The miracle of Zurich
06/13/2018
The "Miracle of Bern" is well known, it was eventually made into a movie and is about football in the post-war period, when Germany unexpectedly became world champions in Bern.
The "Miracle of Zurich", however, took place last weekend and was not about football, but about a car race, a circuit race to be precise. Such races have been banned in Switzerland since the tragic accident at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1955. At that time, they were initially banned provisionally due to their dangers, but in contrast to the surrounding countries, church circles obtained a permanent ban, which could not be lifted despite several attempts over the last few decades. And this despite the fact that the safety argument hardly counts today.
So the last major Swiss circuit race took place in Bern in 1954, with Fangio winning in a Mercedes-Benz on the Bremgartenring.
Since then, it has been possible to drive in circles in Switzerland from time to time, motocross races have been permitted and even small events in Lignières have been allowed. But there hasn't been a major international race with cars since 1954, until last weekend, when Formula E cars raced along the tram tracks in Zurich city center with the blessing of politicians (and a special permit).
If you can ride a bike to the Grand Prix, then of course I was there too, catching a quick glimpse of the racing cars whistling past in the free zone, which, according to rumor, make hardly more noise than a vacuum cleaner at home. In keeping with the trend of the times, these e-racers are of course purely electric; only the safety car before the start, a BMW i8, had to use its three-cylinder engine and therefore sounded like a real car.
There were plenty of opportunities to get to grips with e-mobility around the city center, which had been converted into a race track. The major car manufacturers used the stage to draw attention to their efforts in the direction of electric vehicles. Porsche also had a petrol-burning 356 on display, a tribute to tradition. Thank you!
The Formula E Grand Prix should not be talked down to. After all, it showed that not everything has to be set in stone and that even in the stubborn political scene in this country, there is a certain openness to new ideas. And perhaps Zurich was the starting signal for a new attempt to finally get this circuit ban off the table. After all, the historic racing scene is also suffering as a result, as it usually has to move abroad or is limited to pure demo rides with major restrictions, as in Lenzerheide . Then you could really speak of a "miracle of Zurich".
