Circuit Bremgarten

The Circuit Bremgarten lay in the Bremgarten forest in the north of Bern, Switzerland. It was built in 1931 as a motorcycle racing track. The road circuit measured 7.28 km, ran clockwise and had 13 corners. It had no true main straight, just a string of fast corners. Tree-lined roads, frequently poor light and changing road surfaces made the track very dangerous, especially in the wet. The first car race took place in 1934 and cost the life of driver Hugh Hamilton. Achille Varzi also died here in 1948.

Bremgarten hosted the Swiss Grand Prix in the Formula One World Championship from 1950 to 1954, five races in all. Nino Farina won in 1950 for Alfa Romeo, and Juan Manuel Fangio followed in 1951, also in an Alfa Romeo. Piero Taruffi won for Ferrari in 1952, and Alberto Ascari took victory in a Ferrari in 1953. The drivers' championship was decided in Bern in both 1953 and 1954. In 1954 Fangio won for Mercedes in the final world championship race held at the circuit. With two victories, he won here more often than any other driver.

After the Le Mans disaster of June 1955, Switzerland banned circuit races in which drivers competed directly for position. The Swiss Grand Prix planned for 21 August 1955 was cancelled. Later races called the Swiss Grand Prix, in 1975 (a non-championship event) and in 1982, were held in France at Dijon-Prenois. Most of the old circuit has disappeared or been built over. Only the north-western section, the right-hand bends Eymatt and Tenni, and some stretches in the forest remain paved and on the original line.