The 1937 Swiss Grand Prix was a 750 kg Formula race held on 22 August 1937 at the Bremgarten Circuit.[2]

1937 Swiss Grand Prix
Race 4 of 5 in the 1937 European Championship
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Race details
Date 22 August 1937
Official name IV Großer Preis der Schweiz
Location Bremgarten
Bern, Switzerland
Course Road course
Course length 7.28 km (4.52 miles)
Distance 50 laps, 364.00 km (226.18 miles)
Weather Wet, drying
Pole position
Driver Mercedes-Benz
Time 2:32.0
Fastest lap
Driver Germany Bernd Rosemeyer Auto Union
Time 2:36.1[1]
Podium
First Mercedes-Benz
Second Mercedes-Benz
Third Mercedes-Benz

Race Report

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After the start, Hans Stuck chopped across the nose of the other drivers to take the early lead, followed by Caracciola and Rosemeyer. Rosemeyer was soon in trouble though, under pressure from Lang he skidded off the circuit and was bogged down in the wet ground. Some spectators came to his assistance but their help would have resulted in a disqualification so he retired his car.

Stuck could not maintain his early pace under pressure from the Mercedes' and was soon passed by Caracciola, Lang and von Brauchitsch.

Nuvolari drove for the Auto Union team for this race as he wasn't impressed with the new Alfa. However, the tricky rear-engined Auto Union was not a car to race without some practice, even for a man of Nuvolari's skill. The wet track simply compounded his problems. Whilst running in 8th place he was called into the pits and the car-less Rosemeyer took over, eventually getting up to 5th place and putting in the fastest lap in his chase after the Mercedes'.

Fagioli was also having problems being in some pain with his hip, when he retired Nuvolari decided to give it another go and brought the car home 7th.

In the closing laps Lang closed on Caracciola but was ordered to maintain position and von Brauchitsch passed Stuck for a Mercedes 1,2,3.

Classification

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Pos No Driver Team Car Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 14   Rudolf Caracciola Daimler-Benz AG Mercedes-Benz W125 50 2:17:39.3 1 1
2 18   Hermann Lang Daimler-Benz AG Mercedes-Benz W125 50 + 29.4 5 2
3 12   Manfred von Brauchitsch Daimler-Benz AG Mercedes-Benz W125 50 + 1:06.4 4 3
4 10   Hans Stuck Auto Union Auto Union C 50 + 1:07.5 3 4
5 6   Tazio Nuvolari Auto Union Auto Union C 50 + 1:21.2 7 4
  Bernd Rosemeyer n/a
6 16   Christian Kautz Daimler-Benz AG Mercedes-Benz W125 49 + 1 Lap 9 4
7 4   Luigi Fagioli Auto Union Auto Union C 49 + 1 Lap 8 4
  Tazio Nuvolari n/a
8 22   Raymond Sommer Scuderia Ferrari Alfa Romeo 12C-36 47 + 3 Laps 10 4
9 38   László Hartmann Private entry Maserati 6CM/4CM 42 + 8 Laps 13 4
10 2   Paul Pietsch Private entry Maserati 6C-34 41 + 9 Laps 12 4
Ret 32   Henri Simonet Private entry Alfa Romeo Tipo B 35 16 5
Ret 36   Adolfo Mandirola Ecurie Genevoise Maserati 8CM 28 Mechanical 17 5
Ret 20   Giovanni Minozzi Private entry Alfa Romeo Monza 26 Mechanical 14 5
Ret 24   Giuseppe Farina Scuderia Ferrari Alfa Romeo 12C-36 22 Rear axle 6 6
Ret 40   Hans Ruesch Private entry Alfa Romeo 8C-35 8 Cracked cylinder 11 7
Ret 30   Max Christen Private entry Maserati Tipo 26 4 Mechanical 15 7
Ret 8   Bernd Rosemeyer Auto Union Auto Union C 1 Outside assistance 2 7


Grand Prix Race
Previous race:
1937 Monaco Grand Prix
1937 Grand Prix season
Grandes Épreuves
Next race:
1937 Italian Grand Prix
Previous race:
1936 Swiss Grand Prix
Swiss Grand Prix Next race:
1938 Swiss Grand Prix

References

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  1. ^ "1937 Swiss Grand Prix". Motorsport Database. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Swiss Grand Prix, Bern (364 km)". Digital Archive of Mercedes-Benz Classic. Retrieved 1 February 2024.