Coppa Ciano

The Coppa Ciano was an automobile race held in Italy. Originally referred to as Coppa Montenero or Circuito Montenero, the Coppa Ciano name being used between 1927 and 1939.

Since the first competition, the sport of motor racing in Italy proved very popular. During the years immediately following World War I several road circuits were created. Notable among these was the Montenero Circuit at Livorno, which became home for the annual Coppa Montenero from its inauguration in 1921. In the beginning it was only a local affair and the organizers quickly found themselves in financial troubles. But in 1923, the event was taken over by the Automobile Club of Italy and the future was secured.^[1]

In 1927, the Livorno born naval hero and politician, Costanzo Ciano donated a victory trophy; the Coppa Ciano. At first, this was awarded to the victor in a separate sports car race, run within a week of the Coppa Montenero. But in 1929 the Coppa Ciano was merged into the main event and at the same time became the name most often used.^[2]

The driver Emilio Materassi won 4 years in a row 1925-1928 and earned the nickname "King of Montenero".

In the thirties, Italian Hall of Fame driver, Tazio Nuvolari won this race five times, more than any other driver. Especially impressive was his 1936 victory, were he made his way through the field, beating the otherwise superior German cars. This victory was one of the reasons why the Italian Grand Prix was held at the Montenero circuit in 1937, instead of the usual venue, Monza.^[3]

The 1939 race was run to Voiturette regulations and became the last before the Second World War stopped all racing for many years.^[4]

In 1947 the 20th and final edition of the Coppa Montenero was run, with 1500 cc unsupercharged cars.^[5] At that point, due to Costanzo Ciano's connections with the fascist regime, it was no longer called Coppa Ciano.

Coppa Ciano poster, 1931

Race winners

Year	Winner(s)	Class	Car	Race title
1947	Franco Venturi	1500cc unsupercharged	Cisitalia D46 - Fiat	XX Circuito Montenero
1940- 1946	Not held
1939	Giuseppe Farina	Voiturette	Alfa Romeo 158	Hermann Lang	Grand Prix	Mercedes-Benz W154	Rudolf Caracciola	Grand Prix	Mercedes-Benz W125	XV Gran Premio d'Italia * XI Coppa Ciano XVII Circuito Montenero
1936	Tazio Nuvolari Carlo Pintacuda	Grand Prix	Alfa Romeo 8C-35	Tazio Nuvolari	Grand Prix	Alfa Romeo Tipo-B 'P3'	Achille Varzi	Grand Prix	Alfa Romeo Tipo-B 'P3'	Tazio Nuvolari	Grand Prix	Maserati 8CM	Tazio Nuvolari	Grand Prix	Alfa Romeo Tipo-B 'P3'	Tazio Nuvolari	Grand Prix	Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza	Luigi Fagioli	Grand Prix	Maserati 26M	Achille Varzi	Grand Prix	Alfa Romeo P2	Emilio Materassi	Grand Prix	Talbot 700	VIII Circuito Montenero
Mario Razzauti	Sports car	Alfa Romeo 6C-1500	II Coppa Ciano
1927	Emilio Materassi	Grand Prix	Bugatti T35C	VII Circuito Montenero
	Attilio Marinoni	Sports car	Alfa Romeo 6C-1500	I Coppa Ciano
1926	Emilio Materassi	Grand Prix	Itala Spl	VI Circuito Montenero
1925	Emilio Materassi	Grand Prix	Itala Spl	V Circuito Montenero
1924	Renato Balestrero	Grand Prix	OM 665	IV Circuito Montenero
1923	Mario Razzauti	Grand Prix	Ansaldo 2000	III Circuito Montenero
1922	Carlo Masetti	Grand Prix	Bugatti 37 1500	II Circuito Montenero
1921	Carlo Lotti	Grand Prix	Ansaldo 2000	I Circuito Montenero

* The 1937 race also had the status of Italian Grand Prix

See also

• Coppa Acerbo
• List of major automobile races in Italy

References

1. ^ La Coppa Montenero (1921-1939)
2. ^ Circuito del Montenero
3. ^ XV° Gran Premio d'Italia, The golden era of Grand Prix racing
4. ^ 1939 Coppa Ciano, The golden era of Grand Prix racing
5. ^ Italy 1947, Forix

• Foto e storia del Circuito di Montenero