Grands Prix during World War II
Grand Prix motor racing in Europe was affected by the outbreak of World War II in late 1939, leaving the 1939 Grand Prix season without an official champion. Italy remained neutral until June 1940 and staged two GPs in May 1940, as well as the 1940 Mille Miglia sports car race.
The USA held several races until September 1941. After that only a few events in South America took place, the latest in July 1942. There was no organised championship in these years. The majority of Grand Prix races during this period were run in the Americas.
The first post-war races were run in Paris on 9 September 1945, one week after the end of the war in the Pacific. They were not regular international Grand Prix, but mainly French, commemorating war-related events or persons, like the 1945 Coupe des Prisonniers.
Wartime Grands Prix
1940–1942
| Date | Name | Circuit | Winning drivers | Winning constructor |
Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January 1940 | .svg.png){kind=small} South Australian Hundred
|
Lobethal | Jack Phillips
|
Ford V8 | Report |
| 12 May 1940 | .svg.png){kind=small} Brazilian Grand Prix
|
Interlagos | Arthur Nascimento Jr
|
Alfa Romeo | Report |
| 12 May 1940 | .svg.png){kind=small} Tripoli Grand Prix
|
Mellaha | Giuseppe Farina
|
Alfa Romeo | Report |
| 23 May 1940 | Targa Florio
|
Favorita Park | Luigi Villoresi
|
Maserati | Report |
| 30 May 1940 | .svg.png){kind=small} Indianapolis 500
|
Indianapolis | Wilbur Shaw
|
Maserati | Report |
| 24 August 1940 | Springfield 100
|
Illinois | Rex Mays
|
Winfield | Report |
| 2 September 1940 | Syracuse 100
|
New York | Rex Mays
|
Report | |
| 30 May 1941 | Indianapolis 500
|
Indianapolis | Floyd Davis Mauri Rose
|
Wetteroth | Report |
| 24 August 1941 | Milwaukee 100
|
Milwaukee | Rex Mays
|
Winfield | Report |
| 2 September 1941 | Syracuse 100
|
New York | Rex Mays
|
Report | |
| 28 September 1941 | Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix
|
Gávea | Chico Landi
|
Alfa Romeo | Report |
| 23 November 1941 |  Buenos Aires Grand Prix
|
Costanera | José Canziani
|
Report | |
| January 1942 | Report | ||||
| 5 April 1942 | Grand Prix Vendimia
|
Mendoza Province | Adriano Malusardi
|
Report | |
| 3 May 1942 | Santa Fe Grand Prix
|
Santa Fe | Oldemar Ramos
|
Report | |
| 18 July 1942 |  Autódromo Nacional
|
Barra De Santa Lucia | Juan Carlos Passato
|
Report |
1943–1944
No Grand Prix races held
1945
| Date | Name | Circuit | Winning drivers | Winning constructor |
Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 September 1945 |  Coupe Robert Benoist
|
Bois de Boulogne | Aldo Gordini
|
Simca | Report |
| 9 September 1945 | Coupe de la Liberation
|
Bois de Boulogne | Henri Louveau
|
Maserati | Report |
| 9 September 1945 | Coupe des Prisonniers
|
Bois de Boulogne | Jean-Pierre Wimille
|
Bugatti | Report |
References
- Etzrodt, Hans. "Grand Prix Winners 1895–1949 : Part 3 (1934–1949)". The Golden Era of Grand Prix Racing. Archived from the original on 2018-11-09. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
- Leif Snellman. "1940–1941". The Golden Era of Grand Prix Racing. Archived from the original on 2020-09-25. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
- Galpin, Darren. "1940 Grands Prix". The GEL Motorsport Information Page. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-08-05.
- Galpin, Darren. "1941 Grands Prix". The GEL Motorsport Information Page. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-08-05.