Switzerland could lift its ban on circuit racing

Only two countries in the world still have a law prohibiting all circuit car racing: Israel and Switzerland. But the Swiss Confederation could end this exception by repealing Article 52 of the Road Traffic Act, which bans such practice. This is the essence of the decision made today by the Transport and Telecommunications Commission of the National Council.

This ban dates back to the tragic Le Mans accident in 1955, which remains the deadliest accident in the history of motor sports: Pierre Levegh’s crash resulted in the deaths of 83 people and injured 120 others. In the aftermath, Switzerland decided it would no longer allow these events on its soil, despite having hosted five Grand Prix races between 1950 and 1954.

However, the annals of Formula 1 show that a sixth Swiss Grand Prix took place in 1962. But it was held on the very French circuit of Dijon-Prenois. The same practice was used by Luxembourg by utilizing the Nürburgring circuit in 1997 and 1998.

Today, the National Council’s Committee on Transport and Telecommunications voted in favor of lifting this ban with 14 votes for, 10 against, and one abstention. Indeed, the country does not have a single automobile circuit. Besides the inability to host internationally renowned events, this mainly poses a problem for individuals wishing to practice in a secure environment and who are forced to travel hundreds, if not thousands, of kilometers abroad to engage in their favorite activity.

This presents a certain disadvantage for car manufacturers, who are increasingly offering Track Days for their enthusiastic customers. The most extreme recent example being Lotus, which has developed a single-seater specifically for these events. Lawmakers also point out that the construction of a racetrack, where various types of tests could be conducted, would be extremely beneficial for research, particularly in the field of electric propulsion systems, as well as for the automotive sector, which holds considerable importance in Switzerland.

As we discussed during the announcement of the highway extension to Magny-Cours, the circuits are not only used during the three days of a Grand Prix but are utilized throughout the year by teams or manufacturers wishing to conduct tests to improve their vehicles. They are a true vector of employment for the region.

But before Switzerland can hope to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix again, the Transport and Telecommunications Commission of the Council of States must give its approval for this ban to be lifted. It will then take years to start the construction of such a circuit, followed by tough negotiations with Bernie Ecclestone, who tends to look more towards Asia than Europe…

With the participation of RacingBusiness.fr