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The amazing handicap races in Lignières

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Created on June 28, 2013

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Archiv Lignières Historique / TCS

9

Archiv Lignières Historique / TCS

9

Porsche 911 against the Renault R8 Gordini in Lignières

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Le Mans start in Lignières, from the Renault Dauphine Gordini to the Simca 1000 Rallye and the Alpine A110

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Start of a race in Lignières, the variety of brands was definitely guaranteed

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Handicap race in Lignières, without helmet and without harness, but with a lot of driving effort

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the rear-engine group on the Lignières circuit

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an oversteering Simca 1000 Rallye

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Formula cars at the start of a race in Lignières

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Jo Siffert was a welcome guest in Lignières with his Monoposto

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Motorcycles also rode in Lignières time and again

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Summary

In 1955, Switzerland officially banned circuit races, but there is still a permanent circuit in the Neuchâtel Jura, which in the 1960s and afterwards provided more driving safety, but also a lot of exciting racing. A wide variety of vehicles could compete there in so-called handicap races, and a formula ensured that only the driver's talent decided on victory or defeat. This report looks back at the beginnings of the Institute for Psychodynamics in Lignières and shows them in historical pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

A new race track in 1961
Focus on driving safety
Driving safety with a fun factor
Exciting for participants and spectators
Racing in all categories
Once again serving road safety
Further information

Estimated reading time: 4min

Preview (beginning of the article)

In 1955, Switzerland officially banned circuit racing, and since then neither the Bern Grand Prix nor any other notable circuit events of international importance have taken place, because unlike all the surrounding countries, which banned racing after the terrible accident at Le Mans but soon reopened it, the Swiss authorities have remained stubborn - until today. Nevertheless, the visionary Robert Souaille managed to obtain a permit for a circuit in 1961 and take over a piece of land near Lignières under building rights. "On May 22, 1961, at 10:00 a.m., we received the permit, at 11:00 a.m. the construction vehicles drove up and just five weeks later we were able to race on the track," says Hansmarkus Huber, who assisted Souaille as an engineer at the time and designed and planned the first circuit.

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