Marathon de la Route
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/Porsche_356_SL_competition_coup%C3%A9.jpg/220px-Porsche_356_SL_competition_coup%C3%A9.jpg)
The Marathon de la Route was a series of road rallies held in Europe between 1931 and 1971, including Liège–Rome–Liège and Liège–Sofia–Liège rallies held on public roads and closed-circuit races held at the Nürburgring from 1965 until 1971. It was reserved for so-called touring cars.[1] Many renowned drivers participated such as Olivier Gendebien, Willy Mairesse, Lucien Bianchi, and Jacky Ickx.
History
[edit]Liège–Rome–Liège
[edit]The race took place on an open road, an average distance of 3,500 km non-stop (sometimes more than 5,000 km as in 1959): departing Wednesday at 11 pm from Spa, and returning to the same place on Sunday around 4 pm. A Golden Cup was also sometimes awarded to three-year class winners such as Bill Bengry. The rally of August 1939 was the last major rally event before World War II. Belgium's Ginet Trasenster of Bugatti and France's Jean Trevoux in a Hotchkiss tied for first place, denying the German works teams shortly before their countries were overrun.[1] This was one of five Liège wins for Trasenster.
The Liège continued as uncompromisingly an open road event run to an impossible time schedule, and remained Europe's toughest rally until it had moved to Yugoslavia and Bulgaria.[1]
Liège–Sofia–Liège
[edit]From 1961 to 1964, the course was modified to Liège-Sofia-Liège. This reflected the desire of the organizer — the Royal Motor Union of Liège to diversify the route and to find traffic-free roads.[1]
Despite the change in venue, the race still kept its reputation as a challenge of driver endurance and mechanical reliability.[2][3] The 1961 race required 90 hours of driving with a 4 hour rest at Sofia. Only 8 cars finished out of 85 total entrants. Lucien Bianchi and Georges Harris won this event, driving a Citroën DS 19.[4]
Nürburgring
[edit]From 1965 to 1971, the Nürburgring race was held due to the refusal of some countries to cross their territory. The duration of the race was 82 hours to reach 96 hours in its last edition.[1]
Afterwards
[edit]A revival was planned for 2011 but was cancelled.[5]
Winners
[edit]Record holder of number of victories: Ginet Trasenster, 5
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Bugatti_in_Roskilde.jpg/220px-Bugatti_in_Roskilde.jpg)
Liège–Rome–Liège (1931-1939)
[edit]Year | Drivers | Car Make/Model | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
1931 | ![]() ![]() |
Bugatti | [6] |
1932 | ![]() ![]() |
Bugatti | [7] |
1933 | ![]() ![]() |
FN 3.2L | [8] |
1934* | ![]() ![]() |
Mercedes-Benz | [9] |
![]() ![]() |
Lancia | ||
![]() ![]() |
Bugatti | ||
![]() ![]() |
Bugatti | ||
![]() ![]() |
Bugatti | ||
![]() ![]() |
Alder | ||
![]() ![]() |
Renault | ||
1935* | ![]() ![]() |
Renault | [10] |
![]() ![]() |
Bugatti | ||
1936 | Cancelled | ||
1937 | ![]() ![]() |
Hanomag | [11] |
1938 | ![]() ![]() |
Bugatti | [12] |
1939* | ![]() ![]() |
Bugatti | [13] |
![]() ![]() |
Hotchkiss |
*Multiple teams finished without penalties or with equal points and were declared co-winners
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/1956-08-29_Alps_Ferrari_250_0373GT_Gendebien_Strasse.jpg/220px-1956-08-29_Alps_Ferrari_250_0373GT_Gendebien_Strasse.jpg)
Liège-Rome-Liège (1950-1960)
[edit]Year | Drivers | Car Make/Model | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
1950 | ![]() ![]() |
Peugeot 203 Speciale | [14] |
1951 | ![]() ![]() |
Jaguar XK120 | [15] |
1952 | ![]() ![]() |
Porsche 356SL Gmünd Coupe | [16][17] |
1953 | ![]() ![]() |
Lancia Aurelia B20 GT | [18] |
1954 | ![]() ![]() |
Porsche 356SL Gmünd Coupe | [19][20] |
1955 | ![]() ![]() |
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL | [21] |
1956 | ![]() ![]() |
Mercedes-Benz 300 SL | [22] |
1957 | ![]() ![]() |
Porsche 356 A 1500 GS Carrera GT Speedster | [23][24] |
1958 | ![]() ![]() |
Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce Zagato | [25][26] |
1959 | ![]() ![]() |
Porsche 356 A 1600 GS Carrera GT Coupe | [27][28] |
1960 | ![]() ![]() |
Austin-Healey 3000 Mk 1 | [29][30] |
Liège–Sofia–Liège
[edit]Year | Drivers | Car Make/Model | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
1961 | ![]() ![]() |
Citroën DS 19 | [31][4] |
1962 | ![]() ![]() |
Mercedes-Benz 220 SEb W111 | [32][2] |
1963 | ![]() ![]() |
Mercedes-Benz 230 SL | [33][34] |
1964 | ![]() ![]() |
Austin-Healey 3000 | [35][3] |
Nürburgring
[edit]Year | Drivers | Car Make/Model | Length | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
1965 | ![]() ![]() |
Ford Mustang | 82 hours | [36] |
1966 | ![]() ![]() |
MG MGB | 84 hours | [37] |
1967 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Porsche 911R Sportomatic | 84 hours | [38][39] |
1968 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Porsche 911 E | 84 hours | [40][41] |
1969 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Lancia Fulvia 1.6 HF | 84 hours | [42] |
1970 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
VW-Porsche 914/6 | 84 hours | [43][41] |
1971 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Alpine A 110 1600S | 96 hours | [44] |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Delsaux, Jean-Paul. Marathon de la Route 1931/1971 (Jean-Paul Delsaux, 1991)
- ^ a b "Matters of Moment". Motorsport Magazine. 38 (10): 9. October 1962.
- ^ a b Davenport, John (October 1964). "Rally review". Motorsport Magazine. 40 (10): 63.
- ^ a b Jenkinson, Denis (October 1961). "Continental Notes". Motorsport Magazine. 37 (10): 13.
- ^ "Liège-Rome-Liège Revival". Archived from the original on 2009-09-06. Retrieved 2018-12-25.
- ^ Bos, Juha (2017-11-24). "Final results Liège-Rome-Liège 1931". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
- ^ Bos, Juha (2017-11-24). "Final results Liège-Rome-Liège 1932". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
- ^ Bos, Juha (2017-11-24). "Final results Liège-Rome-Liège 1933". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
- ^ Bruno, Thomas (2020-06-26). "Final results Liège-Rome-Liège 1934". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
- ^ Bruno, Thomas (2020-06-23). "Final results Liège-Rome-Liège 1935". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ Bruno, Thomas (2020-06-03). "Final results Liège-Rome-Liège 1937". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ Bruno, Thomas (2020-05-27). "Final results Liège-Rome-Liège 1938". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ Bruno, Thomas (2020-06-01). "Final results Liège-Rome-Liège 1939". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ Bos, Juha (2020-08-07). "Final results Liège-Rome-Liège 1950". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ Bos, Juha (2020-08-07). "Final results Liège-Rome-Liège 1951". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ Bos, Juha (2020-08-07). "Final results Liège-Rome-Liège 1952". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ Lamm, John (2020-02-01). "1951 Porsche 356SL Gmünd Coupe". Collier Automedia. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ Bos, Juha (2020-08-07). "Final results Liège-Rome-Liège 1953". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ Bos, Juha (2020-08-09). "Final results Liège-Rome-Liège 1954". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ "1954 Glöckler-Porsche 356 Carrera 1500 Coupe | Monterey 2021". RM Sotheby's. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ Bos, Juha (2020-08-09). "Final results Liège-Rome-Liège 1955". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ Hejčl, Jiří (2020-10-20). "Final results Liège-Rome-Liège 1956". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ Costales, Pablo (2017-11-23). "Final results Liège-Rome-Liège 1957". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ Dellis, Nicolaos (2010-02-02). "Porsche 356 A 1500 GS Carrera GT (1957 - 1958)". Stuttcars. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ Bos, Juha (2020-07-23). "Final results Liège-Rome-Liège 1958". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ Anselmi, Angelo Tito (2004). Alfa Romeo Giulietta (1st English ed.). Milan: Giorgio Nada. p. 181. ISBN 88-7911-340-2. OCLC 56454139.
- ^ Bos, Juha (2020-07-23). "Final results Liège-Rome-Liège 1959". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ Hientzsch, Heike (2021-09-24). "The Porsche 356 on the road to Rome". Porsche Newsroom. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ Bos, Juha (2020-09-01). "Final results Liège-Rome-Liège 1960". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ Dirs, Ben (2015-03-05). "Pat Moss: The racing legend's sister who beat the men". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ Bos, Juha (2020-07-23). "Final results Liège-Sofia-Liège 1961". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ Bos, Juha (2020-07-23). "Final results Liège-Sofia-Liège 1962". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ Bos, Juha (2017-11-23). "Final results Spa-Sofia-Liège 1963". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ "50 years ago: Eugen Böhringer drove the 'Pagoda' to victory in the 1963 Spa–Sofia–Liège rally". Mercedes-Benz Group Media. 2013-08-08. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ Juha, Bos (2017-08-23). "Final results Spa-Sofia-Liège 1964". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ de Jong, Frank. "1965 Nürburgring 82 hours". www.touringcarracing.net. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ de Jong, Frank. "1966 Nürburgring 84 hours". www.touringcarracing.net. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ de Jong, Frank. "1967 Nürburgring 84 hours". www.touringcarracing.net. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ Elford, Vic (June 2013). "The power of persuasion". Motor Sport Magazine. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ de Jong, Frank. "1968 Nürburgring 84 hours". www.touringcarracing.net. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ a b "1970 Marathon de la Route – one, two, three for the 914/6". 70 years of Porsche Sports Cars. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ de Jong, Frank. "1969 Nürburgring 84 hours". www.touringcarracing.net. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ de Jong, Frank. "1970 Nürburgring 84 hours". www.touringcarracing.net. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
- ^ de Jong, Frank. "1971 Nürburgring 96 hours". www.touringcarracing.net. Retrieved 2023-03-27.