Longer than the Nordschleife! 65 years ago, the 25-kilometre Pescara road circuit hosted a Formula 1 race

Many Formula 1 fans still believe that the longest circuit ever to host a race by the queen of motorsport is none other than the famous Nürburgring, or rather its northern loop, the Nordschleife. But did you know that exactly 65 years ago, an F1 race was held on a road course near the Italian city of Pescara, on a track even longer than the Nordschleife?

Italy boasts a total of 103 Grand Prix held in the country. And among them, there is one event that is the subject of this article. A race that wasn’t even originally supposed to be on the 1957 Formula One World Championship calendar.

However, the Suez Crisis led to the cancellation of three races in the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain. And so the Pescara circuit was chosen as a replacement, and with its 25.8 kilometres it has become the longest circuit in Formula One history to this day.

This circuit was the first to install a chicane with the express purpose of slowing down the cars. Despite the triangular shape of the Pescara track, it contained two almost six-kilometre straights, the second of which featured the aforementioned chicane.

Even then, however, people were aware of the dangers of such a long circuit. Even Enzo Ferrari himself, then head of the famous Italian marque, preferred to withdraw all his cars.

The tragic accident at the Mille Miglia race in May most likely played a role. Thirteen people were killed, including Ferrari’s star at the time, Alfonso de Portago.

The race at Pescara started at 9.30am to ensure everything was finished before the heat of the sun imaginatively baked the competitors alive. Although Juan Manuel Fangio took pole position, Luigi Musso shot to the front of the race after the start, chased by Stirling Moss.

On the second lap of eighteen, Moss overtook Musso, who then had to retire on lap ten after an oil leak. Fangio also did not have a relaxed and uneventful race, losing valuable time to Moss after a blown tyre and subsequent pit stop.

Englishman Moss eventually dominated the first and last Grand Prix at Pescara by more than three minutes ahead of Fangio. Moss’s Vanwall team was thus able to celebrate only its second Formula One victory. Harry Schell in a Maserati came in third, almost seven minutes behind the victorious Moss.

F1, Motorsport Magazine