Opel Rennbahn vs Pirelli Track - Battle of the Race Circuits 16
In the 16th battle of the race circuits we have a battle between two abandoned test tracks. Opel-Rennbahn won the last round, so here is the new contender you voted for: the Pirelli Track at Monza!
0:00 Introduction
0:35 Opel-Rennbahn
2:04 Pirelli Track
The old Opel-Rennbahn, opened in 1920 as a test facility of the Opel Factory in Rüsselsheim, Germany. It was an oval track, inspired by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The length of the track was 1.5 kilometers - or 0.9 Mile - with two 32 degree banked corners.
Soon they saw the commercial potential of the test track and start to organize races during the weekends. For these occasions they built five grandstands around the track, which could accommodate 50.000 spectators.
But when in 1927 the Nürburgring opened, and in 1932 the Hockenheimring, the Opel-Rennbahn got tough competition of modern tracks. So, in the 1930s less races were organized. And when World War Two broke out in 1939, motor racing stopped at all.
After the war the Opel-Rennbahn was used by the American Army, to test military vehicles.
But since 1949 the test track was no longer used and was left abandoned and reclaimed by nature.
In 1987 the abandoned circuit got the status of a monument of industry and technologie. Today, a part ot the overgrown track is cleared and equipped with an observation platform. Where most abandoned circuits are illegal to visit, this one can be visit legally!
The Pirelli Track is an abandoned part of the famous Monza Formula 1 circuit, home of the Italian Grand Prix. It was built during the 1938 reconstruction of the Monza circuit, as a test track for the Italian tyre manufacturer Pirelli.
The layout made use of part of the Monza road circuit and a new loop on the infield. However, because of the outbreak of World War II the Pirelli Track was never
actually used for its original purpose.
Today the infield section is left abandoned but can still be explored by nostalgic fans,
like us.
In 2016 the abandoned Pirelli Track was back in the spotlight when they came up with an alternative layout for the World Superbike race. The new section would cut off the Curva Grande and make use of part of the old Pirelli Track.
A new chicane would then bring it back on to the current road circuit. Rumors circulated on the internet then Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone was also interested in using this layout
but for Formula 1. A massive protest under the slogan "Save Curva Grande" broke out.
But the idea disappeared just as quickly as it came.
Special thanks to Nico Fonseca who edited this video. Visit also hit RU-vid channel / @fons_f1
Also special thanks to Simon Smith for the voiceover. Visit also his channel: / higherplaingames
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#OpelRennbahn #PirelliTrack #Monza
8 июл 2024
