil-pump and could not take the start. The remaining eleven cars could be lined up in a single row across the wide Railway Straight. In the heavy rain, Bourlier could not start his Delage, leaving his mechanics working on the car as the flag dropped. Materassi jumped into the lead, yet by the second lap, Bourlier had caught up and taken the lead. After only ten of the 125 laps both Thomas cars had dropped out and Eyston was having the first of many stops for sparkplugs. The Delage team had taken control, with Divo leading Bourlier and Benoist. Around the halfway point, most drivers stopped to refuel but Conelli, running in fourth, ran out of petrol and spent half an hour pushing his car back to the pits in the lashing rain. Chiron inherited his place but was already six laps behind the leader. Louis Delage issued team orders for his cars to finish in numerical order, which by opportune pit-stops was what happened - with Benoist winning from Bourlier and Divo. Chiron finished the 125 laps nearly half an hour later, and Materassi was flagged off still a further seven laps back. thumb|300px|right|Benoist in his Delage at the British GP The British drivers returned to Brooklands a fortnight later, in much better weather, for the JCC 200-miles. Campbell and Eyston both ran Bugatti T39As and had a terrific duel for the first half of the race until Eyston retired. This left Campbell to run away with a victory. The other races and a single flash from Fiat Throughout the year, a number of races had promising fields but then many drivers and teams would fail to show up for raceday. This frustrated the spectators, and early on in the season at the Provence Grand Prix, held at the Miramas oval, they expressed their displeasure. Heavy rain in the morning had delayed the qualifying races, then in the warm-up for the final, Robert Benoist crashed his Delage into two other cars forming up on the grid. Bruised and with a damaged car, he could not take the start. When the Talbot team then withdrew from the final, the crowd's disappointment turned to anger. With inadequate communication and security from the organisers, spectators starting spilling onto the track by the third lap. Some drivers kept racing, until the race had to be flagged after the fifth lap when Chiron was in the lead. People got to the Talbot pit and vandalised the cars, forcing Divo and Moriceau to make a hasty exit. After this fiasco, the organising company soon went bankrupt and the circuit fell into disuse.1927 Provence GP http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2702.htm#8 2020-05-21 2021-02-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20210213091448/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2702.htm#8 dead The Marne Grand Prix, held just after the French GP, was a win for Bugatti to a future star: Philippe Etancelin. Georgano 1971, p.209 The San Sebastián Grand Prix was held the week before the Spanish Grand Prix. Both were held on the 17km Lasarte road circuit in the Basque country of Spain. Run to Formula Libre rules, a big field of 34 was whittled down to 17 starters mainly of 2-litre Bugattis and 1.1-litre voiturettes. Emilio Materassi led home his three Bugatti works teammates leading from start to finish, with Charles Martin finishing almost an hour later in sixth in his works Amilcar, as the first voiturette home.San Sebastian GP http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2706.htm#42 2020-08-13 2020-12-02 https://web.archive.org/web/20201202130629/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2706.htm#42 dead thumb|300px|right|Pietro Bordino and the Fiat 806 at the 1927 Milan GP Throughout the year, the inaugural Italian Championship had attracted big fields of 20-30 cars and good crowds. The Rome Grand Prix, back on the calendar after a year's absence, was held in the city on a circuit just south of the River Tiber. It was significant as it gave future great racer Tazio Nuvolari his first major win in a car. Previously a motorcycle champion he, like many compatriots, were swapping over to four wheels. His skills in his regular Bugatti, not needing pit-stops, gave him victory over a number of more powerful supercharged Type 35s. Unfortunately, there were several bad crashes when cars went off the road into spectators. They included Materassi, who crashed his Itala special, killing a young boy.Rome Grand Prix http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2704.htm#24 2020-07-09 2022-12-03 https://web.archive.org/web/20221203074203/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2704.htm#24 dead Held on the same day as the Italian GP, the Milan Grand Prix saw the surprise appearance of a brand-new Fiat model. The 806 had a supercharged 1.5-litre engine, but Fiat chose not to enter it in World Championship race, despite its obvious power and speed. In a strange format, the 50km final would include the top-three finishers from three heats (divided by engine-class) along with the top-three placings after the fifth lap of the Italian GP. Unsurprisingly, after running a 4-hour, 500km Grand Prix, none of those three qualifiers (Benoist, Souders and Minoia) chose to then run in the Milan GP final. Despite a slow start, Pietro Bordino was able to bring that power to the fore to easily win the short race. The new Nürburgring The official opening of a major new racetrack in Germany happened in June. The Nürburgring was similar in concept to the 22km Solitudering near Stuttgart: a windy circuit in the hills centred around the local Nürburg castle, near Koblenz. It came from a project driven by the mayor of Cologne to draw tourism to the Ardennes area in the west, as well as creating work for many unemployed in the region. Despite a 2.2 km main straight, the track had 172 corners and comprised the main 23 km Nordschleife as well as the 8 km Sudschleife. Cimarosti 1997, p.75 Rendall 1993, p.121 Georgano 1971, p.123 The opening race used the combined track and was won by Rudolf Caracciola in a 6.8-litre Mercedes sports-car.Nürburgring Opening Race http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2704.htm#30 2020-05-21 2022-12-03 https://web.archive.org/web/20221203074203/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2704.htm#30 dead A month later, the second German Grand Prix was held at the track. Held for sports cars again, it was won by Otto Merz in a similar car. In Berlin, the AVUS circuit was modified with an intimidating 43 degree banking built on the Nordkurve. Georgano 1971, p.65 Louis Delage had reportedly invested £36000 in improving his Grand Prix cars and announced his withdrawal from racing at the end of the season, selling the four cars. They continued to be very successful in voiturette racing well into the 1930s and beyond, last appearing in an F1 race in 1950. At Fiat, their pro-racing managing director, Guido Fornaca, died in January. The government-appointed board were shocked to discover the cost of developing the fantastic 806 and immediately closed down the racing department. They also ordered the 806, and earlier 804 and 805 models, destroyed instead of selling them to recover costs to a prospective queue of privateer racers. Italy's 1926 economic depression pushed many of the small manufacturers out of business. After a successful season running his own Maserati 26, Itala Special 55 and Bugatti 35, Emilio Materassi was declared the first winner of the new Italian national championship. With the shutdown of the Sunbeam-Talbot racing team, Materassi bought the three works Talbot 700s to start his own racing team, the first of its kind.Primotipo https://primotipo.com/tag/talbot-darracq-19267-grand-prix-car/ 2020-08-13 Georgano 1971, p.255 In the United States, Tommy Milton, 1921 AAA champion and two-time Indianapolis winner retired, taking up an engineering position at Packard. For Robert Benoist, with his unbeaten run in the World Championship, the reward was even greater – the president of France awarded him the country's highest honour, making him a Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur.1927 Season http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2701.htm#SL 2020-05-21 2019-06-30 https://web.archive.org/web/20190630064926/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gp2701.htm#SL dead Georgano 1971, p.168 The end of the season marked the end of the 1.5-litre formula. Increasing development costs and poor competition had conspired to discouraged manufacturers from entering. The next year would see an open engine limit, although the chassis weight minimum remained to ensure structural integrity and safety. Championship final standings The table lists the highest race position for each manufacturer. Only the best finishing car gained points for its manufacturer.1927 World Championship http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/cha27.htm 2020-05-21 2019-12-08 https://web.archive.org/web/20191208062604/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/cha27.htm dead Note: To be eligible for the championship, manufacturers had to take part in three of the five Grand Prix including the Italian GP. * non-participation disqualified the manufacturer from the championship Pos Manufacturer 500USA 1912 FRAFRA ESPESP 1874 ITAITA 1861 GBRGBR Pts 1 FRA Delage 1 1 1 1 10 — USA 1912 Miller 2 3 * [23] — USA 1912 Duesenberg 1 Ret * [24] — FRA Bugatti 2 * 4 [24] — ITA 1861 O.M. * 2 * [26] — GBR Talbot 4 * * [28] — USA 1912 Cooper-Miller 6 * * [28] — USA 1912 Detroit-Miller 8 * * [28] — USA 1912 Fengler-Miller Ret * * [29] — GBR Halford Special NC * * [29] — ITA 1861 Maserati Ret * * [29] — GBR Thomas Special * * Ret [29] Pos Manufacturer 500USA 1912 FRAFRA ESPESP 1874 ITAITA 1861 GBRGBR Pts Ludvigsen 2009, p.43 Motorsport Memorial http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=160 2020-05-15 Motorsport Memorial http://www.motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=152 2020-05-15 6th Gear-8W http://www.forix.com/8w/6thgear/neverraced-prewar.html 2020-05-02 Results of the season's major races Pos Driver Team TGFITA 1861 INDUSA 1912 ROMITA 1861 FRAFRA SEBESP 1874 ESPESP 1874 CACITA 1861 ITAITA 1861 MILITA 1861 GBRGBR JCCGBR FRA Robert Benoist Automobiles Delage 1 1 1 DNS 1 ITA 1861 Emilio Materassi Usines Bugatti 1 Ret DNS 1 Ret Ret Ret Ret ITA 1861 Giuseppe Campari Private Entry 1 2 USA 1912 George Souders Bill White Race CarsDuesenberg Brothers 1 Ret DNQ ITA 1861 Tazio Nuvolari Private Entry 1 DNQ ITA 1861 Pietro Bordino Fiat SpA 1 GBR Malcolm Campbell Private Entry Ret 1 ITA 1861 Caberto Conelli Usines Bugatti 2 3 2 Ret FRA Edmond Bourlier Automobiles Delage 2 3 2 FRA André Morel Automobiles DelageSoc.Nouvelle de l'Automobile Amilcar 3 Ret Ret 2 ITA 1861 Carlo Tonini Officine Alfieri Maserati 5 2 FRA André Dubonnet Usines Bugatti 6 DNS 2 Ret USA 1912 Earl Devore F.P. Cramer 2 CHE Mario Lepori Private Entry Ret 2 ITA 1861 Giuseppe Morandi Officine Meccaniche 2 DNQ ITA 1861 Salvatore Marano Private Entry Ret 10 3 ITA 1861 Alfieri Maserati Officine Alfieri Maserati 3 USA 1912 Tony Gulotta Private Entry 3 ITA 1861 Renato Balestrero Usines Bugatti Ret 3 USA 1912 Earl Cooper Cooper Engineering 3 DNQ ITA 1861 Aymo Maggi Officine Alfieri MaseratiPrivate Entry Ret Ret 3 FRA Albert Divo STD Motors LtdAutomobiles Delage Ret 3 GBR Vernon Balls Soc.Nouvelle de l'Automobile Amilcar 3 MCO Louis Chiron Usines Bugatti 4 Ret 4 FRA? Charles Martin Soc.Nouvelle de l'Automobile Amilcar 6 4 FRA André Boillot SA des Autos et Cycles Peugeot 4 USA 1912 Wilbur ShawFred Clemons / Jynx 4 ITA 1861 Gaspare Bona Private Entry 4 Ret DNQ GBR William Grover-Williams STD Motors Ltd 4 ITA 1861 Innocenzo Ciri Private Entry DNS 4 ITA 1861 Ferdinando Minoia Usines BugattiOfficine Meccaniche Ret 4 DNQ ITA 1861 Alfonso Zampieri Private Entry 4 ESP 1874 Joaquin PalacioPrivate Entry 5 Ret USA 1912 Dave Evans Private Entry 5 GBR? Edward Bret Private Entry 5 ITA 1861 Guido Ciriaci Private Entry 5 ITA 1861 Abele Clerici Private Entry 5 GBR Harold Purdy Private Entry Ret 5 USA 1912 Bob McDonogh Cooper Engineering 6 ITA 1861 Antonio Caliri Private Entry Ret 6 GBR? Lionel Lipmann Private Entry 6 GBR Bill Urquhart-Dykes Private Entry 6 Pos Driver Team TGFITA 1861 INDUSA 1912 ROMITA 1861 FRAFRA SEBESP 1874 ESPESP 1874 CACITA 1861 ITAITA 1861 MILITA 1861 GBRGBR JCCGBR italics show the driver of the race's fastest lap. Only those drivers with a best finish of 6th or better are shown. Sources:TeamDan http://www.teamdan.com/archive/gen/1927.html https://web.archive.org/web/20081027015345/http://www.teamdan.com/archive/gen/1927.html 2020-05-21 2008-10-27Formula 2 http://formula2.se/Targa27.html 2020-05-21MotorSport https://database.motorsportmagazine.com/database/races/1927-indianapolis-500 2020-05-21ChampCar Stats http://www.champcarstats.com/races/192705.htm 2020-05-21 Citations 30em References Acerbi, Leonardo (2015) Mille Miglia – A race in pictures Milan: Giorgio Nada Editorie 978-88-7911-618-3 Cimarosti, Adriano (1997) The Complete History of Grand Prix Motor Racing London: Aurum Press Ltd 1-85410-500-0 Fondi, Pino (2006) Targa Florio: 20th Century Epic Milan: Giorgio Nada Editore 88-7911-270-8 Fox, Charles (1973) The Great Racing Cars & Drivers London: Octopus Books Ltd 0-7064-0213-8 Georgano, Nick (1971) The Encyclopaedia of Motor Sport London: Ebury Press Ltd 0-7181-0955-4 Higham, Peter (1995) The Guinness Guide to International Motor Racing London: Guinness Publishing 0-85112-642-1 Legate, Trevor (2006) 100 years of Grand Prix Kent: Touchstone Books Ltd 0-9551-0201-4 Ludvigsen, Karl (2008) Racing Colours - Italian Racing Red Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing Ltd 0-7110-3331-5 Monkhouse, George (1953) Grand Prix Racing Facts and Figures London: G.T. Foulis & Co Ltd Montagna, Paolo (ed.) (1989) The Legendary Italian Grand Prix Milan: A.C. Promotion Rendall, Ivan (1991) The Power and The Glory – A Century of Motor Racing London: BBC Books 0-563-36093-3 Rendall, Ivan (1993) The Chequered Flag – 100 years of Motor Racing London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson Ltd 0-297-83220-4 Venables, David (2009) Racing Colours - French Racing Blue Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing Ltd 978-0-7110-3369-6 External links 1927 in auto racing 1927 Race Season – comprehensive race reports of most events, also listing entries and results. Retrieved 21 May 2020 1927 World Championship https://web.archive.org/web/20191208062604/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/cha27.htm 2019-12-08  – several detailed investigation articles about the first championship year. Retrieved 21 May 2020 Grand Prix Winners 1895–1949 : History https://web.archive.org/web/20070930012944/http://www.kolumbus.fi/leif.snellman/gpw5.htm 2007-09-30  – Hans Etzrodt's description of the annual regulations, and changes. Retrieved 21 Apr 2020 TeamDan  - list of the major races, entrants and results. Retrieved 21 May 2020 SpeedFreaks  - list of the major races, entrants and results. Retrieved 21 May 2020 6th Gear  - list of the major races and winners each year. Retrieved 21 May 2020 MotorSport magazine – list of the year's races, entrants and results, by category. Retrieved 21 May 2020 Grand Prix History – history of the Targa Florio race. Retrieved 21 May 2020 La Targa Florio – race report and pictures of the Targa Florio. Retrieved 21 May 2020 F2 Register – race results of the Targa Florio. Retrieved 21 May 2020 Motorsport Memorial – motor-racing deaths by year. Retrieved 21 May 2020 Racing Reference.com – list of all the AAA Championship results. Retrieved 21 May 2020 ChampCar Stats – list of all the races, entrants and results of the AAA Championship. Retrieved 21 May 2020 Indianapolis Motor Speedway.com – Indy 500 race results. Retrieved 21 May 2020 Category:Grand Prix seasons Category:1927 in motorsport Category:1927 in American motorsport