GP Suisse: The engines roar in Bern
MEMORIAL On Sunday, August 26, historic racing engines will roar on the outskirts of Bern. The legendary era of the Swiss Grand Prix in Bremgarten will be commemorated on a circuit. An Auto Union Silver Arrow will also be at the start. The Swiss Grand Prix was a major international event from 1931 to 1954, with an interruption during the war [...]
The Swiss Grand Prix was a major international event in the Swiss capital from 1931 to 1954, with an interruption during the war. The national and international motorsport elite on two and four wheels gathered to test their strength on the former Bremgartenring, a combination of various stretches of road on the western edge of Bern.
A reminder of the importance of racing
With the GP Suisse Berne Memorial, the organizers are reviving the significance of the former races and bringing back the glamour and aura of a bygone era.
Due to highway construction and the expansion of the city to the west, hardly any traces of the old race course in and around the Bremgartenwald can be found. The route of the GP Suisse Berne Memorial therefore now leads from Westside, where the organization, pits and paddock are located, further west to Frauenkappelen and back to the start via Riedbach and Oberbottigen in a triangular course.
For this purpose, the relevant road sections and the Westside highway exit (Bern Brünnen) will be closed for the duration of the event.
Silver Arrow returns
The historic races in Bern were dominated by Auto Union and Mercedes-Benz until 1939. In memory of these successes, an Auto Union Type C from 1936 will be at the start in Bern on Sunday - a unique experience for both spectators and driver Wolfgang Lautenbacher.
A total of around 250 racing and sports cars and 80 motorcycles from all eras are expected at the start. The most prominent drivers are the Swiss works drivers Neel Jani in a Porsche 550 Spyder and Marcel Fässler in an Audi 200 TransAm.
There are also around 20 authentic cars and motorcycles with GP history.
The legendary era is also commemorated in the air. Historic and current aircraft fly over the site at midday and are expertly explained.
GP Suisse Momrial, overview map visitors
An event for the whole family
In addition to the area at the Westside shopping center, spectators will also have access to other zones around the course. These include Riedernrain, Frauenkappelen, Riedbach and the Niederbottigen spectator zone.
A shuttle service between Westside and Frauenkappelen also offers the opportunity to move between the two spectator zones. Expert speakers (including Adriano Cimarosti) will commentate on the action in the spectator zones.
The Bern-Brünnen (Westside) exit will be closed during the event.
The racecourse can be reached by car via the A12 towards Fribourg, exit Niederwangen. From Bern, the Westside can be reached by train in just a few minutes.
