Targa Florio facts for kids
| Category | Endurance |
|---|---|
| Country | Tour of Island of Sicily, Italy |
| Inaugural season | 1906 |
| Folded | 1977 |
| Last Drivers' champion |  Raffaele Restivo, Alfonso Merendino |
| Last Constructors' champion |  Chevron B36 BMW |
| Official website | www.targa-florio.it |
The Targa Florio was a very famous car race held on the island of Sicily in southern Italy. It was a special kind of race called a road race, meaning it took place on public roads instead of a closed track. The Targa Florio ran for many years, from 1906 until 1977.
What Was the Targa Florio?
The Targa Florio was one of the oldest and most challenging car races in the world. It was known for its difficult course through the mountains of Sicily. Drivers from all over the world came to test their skills and their cars on these tough roads. Winning the Targa Florio was a big achievement for any racing driver or car manufacturer.
The Race Course
The race course changed a bit over the years, but it was always very demanding. In 1906, the first race covered about 446 kilometers (277 miles). The drivers raced on narrow, dusty mountain roads that twisted and turned. The race started and finished near the city of Palermo, which is the capital of Sicily. Imagine racing at high speeds on roads that were not designed for such fast cars!
Why Did the Race End?
Over time, the Targa Florio became more and more dangerous. Cars got much faster, but the roads stayed the same. This made the race very risky for both the drivers and the spectators. Sadly, in 1977, there was a serious accident during the race where two people died. Because of this tragic event and the growing safety concerns, the Targa Florio was stopped. It was decided that the race was too dangerous to continue on public roads.
Images for kids
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Alessandro Cagno (1883-1971), winner of first Targa Florio in 1906. Pictured at 1907 event.
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Vincenzo Trucco, winner of the 1908 Targa Florio driving an Isotta Fraschini
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Alfa Romeo RL Targa Florio
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1927-Bugatti T35c driven by Materassi
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Porsche 910 2.0 coupé driven by Umberto Maglioli and Udo Schütz in 1967.
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See also
In Spanish: Targa Florio para niños
