Targa Florio
Overview
Endurance
Endurance is the ability for a human or animal to exert itself and remain active for a long period of time, as well as its ability to resist, withstand, recover from, and have immunity to trauma, wounds, or fatigue. In humans, it is usually used in aerobic or anaerobic exercise...
automobile race held in the mountains of Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
near Palermo. Founded in 1906, it was the oldest sports car racing
Sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
event, part of the World Sportscar Championship
World Sportscar Championship
The World Sportscar Championship was the world series run for sports car racing by the FIA from 1953 to 1992.The championship evolved from a small collection of the most important sportscar, endurance and road racing events in Europe and North America with dozens of gentleman drivers at the grid,...
between 1955 and 1973. While the first races consisted of a whole tour of the island, the track length in the race's last decades was limited to the 72 kilometres (44.7 mi) of the Circuito Piccolo delle Madonie
Madonie
The Madonie are one of the principal mountain groups in Sicily, southern Italy, part of the Sicilian portion of the Apennines. It is located in Palermo Province...
, which was lapped 11 times.
After 1973, it was a national sports car event until it was discontinued in 1977 due to safety concerns.
Discussions
Encyclopedia
The Targa Florio was an open road endurance
automobile race held in the mountains of Sicily
near Palermo. Founded in 1906, it was the oldest sports car racing
event, part of the World Sportscar Championship
between 1955 and 1973. While the first races consisted of a whole tour of the island, the track length in the race's last decades was limited to the 72 kilometres (44.7 mi) of the Circuito Piccolo delle Madonie
, which was lapped 11 times.
After 1973, it was a national sports car event until it was discontinued in 1977 due to safety concerns. It has since been run as a rallying
event, and is part of the Italian Rally Championship
.
The race was created in 1906 by the wealthy pioneer race driver and automobile enthusiast, Vincenzo Florio
, who had started the Coppa Florio
race in Brescia
, Lombardy
in 1900.
One of the toughest competitions in Europe, the first Targa Florio covered 3 laps equalling 277 miles (445.8 km) through multiple hairpin curves on treacherous mountain roads, at heights where severe changes in climate frequently occurred. Alessandro Cagno won the inaugural 1906 race in nine hours, averaging 30 miles per hour (50 km/h).
By the mid-1920s, the Targa Florio had become one of Europe's most important races, as neither the 24 Hours of Le Mans
nor the Mille Miglia
had been established yet. Grand Prix
races were still isolated events, not a series like today's F1.
The wins of Mercedes
(not yet merged with Benz) in the 1920s made a big impression in Germany, especially that of German Christian Werner
in 1924, as he was the first non-Italian winner since 1920. Rudolf Caracciola
repeated a similar upset win at the Mille Miglia
a couple of years later. In 1926, Eliska Junkova
, one of the great female drivers in Grand Prix motor racing
history, became the first woman to ever compete in the race.
In 1953, the FIA World Sportscar Championship
was introduced. The Targa became part of it in 1955, when Mercedes had to win 1-2 with the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR
in order to beat Ferrari
for the title. They had missed the first two of the 6 events, Buenos Aires
and the 12 Hours of Sebring
, where Ferrari, Jaguar
, Maserati
and Porsche
scored. Mercedes appeared at and won in the Mille Miglia
, then pulled out of Le Mans as a sign of respect for the victims of the 1955 Le Mans disaster
, but won the Tourist Trophy
at Dundrod
. Stirling Moss
/Peter Collins
and Juan Manuel Fangio
/Karl Kling
finished minutes ahead of the best Ferrari and secured the title.
Over the years, the greats of Grand Prix racing and Formula One
such as Argentina's Juan Manuel Fangio
, Belgium's Olivier Gendebien
and Britain's Stirling Moss
came to challenge Italian champions Tazio Nuvolari
, Alfieri Maserati
, Achille Varzi
and others, like local hero Nino Vaccarella
.
Several versions of the track were used. It started with a single lap of a 148 km (92 mi) circuit from 1906-1911 and 1931. From 1912 to 1914 an entire tour along the perimeter of Sicily was done, with a single lap of 606 miles (975.3 km), lengthened to 671 miles (1,079.9 km) from 1948 to 1950. The 148 km "Grande" circuit was then shortened twice, the first time to 67 mi (107.8 km), the version used from 1919-1930, and then to the 72 km (44.7 mi) circuit used from 1932 to 1977.
The start and finish took place at Cerda
. The counterclockwise lap lead from Caltavuturo
and Collesano
from an altitude over 600 metres (1,968.5 ft) down to sea level
, where the cars raced from Campofelice di Roccella
on the Buonfornello straight along the coast, a straight over 6 km (3.7 mi) longer than the Mulsanne straight at the Circuit de la Sarthe
in Le Mans
. The longest version of the circuit went south through Caltavuturo (whereas the shortest version of the open-road circuit went east through Caltavuturo, through a mountainous section to Collesano) through an extended route through elevation changes, and swept through the nearby towns of Castellana and Sottana, twisting around mountains up to the town of Castelbuono and rejoined the most recent version of the track at Collesano. The second version of the track also went south through Caltavuturo and took a shortcut starting right before Castellana to Collesano via the town of Polizzi Generosa
.
The race cars were started one by one every two minutes for a time trial, as a start from a full grid was not possible on the tight and twisty roads. Helmut Marko
set the lap record in 1972 in an Alfa Romeo 33TT3 at 33 min 41 s at an average of 128.253 km/h (79.693 mph) during an epic charge where he made up 2 minutes on Arturo Merzario
and his Ferrari 312PB
. The fastest ever was Leo Kinnunen
in 1970, qualifying the Porsche 908
/3 at 128.571 km/h (79.89 mph) or 33 min 36 s.
Due to the track's length, drivers practised in the week before the race in public traffic, often with their race cars fitted with license plates. Porsche factory drivers even had to watch onboard videos, a sickening experience for some. The lap record for the 146km "Grande" circuit was 2 hours 3 min 54.8 seconds set by Achille Varzi
in a Bugatti Type 51 at the 1931 race at an average speed of 70.7 km/h (43.931 mph). The lap record for the 108 km "Medio" circuit was 1 hour 21 min 21.6 seconds set by Varzi in an Alfa Romeo P2 at an average speed of 79.642 km/h (49.487 mph) at the 1930 race. The fastest completion around the short version of the island tour was done by Ernesto Ceirano in a SCAT at the 1914 race, completed in 16 hours, 51 minutes and 31.6 seconds from May 24-25, 1914.. The fastest completion of the long version of the island tour was by Mario and Franco Bornigia in an Alfa Romeo 8C 2500, completed in 12 hours, 26 minutes and 33 seconds flat at the 1950 race at an average speed of 86.794 km/h (53.931 mph).
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, race cars with up to 600 hp (450 kW) such as Nino Vaccarella
's Ferrari 512
S raced through small mountain villages while spectators sat or stood right next to, or even on, the road. Porsche, on the other hand, did not race its big Porsche 917
, but rather the nimble Porsche 908
/03 Spyders.
Due to safety concerns, especially by Helmut Marko, who called the race "totally insane", the last real Targa Florio as an international professional race was run in 1973. In that year, even a Porsche 911
won as the prototypes such as Jacky Ickx
's Ferrari suffered crashes or other troubles. The Targa was continued as a national event for some years, before a fatal crash sealed its fate in 1977. It has since run as a rallying
event.
named the convertible version of the 911 after the Targa. The name targa means plaque, see targa top
.
The Australian made Leyland P76
car had a special version named Targa Florio named to commemorate victory in the race in 1974.
Since 1992 the event has lent its name to a modern recreation, staged half-a-world away in the form of the famous road rally Targa Tasmania
held on the island state of Tasmania, found off the Southern coast of Australia.
A stunning recreation of the track was made for the race simulator Grand Prix Legends
, which has been converted to rFactor
.
_in_the_porsche-museum.jpg)
Endurance
Endurance is the ability for a human or animal to exert itself and remain active for a long period of time, as well as its ability to resist, withstand, recover from, and have immunity to trauma, wounds, or fatigue. In humans, it is usually used in aerobic or anaerobic exercise...
automobile race held in the mountains of Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
near Palermo. Founded in 1906, it was the oldest sports car racing
Sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
event, part of the World Sportscar Championship
World Sportscar Championship
The World Sportscar Championship was the world series run for sports car racing by the FIA from 1953 to 1992.The championship evolved from a small collection of the most important sportscar, endurance and road racing events in Europe and North America with dozens of gentleman drivers at the grid,...
between 1955 and 1973. While the first races consisted of a whole tour of the island, the track length in the race's last decades was limited to the 72 kilometres (44.7 mi) of the Circuito Piccolo delle Madonie
Madonie
The Madonie are one of the principal mountain groups in Sicily, southern Italy, part of the Sicilian portion of the Apennines. It is located in Palermo Province...
, which was lapped 11 times.
After 1973, it was a national sports car event until it was discontinued in 1977 due to safety concerns. It has since been run as a rallying
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
event, and is part of the Italian Rally Championship
Italian Rally Championship
The Campionato Italiano Rally is the main Rally championship that takes place in Italy and it's Islands....
.
History
Vincenzo Florio
Vincenzo Florio, Jr. was an Italian industrialist in the wine industry of Sicily, famous for establishing the Targa Florio race....
, who had started the Coppa Florio
Coppa Florio
Coppa Florio was an Italian car race started in 1900, and renamed in 1905 when Vincenzo Florio offered the initial 50 000 Lira and a cup designed by Polak of Paris. The cup was to be offered the manufacturer that wins four or more of the first seven races, the first race held in 1905...
race in Brescia
Brescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
, Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
in 1900.
One of the toughest competitions in Europe, the first Targa Florio covered 3 laps equalling 277 miles (445.8 km) through multiple hairpin curves on treacherous mountain roads, at heights where severe changes in climate frequently occurred. Alessandro Cagno won the inaugural 1906 race in nine hours, averaging 30 miles per hour (50 km/h).
By the mid-1920s, the Targa Florio had become one of Europe's most important races, as neither the 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
nor the Mille Miglia
Mille Miglia
The Mille Miglia was an open-road endurance race which took place in Italy twenty-four times from 1927 to 1957 ....
had been established yet. Grand Prix
Grand Prix motor racing
Grand Prix motor racing has its roots in organised automobile racing that began in France as far back as 1894. It quickly evolved from a simple road race from one town to the next, to endurance tests for car and driver...
races were still isolated events, not a series like today's F1.
The wins of Mercedes
Mercedes (car)
Mercedes was a brand of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft . DMG which began to develop in 1900, after the death of its co-founder, Gottlieb Daimler...
(not yet merged with Benz) in the 1920s made a big impression in Germany, especially that of German Christian Werner
Christian Werner
Christian Werner was a German racecar driver.-Indy 500 results:...
in 1924, as he was the first non-Italian winner since 1920. Rudolf Caracciola
Rudolf Caracciola
Otto Wilhelm Rudolf Caracciola , more commonly Rudolf Caracciola , was a racing driver from Remagen, Germany. He won the European Drivers' Championship, the pre-1950 equivalent of the modern Formula One World Championship, an unsurpassed three times...
repeated a similar upset win at the Mille Miglia
Mille Miglia
The Mille Miglia was an open-road endurance race which took place in Italy twenty-four times from 1927 to 1957 ....
a couple of years later. In 1926, Eliska Junkova
Eliška Junková
Eliška Junková , born as Alžběta Pospíšilová and also known as Elizabeth Junek, is regarded as one of the greatest female drivers in Grand Prix motor racing history.-Upbringing:...
, one of the great female drivers in Grand Prix motor racing
Grand Prix motor racing
Grand Prix motor racing has its roots in organised automobile racing that began in France as far back as 1894. It quickly evolved from a simple road race from one town to the next, to endurance tests for car and driver...
history, became the first woman to ever compete in the race.
In 1953, the FIA World Sportscar Championship
World Sportscar Championship
The World Sportscar Championship was the world series run for sports car racing by the FIA from 1953 to 1992.The championship evolved from a small collection of the most important sportscar, endurance and road racing events in Europe and North America with dozens of gentleman drivers at the grid,...
was introduced. The Targa became part of it in 1955, when Mercedes had to win 1-2 with the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR
Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR
The Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR was a sportscar racing car for the 1955 World Sportscar Championship season, which it won.-Technical highlights:...
in order to beat Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
for the title. They had missed the first two of the 6 events, Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
and the 12 Hours of Sebring
12 Hours of Sebring
The 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race for sports cars held at Sebring International Raceway, a former Army Air Force base in Sebring, Florida...
, where Ferrari, Jaguar
Jaguar (car)
Jaguar Cars Ltd, known simply as Jaguar , is a British luxury car manufacturer, headquartered in Whitley, Coventry, England. It is part of the Jaguar Land Rover business, a subsidiary of the Indian company Tata Motors....
, Maserati
Maserati
Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters is now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993...
and Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
scored. Mercedes appeared at and won in the Mille Miglia
Mille Miglia
The Mille Miglia was an open-road endurance race which took place in Italy twenty-four times from 1927 to 1957 ....
, then pulled out of Le Mans as a sign of respect for the victims of the 1955 Le Mans disaster
1955 Le Mans disaster
The 1955 Le Mans disaster occurred during the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race, when a crash caused large parts of racing car debris to fly into the crowd. The driver was killed, as were 83 spectators. A further 120 people were injured...
, but won the Tourist Trophy
RAC Tourist Trophy
The International Tourist Trophy is an award given by the Royal Automobile Club and awarded semi-annually to the winners of a selected motor racing event each year in the United Kingdom. It was first awarded in 1905 and continues to be awarded to this day, making it the longest lasting trophy in...
at Dundrod
Dundrod Circuit
Dundrod Circuit is a motorsport race track based on public roads used for the RAC Tourist Trophy for sports cars between 1950 and 1955 and for the motorcycle Ulster Grand Prix from 1953 onwards. It is situated in County Antrim, Northern Ireland...
. Stirling Moss
Stirling Moss
Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss, OBE FIE is a former racing driver from England...
/Peter Collins
Peter Collins (racing driver)
Peter John Collins was a Formula One driver from England. He participated in 35 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 18 May 1952. He won 3 races, achieved 9 podiums, and scored a total of 47 championship points....
and Juan Manuel Fangio
Juan Manuel Fangio
Juan Manuel Fangio , nicknamed El Chueco or El Maestro , was a racing car driver from Argentina, who dominated the first decade of Formula One racing...
/Karl Kling
Karl Kling
Karl Kling was a motor racing driver and manager from Germany. He participated in 11 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 4 July 1954. He achieved 2 podiums, and scored a total of 17 championship points.It is said, that he was born too late and too early...
finished minutes ahead of the best Ferrari and secured the title.
Over the years, the greats of Grand Prix racing and Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
such as Argentina's Juan Manuel Fangio
Juan Manuel Fangio
Juan Manuel Fangio , nicknamed El Chueco or El Maestro , was a racing car driver from Argentina, who dominated the first decade of Formula One racing...
, Belgium's Olivier Gendebien
Olivier Gendebien
Olivier Gendebien was a war hero and race car driver. He has been cited as "one of the greatest sportscar racers of all time".-Background:...
and Britain's Stirling Moss
Stirling Moss
Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss, OBE FIE is a former racing driver from England...
came to challenge Italian champions Tazio Nuvolari
Tazio Nuvolari
Tazio Giorgio Nuvolari was an Italian motorcycle and racecar driver, known as Il Mantovano Volante or Nivola. He was the 1932 European Champion in Grand Prix motor racing...
, Alfieri Maserati
Maserati
Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters is now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993...
, Achille Varzi
Achille Varzi
Achille Varzi , was an Italian Grand Prix driver.-Career:Born in Galliate, province of Novara , Achille Varzi was the son of a prosperous textile manufacturer...
and others, like local hero Nino Vaccarella
Nino Vaccarella
Nino Vaccarella is an Italian former sports car racing and Formula One driver, born in Palermo, Sicily.-Synopsis:After winning the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans, the former headmaster of a nearby school became the local hero of the Targa Florio race after winning in 1965, then repeating in 1971 and...
.
Several versions of the track were used. It started with a single lap of a 148 km (92 mi) circuit from 1906-1911 and 1931. From 1912 to 1914 an entire tour along the perimeter of Sicily was done, with a single lap of 606 miles (975.3 km), lengthened to 671 miles (1,079.9 km) from 1948 to 1950. The 148 km "Grande" circuit was then shortened twice, the first time to 67 mi (107.8 km), the version used from 1919-1930, and then to the 72 km (44.7 mi) circuit used from 1932 to 1977.
The start and finish took place at Cerda
Cerda
Cerda is a comune in the province of Palermo in the Italian region Sicily, located about 45 km southeast of Palermo.Cerda borders the following municipalities: Aliminusa, Collesano, Sciara, Scillato, Sclafani Bagni, Termini Imerese....
. The counterclockwise lap lead from Caltavuturo
Caltavuturo
Caltavuturo is a town and comune in the Province of Palermo, Sicily, Italy. The neighboring comunes are Polizzi Generosa, Scillato and Sclafani Bagni.-History:...
and Collesano
Collesano
Collesano is a small town in the Province of Palermo, Sicily. It is situated roughly 70 km from the provincial capital of Palermo.-External links:*...
from an altitude over 600 metres (1,968.5 ft) down to sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
, where the cars raced from Campofelice di Roccella
Campofelice di Roccella
Campofelice di Roccella is a comune in the Province of Palermo in the Italian region of Sicily, located about 50 km southeast of Palermo...
on the Buonfornello straight along the coast, a straight over 6 km (3.7 mi) longer than the Mulsanne straight at the Circuit de la Sarthe
Circuit de la Sarthe
The Circuit des 24 Heures, also known as Circuit de la Sarthe, located near Le Mans, France, is a semi-permanent race course most famous as the venue for the 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race. The track uses local roads that remain open to the public most of the year...
in Le Mans
Le Mans
Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
. The longest version of the circuit went south through Caltavuturo (whereas the shortest version of the open-road circuit went east through Caltavuturo, through a mountainous section to Collesano) through an extended route through elevation changes, and swept through the nearby towns of Castellana and Sottana, twisting around mountains up to the town of Castelbuono and rejoined the most recent version of the track at Collesano. The second version of the track also went south through Caltavuturo and took a shortcut starting right before Castellana to Collesano via the town of Polizzi Generosa
Polizzi Generosa
Polizzi Generosa is a town and comune in the Province of Palermo on the island of Sicily, southern Italy...
.
The race cars were started one by one every two minutes for a time trial, as a start from a full grid was not possible on the tight and twisty roads. Helmut Marko
Helmut Marko
Dr. Helmut Marko is a former racing driver from Austria.A friend of Jochen Rindt, he entered racing, and eventually participated in 10 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 15 August 1971...
set the lap record in 1972 in an Alfa Romeo 33TT3 at 33 min 41 s at an average of 128.253 km/h (79.693 mph) during an epic charge where he made up 2 minutes on Arturo Merzario
Arturo Merzario
Arturo Francesco "Little Art" Merzario is a former racing driver from Italy. He participated in 85 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on July 15, 1972...
and his Ferrari 312PB
Ferrari 312PB
The Ferrari 312PB was a Group 6 Prototype-Sports Car introduced in 1971 by Italian carmaker Ferrari. It was officially designated the 312P, but often known as the 312PB to avoid confusion with a previous car of the same name...
. The fastest ever was Leo Kinnunen
Leo Kinnunen
Leo Juhani "Leksa" Kinnunen is a Finnish former car racer, the first Formula One driver from his country. He is also remembered for his success in sportscar racing and rallying....
in 1970, qualifying the Porsche 908
Porsche 908
The Porsche 908 was a racing car from Porsche, introduced in 1968 to continue the Porsche 906/Porsche 910/Porsche 907 series of models designed under Ferdinand Piech....
/3 at 128.571 km/h (79.89 mph) or 33 min 36 s.
Due to the track's length, drivers practised in the week before the race in public traffic, often with their race cars fitted with license plates. Porsche factory drivers even had to watch onboard videos, a sickening experience for some. The lap record for the 146km "Grande" circuit was 2 hours 3 min 54.8 seconds set by Achille Varzi
Achille Varzi
Achille Varzi , was an Italian Grand Prix driver.-Career:Born in Galliate, province of Novara , Achille Varzi was the son of a prosperous textile manufacturer...
in a Bugatti Type 51 at the 1931 race at an average speed of 70.7 km/h (43.931 mph). The lap record for the 108 km "Medio" circuit was 1 hour 21 min 21.6 seconds set by Varzi in an Alfa Romeo P2 at an average speed of 79.642 km/h (49.487 mph) at the 1930 race. The fastest completion around the short version of the island tour was done by Ernesto Ceirano in a SCAT at the 1914 race, completed in 16 hours, 51 minutes and 31.6 seconds from May 24-25, 1914.. The fastest completion of the long version of the island tour was by Mario and Franco Bornigia in an Alfa Romeo 8C 2500, completed in 12 hours, 26 minutes and 33 seconds flat at the 1950 race at an average speed of 86.794 km/h (53.931 mph).
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, race cars with up to 600 hp (450 kW) such as Nino Vaccarella
Nino Vaccarella
Nino Vaccarella is an Italian former sports car racing and Formula One driver, born in Palermo, Sicily.-Synopsis:After winning the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans, the former headmaster of a nearby school became the local hero of the Targa Florio race after winning in 1965, then repeating in 1971 and...
's Ferrari 512
Ferrari 512
Ferrari 512 S was the designation of 25 five litre sports cars built until January 1970, related to the Ferrari P sports prototypes. The V12-powered cars were entered in the 1970 International Championship for Makes by the factory Scuderia Ferrari and private teams...
S raced through small mountain villages while spectators sat or stood right next to, or even on, the road. Porsche, on the other hand, did not race its big Porsche 917
Porsche 917
The Porsche 917 is a racecar that gave Porsche its first overall wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970 and 1971. Powered by the Type 912 flat-12 engine of 4.5, 4.9, or 5 litres, the 917/30 variant was capable of a 0- time of 2.3 seconds, 0– in 5.3 seconds, and a top speed of over .There are 6...
, but rather the nimble Porsche 908
Porsche 908
The Porsche 908 was a racing car from Porsche, introduced in 1968 to continue the Porsche 906/Porsche 910/Porsche 907 series of models designed under Ferdinand Piech....
/03 Spyders.
Due to safety concerns, especially by Helmut Marko, who called the race "totally insane", the last real Targa Florio as an international professional race was run in 1973. In that year, even a Porsche 911
Porsche 911
The Porsche 911 is a luxury 2-door sports coupe made by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. It has a distinctive design, rear-engined and with independent rear suspension, an evolution of the swing axle on the Porsche 356. The engine was also air-cooled until the introduction of the Type 996 in 1998...
won as the prototypes such as Jacky Ickx
Jacky Ickx
Jacques Bernard "Jacky" Ickx is a Belgian former racing driver who achieved 25 podium finishes in Formula One and six wins in the 24 hours of Le Mans.- Racing career :...
's Ferrari suffered crashes or other troubles. The Targa was continued as a national event for some years, before a fatal crash sealed its fate in 1977. It has since run as a rallying
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
event.
Legacy
After winning the race several times, PorschePorsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
named the convertible version of the 911 after the Targa. The name targa means plaque, see targa top
Targa top
Targa top, targa for short, is a semi-convertible car body style with a removable roof section and a full width roll bar behind the seats. The term was first used on the 1966 Porsche 911 Targa, and it remains a registered trademark of Porsche AG....
.
The Australian made Leyland P76
Leyland P76
The Leyland P76 is a large car that was produced by Leyland Australia, the Australian subsidiary of British Leyland. Featuring what was described at the time as the "standard Australian wheelbase of 111 inches", it was intended to provide the company with a genuine rival to large local models like...
car had a special version named Targa Florio named to commemorate victory in the race in 1974.
Since 1992 the event has lent its name to a modern recreation, staged half-a-world away in the form of the famous road rally Targa Tasmania
Targa Tasmania
Targa Tasmania is a tarmac-based rally event held on the island state of Tasmania, Australia, annually since 1992. The event takes its name from the Targa Florio, a former motoring event held on the island of Sicily...
held on the island state of Tasmania, found off the Southern coast of Australia.
A stunning recreation of the track was made for the race simulator Grand Prix Legends
Grand Prix Legends
Grand Prix Legends is a computer racing simulator developed by Papyrus Design Group and published in 1998 by Sierra Entertainment...
, which has been converted to rFactor
RFactor
rFactor is a computer racing simulator, designed with the ability to run any type of four-wheeled vehicle from street cars to open wheel cars of any era. rFactor aimed to be the most accurate race simulator of its time...
.
Pre-WWI races
| Year | Winner | Car | Time | Distance (km) | Speed (km/h) | Laps | Course Variant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1906 |  Alessandro Cagno |
Itala 35/40 HP |
9:32:22 | 446.469 | 46.80 | 3 | Grande Circuit (146 km) |
| 1907 | Felice Nazzaro Felice Nazzaro Felice Nazzaro was an Italian racecar driver, a native of Turin. He won the Kaiserpreis in 1907 as well as the French Grand Prix in 1907 and 1922 and Targa Florio in 1907 and 1913. His European wins in 1907 resulted in an invitation to compete in the 1908 American Grand Prize in Savannah, Georgia,... |
Fiat Fiat FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli... 28/40 HP |
8:17:36 | 446.469 | 53.83 | 3 | Grande Circuit (146 km) |
| 1908 | Vincenzo Trucco Vincenzo Trucco Vincenzo Trucco was a racing driver from Milan, Italy. He was Isotta Fraschini works driver and won the 1908 Targa Florio and participated to Indy 500 in 1913. Trucco was also friend and mentor of Alfieri Maserati, with whom he patented automotive spark plug.... |
Isotta Fraschini |
7:49:26 | 446.469 | 57.06 | 3 | Grande Circuit (146 km) |
| 1909 | Francesco Ciuppa |
SPA SPA (automobile) SPA an Italian automobile manufacturer, produced cars between 1906 and 1926.The company was established by Matteo Ceirano and Michele Ansaldi in Turin under the name of Società Piemontese Automobili. The first cars were exhibited at the Esposizione di Torino... |
2:43:19 | 148.823 | 54.67 | 1 | Grande Circuit (146 km) |
| 1910 | Tullio Cariolato |
Franco Automobili |
6:20:47 | 297.646 | 46.90 | 2 | Grande Circuit (146 km) |
| 1911 | Ernesto Ceirano |
SCAT SCAT (automobile) The SCAT was Italian automobile manufacturer from Turin, founded in 1906 by Giovanni Ceirano.The company was active from 1906 to 1932 and achieved Targa Florio wins in 1911 and 1912. The first produced models were the 12 HP, the 16 HP and the 22 HP of 1909.- External links :*... |
9:32:22 | 446.469 | 46.80 | 2 | Grande Circuit (146 km) |
| 1912 | Cyril Snipe | SCAT SCAT (automobile) The SCAT was Italian automobile manufacturer from Turin, founded in 1906 by Giovanni Ceirano.The company was active from 1906 to 1932 and achieved Targa Florio wins in 1911 and 1912. The first produced models were the 12 HP, the 16 HP and the 22 HP of 1909.- External links :*... 25/35 |
24:37:19 | 979.000 | 41.44 | 1 | Island Tour (short) (979 km) |
| 1913 | Felice Nazzaro Felice Nazzaro Felice Nazzaro was an Italian racecar driver, a native of Turin. He won the Kaiserpreis in 1907 as well as the French Grand Prix in 1907 and 1922 and Targa Florio in 1907 and 1913. His European wins in 1907 resulted in an invitation to compete in the 1908 American Grand Prize in Savannah, Georgia,... |
Nazzaro Tipo 2 |
19:18:40 | 979.000 | 50.70 | 1 | Island Tour (short) (979 km) |
| 1914 | Ernesto Ceirano |
SCAT SCAT (automobile) The SCAT was Italian automobile manufacturer from Turin, founded in 1906 by Giovanni Ceirano.The company was active from 1906 to 1932 and achieved Targa Florio wins in 1911 and 1912. The first produced models were the 12 HP, the 16 HP and the 22 HP of 1909.- External links :*... 22/32 |
16:51:31 | 979.000 | 58.07 | 1 | Island Tour (short) (979 km) |
Between the Wars
| Year | Winner | Car | Time | Distance (km) | Speed (km/h) | Laps | Course Variant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1919 |  André BoillotAndré Boillot André Boillot was a French auto racing driver. Born in Valentigney, Doubs, he was the younger brother of race car driver, Georges Boillot. Following in his brother's footsteps, André Boillot began racing cars at a young age... |
Peugeot Peugeot Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion... EXS |
7:51.01.8 | 432 | |||
| 4 | Media Circuit (108 km) | ||||||
| 1920 | Guido Meregalli Guido Meregalli Guido Meregalli was an Italian racecar driver, known from several GP victories between 1920 and 1926.He had victories in the 1920 Grand Prix season, winning the Targa Florio 1920 in a 4441 cm³ Nazzaro GP.... |
Nazzaro GP |
8:27.23.8 | 432 | 50.924 | 4 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1921 | Giulio Masetti Giulio Masetti Giulio Masetti was an Italian nobleman and racing driver, known as "the lion of Madonie" from his dominating the Targa Florio in the early 1920s.... |
Fiat 451 Fiat FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli... |
7:25'05.2 | 432 | 58.236 | 4 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1922 | Giulio Masetti Giulio Masetti Giulio Masetti was an Italian nobleman and racing driver, known as "the lion of Madonie" from his dominating the Targa Florio in the early 1920s.... |
 MercedesMercedes (car) Mercedes was a brand of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft . DMG which began to develop in 1900, after the death of its co-founder, Gottlieb Daimler... GP/14 |
6:50.50.2 | 432 | 63.091 | 4 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1923 | Ugo Sivocci Ugo Sivocci Ugo Sivocci was an Italian race car driver.Born in Salerno, Sivocci started his racing career with bicycle racing. After World War I, he worked as an auto mechanic in Milan. Being a friend of Enzo Ferrari, he was hired by Alfa Romeo in 1920 to drive Alfa in three-man works team: with Antonio... |
Alfa Romeo RL Targa Florio Alfa Romeo RL The Alfa Romeo RL was produced between 1922-1927. It was Alfa's first sport model after World War I. The car was designed in 1921 by Giuseppe Merosi. It had a straight-6 engine with overhead valves... |
7:18.00.2 | 432 | 59.177 | 4 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1924 |  Christian WernerChristian Werner Christian Werner was a German racecar driver.-Indy 500 results:... |
Mercedes Mercedes (car) Mercedes was a brand of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft . DMG which began to develop in 1900, after the death of its co-founder, Gottlieb Daimler... PP |
6:32.37.2/5 | 432 | 66.010 | 4 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1925 | Bartolomeo Costantini Bartolomeo Costantini Bartolomeo "Meo" Costantini was an Italian aviator and racing car driver, known for being the sporting manager of the Bugatti car manufacturer.-Military service:... |
Bugatti T35 Bugatti Automobiles E. Bugatti was a French car manufacturer founded in 1909 in Molsheim, Alsace, as a manufacturer of high-performance automobiles by Italian-born Ettore Bugatti.... |
7:32.27.2 | 540 | 71.609 | 5 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1926 | Bartolomeo Costantini Bartolomeo Costantini Bartolomeo "Meo" Costantini was an Italian aviator and racing car driver, known for being the sporting manager of the Bugatti car manufacturer.-Military service:... |
Bugatti T35T Bugatti Automobiles E. Bugatti was a French car manufacturer founded in 1909 in Molsheim, Alsace, as a manufacturer of high-performance automobiles by Italian-born Ettore Bugatti.... |
7:20.45.0 | 540 | 73.507 | 5 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1927 | Emilio Materassi Emilio Materassi Emilio Materassi was an Italian Grand Prix motor racing driver.-Early life:Born in Borgo San Lorenzo, near Florence, Italy, Emilio began working in a bicycle shop, learning the basics of applied mechanics... |
Bugatti T35C Bugatti Automobiles E. Bugatti was a French car manufacturer founded in 1909 in Molsheim, Alsace, as a manufacturer of high-performance automobiles by Italian-born Ettore Bugatti.... |
7:35.55.4 | 540 | 71.065 | 5 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1928 | Albert Divo Albert Divo Albert Divo was a Grand Prix motor racing driver. He was born in Paris, France. In 1922, Divo competed in the International Tourist Trophy endurance race on the Isle of Man... |
Bugatti T35B Bugatti Automobiles E. Bugatti was a French car manufacturer founded in 1909 in Molsheim, Alsace, as a manufacturer of high-performance automobiles by Italian-born Ettore Bugatti.... |
7:20.56.6 | 540 | 73.478 | 5 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1929 | Albert Divo Albert Divo Albert Divo was a Grand Prix motor racing driver. He was born in Paris, France. In 1922, Divo competed in the International Tourist Trophy endurance race on the Isle of Man... |
Bugatti T35C Bugatti Automobiles E. Bugatti was a French car manufacturer founded in 1909 in Molsheim, Alsace, as a manufacturer of high-performance automobiles by Italian-born Ettore Bugatti.... |
7:15'41.7 | 540 | 74.366 | 5 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1930 | Achille Varzi Achille Varzi Achille Varzi , was an Italian Grand Prix driver.-Career:Born in Galliate, province of Novara , Achille Varzi was the son of a prosperous textile manufacturer... |
Alfa Romeo P2 Alfa Romeo P2 The Alfa Romeo P2 won the inaugural Automobile World Championship in 1925, taking victory in two of the four championship rounds when Antonio Ascari drove it in the European Grand Prix at Spa and Gastone Brilli-Peri won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza after Ascari died while leading the intervening... |
6:55.16.6 | 540 | 78.010 | 5 | Media Circuit (108 km) |
| 1931 | Tazio Nuvolari Tazio Nuvolari Tazio Giorgio Nuvolari was an Italian motorcycle and racecar driver, known as Il Mantovano Volante or Nivola. He was the 1932 European Champion in Grand Prix motor racing... |
Alfa Romeo 8C-2300 Monza Alfa Romeo 8C -1935 Monoposto 8C 35 Type C:Eight 3.8 litre versions, sharing no castings with the earlier blocks, were individually built for racing in five months, most being used in the Alfa Romeo Monoposto 8C 35 Type C, as raced by Scuderia Ferrari. The 3.8 produced at 5500 rpm, and had from... |
9:00'27.0 | 584 | 64.834 | 4 | Grande Circuit (146 km) |
| 1932 | Tazio Nuvolari Tazio Nuvolari Tazio Giorgio Nuvolari was an Italian motorcycle and racecar driver, known as Il Mantovano Volante or Nivola. He was the 1932 European Champion in Grand Prix motor racing... |
Alfa Romeo 8C-2300 Monza Alfa Romeo 8C -1935 Monoposto 8C 35 Type C:Eight 3.8 litre versions, sharing no castings with the earlier blocks, were individually built for racing in five months, most being used in the Alfa Romeo Monoposto 8C 35 Type C, as raced by Scuderia Ferrari. The 3.8 produced at 5500 rpm, and had from... |
7:15.50.6 | 574 | 79.296 | 8 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1933 | Antonio Brivio Antonio Brivio Antonio Brivio was an Italian bobsledder and racing driver.-Auto racing career:... |
Alfa Romeo 8C-2300 Monza Alfa Romeo 8C -1935 Monoposto 8C 35 Type C:Eight 3.8 litre versions, sharing no castings with the earlier blocks, were individually built for racing in five months, most being used in the Alfa Romeo Monoposto 8C 35 Type C, as raced by Scuderia Ferrari. The 3.8 produced at 5500 rpm, and had from... |
7:15.50.6 | 504 | 76.729 | 7 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1934 | Achille Varzi Achille Varzi Achille Varzi , was an Italian Grand Prix driver.-Career:Born in Galliate, province of Novara , Achille Varzi was the son of a prosperous textile manufacturer... |
Alfa Romeo Tipo-B P3 Alfa Romeo P3 The Alfa Romeo P3, P3 monoposto or Tipo B was a classic Grand Prix car designed by Vittorio Jano, one of the Alfa Romeo 8C models. The P3 was first genuine single-seat Grand Prix racing car and Alfa Romeo's second monoposto after Tipo A monoposto . It was based on the earlier successful Alfa Romeo P2... |
6:14'26.8 | 432 | 69.222 | 6 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1935 | Antonio Brivio Antonio Brivio Antonio Brivio was an Italian bobsledder and racing driver.-Auto racing career:... |
Alfa Romeo Tipo-B P3 Alfa Romeo P3 The Alfa Romeo P3, P3 monoposto or Tipo B was a classic Grand Prix car designed by Vittorio Jano, one of the Alfa Romeo 8C models. The P3 was first genuine single-seat Grand Prix racing car and Alfa Romeo's second monoposto after Tipo A monoposto . It was based on the earlier successful Alfa Romeo P2... |
2:08.47.2 | 432 | 80.010 | 6 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1936 | Constantino Magistri |
Lancia Augusta Lancia Augusta The Lancia Augusta was produced by Italian automanufacturer Lancia between 1933-1936. The car was powered by a 1196 cc Lancia V4 engine.During the 1920s, Lancia had been known as producers of sports cars and middle sized sedans: the smaller Augusta represented a departure from that tradition, and... |
6:14'26.8 | 144 | 67.088 | 2 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1937 | Giulio Severi |
Maserati 6CM Maserati Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters is now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993... |
2:55'49.0 | 315.6 | 107.704 | 60 | Closed Circuit (5.26 km) |
| 1938 | Giovanni Rocco |
Maserati 6CM Maserati Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters is now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993... |
1:30'04.6 | 171.6 | 114.303 | 30 | Closed Circuit (5.72 km) |
| 1939 | Luigi Villoresi Luigi Villoresi Luigi Villoresi was an Italian Grand Prix motor racing driver who continued racing on the Formula One circuit at the time of its inception.-Biography:... |
Maserati 6CM Maserati Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters is now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993... |
1:40.15.4 | 228 | 136.445 | 40 | Closed Circuit (5.7 km) |
| 1940 | Luigi Villoresi Luigi Villoresi Luigi Villoresi was an Italian Grand Prix motor racing driver who continued racing on the Formula One circuit at the time of its inception.-Biography:... |
Maserati 4CL Maserati Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer established on December 1, 1914, in Bologna. The company's headquarters is now in Modena, and its emblem is a trident. It has been owned by the Italian car giant Fiat S.p.A. since 1993... |
1:36.08.6 | 228 | 142.288 | 40 | Closed Circuit (5.7 km) |
Post-WW II races
| Year | Winner | Car | Time | Distance (km) | Speed (km/h) | Laps | Course Variant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 |  Clemente BiondettiClemente Biondetti Clemente Biondetti was an Italian auto racing driver.-Biography:Born in Buddusò, Sardinia, into a working class family, Biondetti began racing motorcycles in 1923 but in 1927 turned to automobiles... /Igor Troubetzkoy Igor Troubetzkoy Prince Igor Nikolayevich Troubetzkoy was the driver of the first Ferrari to ever compete in Grand Prix Motor Racing. He drove a 2-litre Ferrari "Tipo" 166 in Monaco on May 16, 1948. Earlier that year he had won the Targa Florio with the Ferrari 166 Sport Allemano Spyder... |
Ferrari 166 Ferrari 166 Ferrari used its 2 L V12 engine in a number of models, all called 166 for the displacement of a single cylinder. Most early 166es were sports cars built for racing, though a later line of GT cars launched the company's street model line.The following models used the 166 name:* 1948 Ferrari... |
12:12'00.0 | 1080 | 88.866 | 1 | Island Tour (long) (1080 km) |
| 1949 | Clemente Biondetti Clemente Biondetti Clemente Biondetti was an Italian auto racing driver.-Biography:Born in Buddusò, Sardinia, into a working class family, Biondetti began racing motorcycles in 1923 but in 1927 turned to automobiles... /Aldo Benedetti |
Ferrari Ferrari Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947... 166 SC |
13:15.09.4 | 1080 | 81.494 | 1 | Island Tour (long) (1080 km) |
| 1950 | Mario Bornigia/Giancarlo Bornigia |
Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo in motorsport During its history, Alfa Romeo has competed successfully in many different categories of motorsport, including Grand Prix motor racing, Formula One, sportscar racing, touring car racing and rallies. They have competed both as a constructor and an engine supplier, via works entries and private... 6C 2500 Competizione |
12:26.33.0 | 1080 | 86.794 | 1 | Island Tour (long) (1080 km) |
| 1951 | Franco Cortese Franco Cortese Franco Cortese was an Italian racing driver, who started the Mille Miglia a record 14 times .He started with Itala , then Alfa Romeo, Bugatti, and Scuderia Ferrari... |
Frazer Nash Frazer Nash Frazer Nash was a British sports car manufacturer and engineering company founded by Archibald Frazer-Nash in 1922. It produced sports cars incorporating a unique multi-chain transmission before World War II and also imported BMW cars to the UK. After the war it continued producing sports cars with... |
7:31.04.8 | 576 | 76.631 | 8 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1952 | Felice Bonetto Felice Bonetto Felice Bonetto was a racing driver who raced in Formula One for the Maserati, Scuderia Milano and Alfa Romeo teams.... |
Lancia Aurelia Lancia Aurelia The Lancia Aurelia is a car that was produced by the Italian manufacturer Lancia. Designed by Vittorio Jano, the Aurelia was launched in 1950 and production lasted until the summer of 1958.... B20 |
7:11.58.0 | 576 | 76.631 | 8 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1953 | Umberto Maglioli Umberto Maglioli Umberto Maglioli was a racing driver from Italy. He participated in 10 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 13 September 1953. He achieved 2 podiums, and scored a total of 3.33 championship points... |
Lancia Lancia Lancia Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian automobile manufacturer founded in 1906 by Vincenzo Lancia and which became part of the Fiat Group in 1969. The company has a long history of producing distinctive cars and also has a strong rally heritage. Some modern Lancias are seen as presenting a more... D20 3000 |
7:08.35.8 | 576 | 80.635 | 8 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1954 | Piero Taruffi Piero Taruffi Piero Taruffi , was a racing driver from Italy, and also the father of lady racer Prisca Taruffi.-Sports car career:... |
Lancia Lancia Lancia Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian automobile manufacturer founded in 1906 by Vincenzo Lancia and which became part of the Fiat Group in 1969. The company has a long history of producing distinctive cars and also has a strong rally heritage. Some modern Lancias are seen as presenting a more... D 24 |
6:24.18.0 | 576 | 89.930 | 8 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
World Championship races
| Year | Winner | Car | Time | Distance (km) | Speed (km/h) | Laps | Course Variant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | Stirling Moss Stirling Moss Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss, OBE FIE is a former racing driver from England... /Peter Collins Peter Collins (racing driver) Peter John Collins was a Formula One driver from England. He participated in 35 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 18 May 1952. He won 3 races, achieved 9 podiums, and scored a total of 47 championship points.... |
Mercedes-Benz 300SLR Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG... |
9:43.14.0 | 936 | 96.290 | 13 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1956 | Umberto Maglioli Umberto Maglioli Umberto Maglioli was a racing driver from Italy. He participated in 10 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 13 September 1953. He achieved 2 podiums, and scored a total of 3.33 championship points... /Huschke von Hanstein |
Porsche 550 Porsche 550 The Porsche 550 was a sports car produced by Porsche from 1953-1956.Inspired by the Porsche 356 which was created by Ferry Porsche, and some spyder prototypes built and raced by Walter Glöckler starting in 1951, the factory decided to build a car designed for use in auto racing. The model Porsche... |
7:54.52.6 | 720 | 90.770 | 10 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1957 | Fabio Colona | Fiat 600 Fiat 600 The Fiat 600 is a city car produced by the Italian automaker Fiat from 1955 to 1969. Measuring only 3.22 m long, it was the first rear-engined Fiat and cost the equivalent of about € 6,700 or US$ 7300 in today's money . The total number produced from 1955 to 1969 at the Mirafiori... |
|||||
| 359 | |||||||
| 5 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) | ||||||
| 1958 | Luigi Musso Luigi Musso Luigi Musso was an Italian racing driver.-Racing career:Musso began his racing career driving sports cars before debuting on the Formula One circuit on 17 January 1954, driving a Maserati. In 1954 he won the Coppa Acerbo, a non-championship Formula One race. At Zandvoort, in the 1955 Dutch Grand... /Olivier Gendebien Olivier Gendebien Olivier Gendebien was a war hero and race car driver. He has been cited as "one of the greatest sportscar racers of all time".-Background:... |
Ferrari 250 Ferrari 250 The Ferrari 250 is a sports car built by Ferrari from 1953 to 1964. The company's most successful early line, the 250 series included several variants. It was replaced by the 275 and the 330.-Similarities:... TR |
10:37.58.1 | 1008 | 94.801 | 14 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1959 | Edgar Barth Edgar Barth Edgar Barth was a German Formula One and sports car racing driver.... /Wolfgang Seidel Wolfgang Seidel Wolfgang Seidel was a racing driver from Germany. He participated in 12 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 2 August 1953... |
Porsche 718 Porsche 718 The Porsche 718 is an open-cockpit racing car build by Porsche between 1957 and 1962.The 718 was a development of the already successful 550A with improvements being made to the body work and suspension. The new front frame resembled the letter K if viewed from the front and this led to the car... RSK |
11:02.21.8 | 1008 | 91.309 | 14 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1960 | Jo Bonnier/Hans Herrmann Hans Herrmann Hans Herrmann is a former Formula One and Sports car racing driver from Stuttgart, Germany.In F1, he participated in 19 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on August 2, 1953... /Graham Hill Graham Hill Norman Graham Hill was a British racing driver and two-time Formula One World Champion. He is the only driver to win the Triple Crown of Motorsport — the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Indianapolis 500 and Formula One World Championship.Graham Hill and his son Damon are the only father and son pair both to... |
Porsche 718 Porsche 718 The Porsche 718 is an open-cockpit racing car build by Porsche between 1957 and 1962.The 718 was a development of the already successful 550A with improvements being made to the body work and suspension. The new front frame resembled the letter K if viewed from the front and this led to the car... RS60 |
7:33.08.2 | 720 | 95.320 | 10 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1961 | Wolfgang von Trips/Olivier Gendebien Olivier Gendebien Olivier Gendebien was a war hero and race car driver. He has been cited as "one of the greatest sportscar racers of all time".-Background:... |
Ferrari Dino 246SP | 6:57.39.4 | 720 | 103.433 | 10 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1962 | Willy Mairesse Willy Mairesse Willy Mairesse was a Formula One and sports car driver from Belgium. He participated in 13 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 19 June 1960. He achieved 1 podium, and scored a total of 7 championship points... /Ricardo Rodriguez Ricardo Rodríguez (Formula One) Ricardo Rodríguez was a Mexican racing driver who competed in the 1961 and 1962 Formula One seasons. His elder brother, Pedro, was also a noted racing driver who had much success in sports car racing and Formula One.... /Olivier Gendebien Olivier Gendebien Olivier Gendebien was a war hero and race car driver. He has been cited as "one of the greatest sportscar racers of all time".-Background:... |
Ferrari Dino 246SP | 7:02'56.3 | 720 | 102.143 | 10 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1963 | Jo Bonnier/Carlo Maria Abate | Porsche 718 Porsche 718 The Porsche 718 is an open-cockpit racing car build by Porsche between 1957 and 1962.The 718 was a development of the already successful 550A with improvements being made to the body work and suspension. The new front frame resembled the letter K if viewed from the front and this led to the car... GTR Coupé |
6:55.45.1 | 720 | 109.908 | 10 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1964 | Colin Davis Colin Davis (driver) Colin Charles Houghton Davis is a British former racing driver from England. Son of the legendary "Bentley Boy" and Le Mans winner Sammy Davis , he was an advertising executive who raced a 500cc Formula 3 Cooper before decamping to Italy from which he conducted his own racing... /Antonio Pucci Antonio Pucci (driver) Antonio Pucci was an Italian racing driver of the 1950s and 1960s. He was an official test driver for Porsche and won the Targa Florio in April 1964 with the English driver Colin Davis. - External links:... |
Porsche 904 Porsche 904 The Porsche 904 is an automobile which was produced by Porsche in Germany in 1964 and 1965. It was officially called Porsche Carrera GTS due to the same naming rights problem that required renaming the Porsche 901 to Porsche 911.- History :... GTS |
7:10.53.3 | 720 | 100.258 | 10 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1965 | Nino Vaccarella Nino Vaccarella Nino Vaccarella is an Italian former sports car racing and Formula One driver, born in Palermo, Sicily.-Synopsis:After winning the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans, the former headmaster of a nearby school became the local hero of the Targa Florio race after winning in 1965, then repeating in 1971 and... /Lorenzo Bandini Lorenzo Bandini Lorenzo Bandini was an Italian motor racing driver who raced in Formula One for the Scuderia Centro Sud and Ferrari teams.-Career:... |
Ferrari 275 Ferrari 275 The Ferrari 275 was a 2-seat front-engined Gran Turismo automobile produced by Ferrari between 1964 and 1968. It used a 3.3 L Colombo 60° V12 engine and produced 280-300 hp. The Pininfarina-designed body was a graceful evolution of the car's predecessor, the 250, and strongly contrasted... P2 |
7:01:12.4 | 720 | 102.563 | 10 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1966 | Willy Mairesse Willy Mairesse Willy Mairesse was a Formula One and sports car driver from Belgium. He participated in 13 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 19 June 1960. He achieved 1 podium, and scored a total of 7 championship points... /Herbert Müller |
Porsche 906 Porsche 906 The Porsche 906 or Carrera 6 was the last street-legal racing car from Porsche. It was announced in January 1966 and 50 examples were subsequently produced, thus meeting the homologation requirements of the FIA's new Group 4 Sports Car category to the letter... Carrera 6 |
7:16:32.6 | 720 | 98.910 | 10 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1967 | Paul Hawkins/Rolf Stommelen Rolf Stommelen Rolf Johann Stommelen was a racing driver from Siegen, Germany. He participated in 63 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, achieving one podium, and scored a total of 14 championship points... |
Porsche 910 Porsche 910 The Porsche 910 or Carrera 10 was a race car from Porsche, based upon the Porsche 906. 15 were produced and entered in 1966 and 1967. The factory name for the 910 was the 906/10. The 910 was considered the next sequence in the 906 line... |
6:37.01.0 | 720 | 108.812 | 10 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1968 | Vic Elford Vic Elford Victor Henry Elford is a former sportscar racing, rallying and Formula One driver from England. He participated in 13 World Championship F1 Grands Prix, debuting on 7 July 1968... /Umberto Maglioli Umberto Maglioli Umberto Maglioli was a racing driver from Italy. He participated in 10 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 13 September 1953. He achieved 2 podiums, and scored a total of 3.33 championship points... |
Porsche 907 Porsche 907 The Porsche 907 was a sportscar racing prototype built by Porsche in 1967 and 1968.- 1967 :The 907 was introduced at the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans... |
6:28:47.9 | 720 | 111.112 | 10 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1969 | Gerhard Mitter Gerhard Mitter Gerhard Karl Mitter was a German Formula One and sportscar driver.Mitter was born in Schönlinde in Czechoslovakia, but his family was expelled from there, to Leonberg near Stuttgart.... /Udo Schütz Udo Schütz Udo Schütz is a German entrepreneur, who was competing successfully with racing cars in the 1960s, and with yachts in the 1990s.His career began in the early 1960s... |
Porsche 908 Porsche 908 The Porsche 908 was a racing car from Porsche, introduced in 1968 to continue the Porsche 906/Porsche 910/Porsche 907 series of models designed under Ferdinand Piech.... /2 |
6:07:45.3 | 720 | 117.469 | 10 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1970 | Jo Siffert Jo Siffert Joseph Siffert was a Swiss racing driver.Affectionately known as "Seppi" to his family and close friends, Siffert was born in Fribourg, Switzerland, the son of a dairy owner... /Brian Redman Brian Redman Brian Herman Thomas Redman is a British racing driver from England.... |
Porsche 908 Porsche 908 The Porsche 908 was a racing car from Porsche, introduced in 1968 to continue the Porsche 906/Porsche 910/Porsche 907 series of models designed under Ferdinand Piech.... /3 |
6:35.30.0 | 792 | 120.152 | 11 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1971 | Nino Vaccarella Nino Vaccarella Nino Vaccarella is an Italian former sports car racing and Formula One driver, born in Palermo, Sicily.-Synopsis:After winning the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans, the former headmaster of a nearby school became the local hero of the Targa Florio race after winning in 1965, then repeating in 1971 and... /Toine Hezemans Toine Hezemans Toine Hezemans was an active Dutch touring and prototype racing car driver in 1960s and 1970s, nowadays one of principals of Phoenix Carsport.... |
Alfa Romeo 33/3 Alfa Romeo T33 The Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 was a sports racing prototype raced by the Alfa Romeo factory-backed team between 1967 and 1977. These cars took part for Sport Cars World Championship, Nordic Challenge Cup, Interserie and CanAm series... |
6:35:46.2 | 792 | 120.070 | 11 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1972 | Arturo Merzario Arturo Merzario Arturo Francesco "Little Art" Merzario is a former racing driver from Italy. He participated in 85 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on July 15, 1972... /Sandro Munari Sandro Munari Sandro Munari is a former motor racing and rally driver from Italy.-Career:Born at Cavarzere, Veneto, Sandro Munari began rallying in 1965 and won the Italian Rally Championship in 1967 and 1969, adding the European Rally Championship title in 1973. In 1972 he won the Targa Florio sports car... |
Ferrari 312PB Ferrari 312PB The Ferrari 312PB was a Group 6 Prototype-Sports Car introduced in 1971 by Italian carmaker Ferrari. It was officially designated the 312P, but often known as the 312PB to avoid confusion with a previous car of the same name... |
6:27:48.0 | 792 | 122.537 | 11 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
| 1973 | Herbert Müller/Gijs van Lennep Gijs van Lennep Jonkheer Gijsbert van Lennep is a Dutch esquire and former racing driver who gave a good account for himself in his eight Formula One drives.- Career :... |
Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 911 classic The original Porsche 911 was a sports car made by Porsche AG of Stuttgart, Germany. The famous, distinctive, and durable design was introduced in autumn 1963 and built until 1989... |
6:54:20.1 | 792 | 114.691 | 11 | Piccolo Circuit (72 km) |
- The 1957 race was not a race but a regularity test, following the Mille MigliaMille MigliaThe Mille Miglia was an open-road endurance race which took place in Italy twenty-four times from 1927 to 1957 ....
accident.
Non-WC races
- 1974 : Gérard LarrousseGérard LarrousseGérard Larrousse is a former sports car racing, rallying and Formula One driver from France.He participated in two Grands Prix, debuting on 12 May 1974, scoring no championship points. He drove Brabham BT42s for Scuderia Finotto....
/Amilcare Ballestrieri, Lancia StratosLanciaLancia Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian automobile manufacturer founded in 1906 by Vincenzo Lancia and which became part of the Fiat Group in 1969. The company has a long history of producing distinctive cars and also has a strong rally heritage. Some modern Lancias are seen as presenting a more... - 1975 : Nino VaccarellaNino VaccarellaNino Vaccarella is an Italian former sports car racing and Formula One driver, born in Palermo, Sicily.-Synopsis:After winning the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans, the former headmaster of a nearby school became the local hero of the Targa Florio race after winning in 1965, then repeating in 1971 and...
/Arturo MerzarioArturo MerzarioArturo Francesco "Little Art" Merzario is a former racing driver from Italy. He participated in 85 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on July 15, 1972...
, Alfa Romeo 33 TT 12Alfa Romeo T33The Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 was a sports racing prototype raced by the Alfa Romeo factory-backed team between 1967 and 1977. These cars took part for Sport Cars World Championship, Nordic Challenge Cup, Interserie and CanAm series... - 1976 : Armando Floridia, OsellaOsellaOsella is an Italian racing car manufacturer and former Formula One team based in Volpiano near Turin, Italy. They participated in 132 Grands Prix between 1980 and 1990...
- 1977 : Raffaele Restivo, ChevronChevron Cars LtdChevron Cars Ltd. is a manufacturer of racing cars, founded by Derek Bennett in 1965. Following Bennett's death in 1978, the firm has remained active in various guises. The original company's designs and name continue to be utilized by Roger Andreason to build replacement parts and continuation...
Wins by make
The list below includes all car manufacturers who have attained a podium. The table does not include the results of the 1957 edition, which was held as a regularity race.| Pos. | Brand | 1st place |
2nd place |
3rd place |
Fastest laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Porsche Porsche Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry.... |
11 | 9 | 12 | 8 |
| > | 13 | 7 | 10 | ||
| > | 6 | 4 | 7 | ||
| > | 7 | 5 | 4 | ||
| > | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||
| > | 6 | 9 | 4 | ||
| > | 2 | 1 | 4 | ||
| > | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| > | 3 | 3 | 2 | ||
| > | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| > | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||
| > | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| > | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| > | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| > | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| > | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| > | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| > | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| > | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| > | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| > | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| > | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| > | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| > | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| > | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| > | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| > | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| > | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| > | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| > | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| > | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| > | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Further reading
- Valenza, Giuseppe (2007). Targa Florio Il Mito: Legenda Editore (Italy). ISBN 88-88165-17-7.
External links
- Targa Florio History
- Targappassionati
- Porsche at Targa Florio
- Targa Florio memorabilia
- Museo Biblioteca Vincenzo Florio a Campofelice di Roccella - www.targaflorio-1906-1977.it
- http://www.targapedia.com
- The full Targa Florio for GrandPrix Legends
- http://www.amicidellatargaflorio.com