{"id":11361,"date":"2021-04-30T16:35:04","date_gmt":"2021-04-30T14:35:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legendsmagazine.ch\/advocacy-for-a-motor-circuit-in-switzerland\/"},"modified":"2021-04-30T16:35:13","modified_gmt":"2021-04-30T14:35:13","slug":"advocacy-for-a-motor-circuit-in-switzerland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legendsmagazine.ch\/en\/motor-sport-blog\/automotive\/advocacy-for-a-motor-circuit-in-switzerland\/","title":{"rendered":"Advocacy for a Motor Circuit in Switzerland"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”flexslider_slide” interval=”3″ images=”11233″ img_size=”1060×704″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1454690049611{padding-left: 13% !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]Advocacy for a racetrack in Switzerland<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text][eltdf_dropcaps type=”normal” color=”” background_color=”\u00ab” \u00bb]S[\/eltdf_dropcaps]urprising legislation<\/strong><\/p>\n

If Switzerland can pride itself on hosting the main international motor sports federations, numerous champions, and a fleet of cars with a strong emphasis on premium vehicles, the absence of a circuit worthy of the name in the confederation is still deplored.<\/strong><\/p>\n

So it is true that the legislation allows the cantons to organise races on temporary tracks<\/strong>, whether for rally stages or for Formula E races in town. However, it is agreed that a safe circuit, with no trees, houses or surprises on the tarmac, should also be welcomed. This is not the case.<\/p>\n

Another concession is that activities on closed circuits are allowed, but without a stopwatch<\/strong> and therefore without competition or the possibility to progress in one’s sport. Moreover, the only TCS pseudo-circuit in Ligni\u00e8res (NE) only allows instructional courses on its 1.35 km mini-track with 6 bends, whereas the one in Bremgarten (BE) was 7.28 km in 1955.<\/p>\n

So there is still no room for safe recreational flying.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”16px”][vc_column_text]The story of a 66 year old trauma<\/strong><\/p>\n

This situation has its roots in a dramatic event that plunged the country into a form of obscurantism 66 years ago. During the 1955 Le Mans 24-hour race<\/strong>(in France), a horrific accident caused the instantaneous death of more than 70 people<\/strong>, with over 120 injured. Pierre Levegh’s Mercedes 300 SLR, trying to avoid a collision with a Jaguar that braked late to enter the pits, swerved and found an Austin Healey on which it leaned to be ejected into the stands, where it exploded, in the middle of a compact crowd. The explosion was such that it sent a lot of debris flying around, including the engine and the deck. A charge of prohibited fuel additive was even launched, as the power of the explosion seemed enormous.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”flexslider_slide” interval=”3″ images=”11242″ img_size=”1060×704″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1454690071941{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 45px !important;padding-left: 13% !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]The reaction was radical, emotional, and unambiguous: A ban on all motor sport in Switzerland<\/strong>, stamped by article 52 of the law on road safety. Since then, our conservative system has locked down any desire for change, discarding every initiative that has been launched so far. Whether it be that of MP Ulrich Giezendanner in 2003 to lift the ban, or those aiming to create circuits in the Jura or in Valais.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_column_text]However, there is no shortage of arguments from the proponents<\/strong><\/p>\n

In fact, it seems that everyone would have something to gain<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The market is there and waiting:<\/strong><\/p>\n