Luxembourg Grand Prix

The Luxembourg Grand Prix (German: Großer Preis von Luxemburg) was the name given to two races of the FIA Formula One World Championship, held in 1997 and 1998. The FIA rulings for Formula One stipulate that no country be allowed more than one race. However, the FIA has got around this ruling in the past by running Grands Prix under another name; although the Imola circuit is not in San Marino, races held there have been run under the title of the San Marino Grand Prix as the circuit is nearby.

Luxembourg Grand Prix
Nürburgring (Germany)
Race information
Number of times held6
First held1949
Last held1998
Most wins (drivers)No repeat winners                   
Most wins (constructors) Cooper (2)
Ferrari (2)
Circuit length4.556 km (2.83 mi)
Race length305.252 km (189.66 mi)
Laps67
Last race (1998)
Pole position
Podium
Fastest lap

In 1997, there were two Grands Prix in Spain and two in Germany. Barcelona hosted the Spanish Grand Prix whilst Jerez hosted the European Grand Prix; in Germany, Hockenheim hosted the German Grand Prix and a second race was planned for the Nürburgring. The FIA decided to name the race the Luxembourg Grand Prix as the circuit was located some 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the Germany–Luxembourg border, thereby circumventing the ban on two races having the same name. The 1998 race was also known as the Luxembourg Grand Prix despite no European Grand Prix taking place: the rights to the European Grand Prix had been revoked from the organisers of the Jerez race after an incident on the podium in 1997, and they refused to allow the Nürburgring to use the title in 1998. From 1999 to 2007, the Nürburgring hosted its race under the title of the European Grand Prix. And then, since in 2008–2012 the European Grand Prix race was held at the Valencia Street Circuit, the race at the Nürburgring returned to its main title of the German Grand Prix for the races held there in 2009, 2011, and 2013.

History

1997
Main article: 1997 Luxembourg Grand Prix

As it was, the Luxembourg Grand Prix provided a moment in history, as Renault-powered cars took the first four places at the finish with Jacques Villeneuve (Williams-Renault) taking first place. The race was also Villeneuve's final Formula One victory.

For a long time it looked as if Mika Häkkinen would take his first Formula One win as he pulled away at the front from his McLaren teammate David Coulthard. However, in the space of one lap, both McLarens had pulled out of the race with blown engines allowing Villeneuve to move close to an eventual World Championship. Michael Schumacher's race was over by the end of the first lap after his brother Ralf Schumacher collided with his teammate Giancarlo Fisichella at the first corner; this caused immediate retirement for three out of the four cars involved (Ralf, Fisichella, and Ukyo Katayama), and also caused suspension damage to the fourth car (Michael Schumacher's Ferrari) which also led to its retirement two laps later.

1998
Main article: 1998 Luxembourg Grand Prix

1998 saw Mika Häkkinen gain revenge for his engine failure at the previous race by taking victory at this one, with Michael Schumacher second despite qualifying on pole, and Häkkinen's teammate Coulthard third. Häkkinen also, like Villeneuve the year prior, went on to win the World Championship in the final race of the season at Suzuka; this meant that every winner of the Luxembourg GP went on to win that year's World Championship.

Official names and sponsors
  • 1997: Grosser Preis von Luxemburg (no official sponsor)[1]
  • 1998: Großer Warsteiner Preis von Luxemburg[2]

Winners of the Luxembourg Grand Prix

A pink background indicates an event which was not part of the Formula One World Championship.

Year Driver Constructor Location Report
1949 Luigi Villoresi[3] Ferrari Findel Report
1950 Alberto Ascari[4] Ferrari Report
1951 Alan Brown[5] Cooper-Norton Report
1952 Les Leston[6] Cooper-Norton Report
1952
–
1996		 Not held
1997 Jacques Villeneuve Williams-Renault Nürburgring GP-Strecke Report
1998 Mika Häkkinen McLaren-Mercedes Report

References
  1. "1997 Formula 1 World Championship Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  2. "1998 Formula 1 World Championship Programmes | The Motor Racing Programme Covers Project". www.progcovers.com.
  3. "Villoresi, Luigi". Autocourse Grand Prix Archive. Archived from the original on 21 December 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2008.
  4. "Non Championship Races 1950". World Sports Racing Prototypes. Archived from the original on 25 April 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2008.
  5. "Amicale de la Voiture Historique" (in French). Automobile Club du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg. Retrieved 13 March 2008.
  6. "500cc Formula 3 Results (All Others)". 500 Owners Association. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 13 March 2008.
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