Seven GP races took place outside of Europe during WW 2. Future F1 champ Giuseppi Farina won the 1940 Tripoli GP in Africa. The other six races were in South America.

For those who are interested, the rich history of Formula 1 and its predecessor forms of auto racing – grand prix and formula – is gold waiting to be mined via research.

For example, the first race to use the name “grand prix” was the Grand Prix of Pau in 1901. A one-off, the race took place in the city in southwestern France that still hosts races more than 100 years later. Earlier this year, Pau’s street circuit was the scene of a round of the World Touring Car Championship.

The first ongoing event with the name “grand prix” was the French Grand Prix. The Automobile Club de France (ACF) staged the first race in the series in 1906. Initially, it was announced that 2007 would be the last French Grand Prix at Magny-Cours. But the French Grand Prix is on the provisional 2008 F1 calendar.

Grand prix racing evolved into formula racing, which, in turn, led to F1 starting in 1950. The fact that F1 calls each of its races a “grand prix” can be viewed as a tip of the cap to the sport’s history.

A recent mining/research expedition yielded some nuggets that resulted in a three-part series on Suite101. The question that prompted the research was, “Did World War 1 and World War 2 cause grand prix racing to stop?”

The general answer with regard to racing in Europe is “yes.” But research revealed some interesting exceptions.

This, the third article in the series, is on the seven races grands prix – one in Africa and six in South America – that took place outside of Europe during WW 2.

The title of the first article is “1914 and 1921 French Grands Prix.” It is on the last grand prix before WW 1 and the first post-war grand prix.

The second article, “Nuvolari Wins 1939 Belgrade GP,” is on the only grand prix to take place in Europe during WW 2 and the first post-war grand prix in Europe.

1940 Tripoli Grand Prix

The 16th and final Tripoli Grand Prix was the only grand prix to take place in Africa during World War 2.

Today, Tripoli is the capital of Libya. On race day 1940 – May 12, Libya was a colony of Italy, which had not entered the war.

The race was 30 laps of the 8.165-mile track at Mellaha Lake. The track, which had 15 turns, was built in a salt basin.

From 1933-38, the race was run as Formula Libre -- no restrictions on the weight of the car or the size of the engine. The 1939 and 1940 races were Voiturette. Between WW 1 and 2, this formula called for a 1500cc engine.

There were 20 starters in 1940 – six works entries and 14 privateers. The works entries were four Alfa Romeos and two Maseratis.

Giuseppi Farina qualified on pole and won, leading a 1-2-3 finish for the factory Alfa Romeos.

The top two cars – the Tipo 158s driven by Farina and Clemente Biondetti – made a pit stop on lap 17. A “quick” pit stop – 24 seconds – gave Farina a comfortable cushion for the rest of the race. Biondetti’s stop took 57 seconds.

Farina’s winning time was one hour, 54 minutes, 16.4 seconds. Runner-up Biondetti finished 29.5 seconds behind Farina.

This was a “major” win for Farina, who went on to bigger success after WW 2. He was the driver champion in the first year of F1 -- 1950.

Also in the 1940 Tripoli Grand Prix was a future two-time F1 driving champion – Alberto Ascari. He drove a privateer Maserati 6CM to ninth place.

Ascari won the F1 driving championship in 1952 and 1953.

South American Grands Prix

Six grands prix took place in South America between 1940 and 1942.

Due to the war, only local drivers competed. The cars used an alcohol/petrol mixture.

The first race, the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, took place at Interlagos on May 12, 1940.

Today, Interlagos is the home of the Brazilian Grand Prix. The 1940 event was the first race ever on Interlagos, then a dirt circuit. Arthur Nacimento Jr. of Brazil won the race in an Alfa Romeo.

Next was the Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix on November 10 at Gavea.

The winner was Rubem Abrunhosa of Brazil. He drove an American car – a Studebaker – and was alone on the lead lap. Of the six grands prix in South America, this was only one in which the winner did not drive an Afla Romeo.

In both 1941 and 1942, there were again two races.

Chico Landi won the 1941 Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix, a Formula Libre event that took place on September 28 at Gavea. He drove an Alfa Romeo.

The finale of the 1941 “season” was the first of three straight races in Argentina. The 1941 Buenos Aires Grand Prix took place on November 23 at Costanera. The winner was Jose Canziani.

The race was run as Formula Libre Handicap. The top five finishers in the “Mecanica Nacional” race on Saturday qualified for the grand prix on Sunday. The “Mecanica Nacional” cars were based on mass-produced cars from US manufacturers such as Ford and Chevrolet.

The “Mecanica Nacional” cars were given a one-minute head start over the grand prix cars. The top "Mecanica Nacional” car of Mario Chiozza led until lap 13 (of 40). He finished third behind winner Canziani and runner-up Oldemar Ramos. The top two finishers drove an Alfa Romeo.

In 1942, both races were in Argentina. First was an encore performance of the Buenos Aires Grand Prix in January. Canziani continued his success at Costanera, winning in an Alfa Romeo.

The last grand prix race until after WW 2 was the Santa Fe Grand Prix. Ramos in an Alfa Romeo won the race, which took place at Santa Fe on May 3.