The 1936 season was the third year of the 750 kg Formula. It was defined by intense engineering developments and the overwhelming dominance of the Auto Union team. The next iteration of the Mercedes-Benz did not prove successful and the team withdrew during the season to instead prepare for the next one. It therefore fell to the resurgent Auto Union team to dominate the racing. In particular, it was their young, new superstar, Bernd Rosemeyer, who mastered the tricky car and who showed superlative skill in wet conditions. Rosemeyer easily won this season's European Championship by winning three of the four Grands Prix.
Once again, it was the old master, Tazio Nuvolari, driving the new Alfa Romeo for the Scuderia Ferrari who proved the greatest challenger to the all-conquering German cars. Without competitive cars, and not wanting to suffer further humiliation from the German teams, the French racing authorities instead ran their major races to their own new sports car regulations. With tensions in Europe rising, politics was increasingly playing a major part in motor-racing. Benito Mussolini ordered Italian teams to boycott the early races in the season, and the Belgian Grand Prix was cancelled. Strikes forced the Le Mans 24 Hours to be postponed, then cancelled, and when Spain erupted into civil war later in the year, racing ceased there.
European Championship Grands Prix Date Name Circuit RaceRegulations Weather RaceDistance Winner'sTime Winning driver Winningconstructor Fastestlap Report 1 13 Apr VIII Grand Prix de Monaco Monte Carlo AIACR intermittent rain 320 km 3h 49m Rudolf Caracciola Mercedes-Benz W25K Hans Stuck Auto Union Report 28 Jun XXX Grand Prix de l’ACF Montlhéry sports ? 1000 km 7h 59 m Jean-Pierre Wimille Raymond Sommer Bugatti Type 57G Report 7 Jul Belgian Grand Prix Spa-Francorchamps cancelled 2 26 Jul IX Grosser Preis von Deutschland Nürburgring AIACR cool 500 km 3h 49m Bernd Rosemeyer Auto Union Type C Bernd Rosemeyer Auto Union Report 3 23 Aug III Grosser Preis der Schweiz Bremgarten AIACR sunny 510 km 3h 09m Bernd Rosemeyer Auto Union Type C Bernd Rosemeyer Auto Union Report 4 13 Sep XIV Gran Premio d’Italia Monza AIACR sunny 500 km 3h 43m Bernd Rosemeyer Auto Union Type C Bernd Rosemeyer Auto Union Report 20 Sep Gran Premio de España Lasarte cancelled A pink background indicates the race was run for Sports Cars or Touring Cars, while a grey background indicates the race was not held this year. Sources:Rendall 1993, p.365
Major Non-championship Races Multiple classes are mentioned when they were divided and run to different race lengths. It only includes races over 50 km and/or half-hour in duration Date Name Circuit RaceRegulations Weather RaceDistance Winner'sTime Winning driver Winningconstructor Report 1 Jan II South African Grand Prix Prince George Circuit,East London Formula Libre handicap ? ? 2h 16m Mario Mazzacurati Bugatti Type 35B Report 23 Feb IV Sveriges Vinter Grand Prix Lake Rämen Formula Libre sunny, cold 375 km 3h 46m Eugen Bjørnstad Alfa Romeo 8C-2600 Monza Report 1 Mar IV Grand Prix de Pau Pau Formula Libre sunny 275 km 3h 22m Philippe Étancelin Maserati V8 RI Report 8 Mar III Norges Grand Prix Lake Gjersjøen, Oslo Formula Libre sunny 60 km 35m Eugen Bjørnstad Alfa Romeo 8C-2300 Monza Report 29 Mar Grand Prix Terminal Poços de Caldas Formula Libre ? 200 km 2h 31m Arthur Nascimento Ford 3.6L Special Report 30 Mar Australian Tourist Trophy Phillip Island Formula Librehandicap ? 200 miles 3h 06m Jack Fagan MG K3 Magnette Report 4 Apr V British Empire Trophy Donington Park Formula Librehandicap ? 250 miles 3h 54m Richard Seaman Maserati 8CM Report 11 Apr I Coupe de Prince Rainier Monte Carlo Voiturette cold 160 km 1h 52m Prince "B. Bira" ERA B Report A10 May X Gran Premio di Tripoli (IV Lotteria di Tripoli) Mellaha Formula Libre hot, windy 525 km 2h 31m Achille Varzi Auto Union Type C Report V Eläintarhanajot(Djurgårdsloppet) Eläintarharata Formula Libre sunny 100 km 56m Eugen Bjørnstad Alfa Romeo 8C-2300 Monza Report 16 May I Cork International Road Race Carrigrohane Formula Libre ? ? ? Reggie Tongue ERA B Report B 17 May VII Grand Prix de Tunisie Carthage Formula Libre hot 380 km 2h 23m Rudolf Caracciola Mercedes-Benz W25K Report 26 May Avusrennen AVUS cancelled for Olympics 28 May IV RAC International Light Car Race Douglas Voiturette sunny 200 miles 2h 52m Richard Seaman Delage 15S8 Report 30 May XXIV International 500 Mile Sweepstakes Indianapolis AAA sunny 500 miles 4h 35m Louis Meyer Stevens-Miller Report31 May XI Grand Prix des Frontières Chimay Voiturette rain at start 220 km 1h 49m Eddie Hertzberger MG K3 Magnette Report I Circuito de Santarém Santarém Formula Libre ? 100 km 1h 14m Jorge, Conde Monte Real Bugatti Type 35C Report C7 Jun VII Gran Premio de Penya Rhin Montjuïc ParkCimarosti 1997, p.108 AIACR sunny 300 km 2h 43m Tazio Nuvolari Alfa Romeo 12C/36 Report IV Grande Prêmio da Cidade de Rio de Janeiro Gávea Formula Libre sunny 280 km 3h 53m Vittorio Coppoli Bugatti Type 37A Report D 14 Jun X Eifelrennen Nürburgring AIACRVoiturette rain, fog 230 km 1h 57m Bernd Rosemeyer Auto Union Type C Report E21 Jun Magyar Nagydíj Nepliget Park,Budapest Formula Libre sunny 250 km 2h 14m Tazio Nuvolari Alfa Romeo 8C-35 Report XII Grand Prix de Picardie Péronne Voiturette,heats hot 150 km 1h 05m Prince "B. Bira" ERA B Report 28 Jun I Circuito di Milano Parco Sempione AIACRVoiturette ? 160 km 1h 36m Tazio Nuvolari Alfa Romeo 12C-36 Report 5 Jul XI Grand Prix de la Marne Reims-Gueux sports ? 400 km 2h 51m Jean-Pierre Wimille Bugatti Type 57G Report12 Jul Grande Prêmio da Cidade deSão Paulo Jardim América Formula Libre ? 250 km 2h 26m Carlo Pintacuda Alfa Romeo 2900A Report IV Grand Prix de l'Albigeois Les Planques,AlbiGeorgano 1971, p.60 Voiturette,heats sunny 2x 180 km 2h 24m Prince "B. Bira" ERA B Report 19 Jul I Deauville Grand Prix Deauville Formula Libre ? 370 km 2h 26m Jean-Pierre Wimille Bugatti Type 59 Report 26 Jul V Circuito Internationale de Vila Real Vila Real Formula Libre ? 220 km 2h 04m Vasco Sameiro Alfa Romeo 8C-2600 Monza Report F 2 Aug X Coppa Ciano Livorno Formula LibreVoiturette sunny 210 km 1h 45m Carlo Maria Pintacuda Tazio Nuvolari Alfa Romeo 8C-35 Report 9 Aug XII Grand Prix du Comminges Saint-Gaudens sports ? 440 km 2h 53m Jean-Pierre Wimille Bugatti Type 59 Report G 15 Aug XII Coppa Acerbo PescaraGeorgano 1971, p.129-30 AIACRVoiturette hot 410 km 2h 58m Bernd Rosemeyer Auto Union Type C Report 23 Aug III Prix de Berne Bremgarten Voiturette sunny 200 km 1h 27m Richard Seaman Delage 15S8 Report 29 Aug IX JCC 200 Mile race Donington Park Voiturette sunny 200 km 1h 27m Richard Seaman Delage 15S8 Report 6 Sep/7 Sep II Coppa Edda Ciano II Circuito di Lucca Lucca AIACRVoiturette wet 120 km 1h 13m Mario Tadini Alfa Romeo 8C-35 Report 13 Sep IV Eesti Suursõit Pirita-Kose, Tallinn Formula Libre ? 70 km 44 mins Aleksi Patama Ford Report 20 Sep/21 Sep V Circuito di Modena Modena AIACRVoiturette sunny 160 km 1h 27m Tazio Nuvolari Alfa Romeo 12C-36 Report 3 Oct II Donington Grand Prix Donington Park Formula Libre sunny 300 miles 4h 25m Hans Rüesch Richard Seaman Alfa Romeo Tipo 8C-35 Report 12 Oct I George Vanderbilt Cup Roosevelt Raceway, New York Formula Libre sunny 300 miles 4h 33m Tazio Nuvolari Alfa Romeo 12C-36 Report 18 Oct II Gran Premio de Buenos Aires Costanera Norte Formula Libre,heats ? 80 km 43min Carlos Arzani Alfa Romeo 2900A Report 1 Nov I Bucharest Grand Prix Bucuresti Formula Libre ? 110 km 1h 09m Iorgu Ghica Maserati 8CM Report 20 Dec XXVII Targa Florio Piccolo Madonie sports sunny 140 km 2h 09m Costantino Magistri Lancia Augusta Report
Regulations and Organisation This was the third year of the 750 kg Formula and, as such, no significant changes were made to the regulations. The European Championship was held again albeit only with four races in it. European political tensions were escalating and the effects were directly affecting the racing program across the continent. Countries were experiencing embargoes, shortages and riots; in March Hitler sent German troops into reoccupy the Rhineland and in July Spain erupted into full-blown civil war. Thus, both the Belgian and Spanish Grands Prix were cancelled.
At the end of 1935, the European racing unions had met to discuss options for a new formula. The current success of voiturette racing led to a proposal for the top class to be 1.5-litre cars. Another was 2.7-litre supercharged/4-litre unsupercharged formula. However, nothing final was decided. The French racing authority, the ACF, instead chose to opt out of the AIACR regulations. With Bugatti and the abortive SEFAC project unable to make any impression on the German dominance, they were fed up with humiliating defeats.Rendall 1993, p.145 They therefore chose to run the national Grand Prix, and their major races, to a sports car formula – for 2-seater cars with unsupercharged engines. Enthusiastically supported by the French automotive industry, new models were built by Bugatti, Delahaye, Talbot and Delage.Venables 2009, p.76
In October, another meeting of the AIACR finally decided on a new 4.5-litre/3-litre formula, to come into effect from 1938.
Technical innovation Mercedes-Benz had been the best cars in 1935 and for this season, they introduced a new 5.6-litre V12 engine. However, this bigger engine was heavier and with a 750 kg maximum weight, savings had to be found elsewhere. Along with a revised gearbox and suspension, the car was shortened by 25 cm. However, the car was found to be virtually undriveable, so the team had to urgently bore out the current 4-litre engine to 4.7-litres and dropped into the new chassis.
Auto Union had its new Type C, who had successfully been able to fit a remarkable supercharged 6.0-litre V16 that put out 520 bhp and still staying under the 750 kg weight limit. Four inches longer, with a limited-slip differential and torsion-bar suspension now installed, the handling was greatly improved.Cimarosti 1997, p.104Rendall 1993, p.144Legate 2006, p.40
Alfa Romeo, having released their interim 8C-35 model late in the previous season, continued its development. Called the 12C-36, the new 4.1-litre V12 supercharged engine was made with magnesium alloy and put out 370 bhp. It was hoped that Alfa's best engine coupled with independent suspension would allow their drivers match the German teams.Ludvgsen 2008, p.90 Maserati and Bugatti made desultory efforts at development of their Grand Prix cars – as the former concentrated on voiturette racing and the latter on the new French sports car regulations.
After its successes the previous season, the ERA team focused on building more cars for sale, to fill up the grids. Nine Type Bs had been sold to customers.Venables 2008, p.50 Their primary opposition was from Maserati, who unveiled the new 6CM. Looking like a miniature version of the V8 RI, it gave away horsepower to the heavier ERA, but had better handling with its independent suspension.Ludvgsen 2008, p.86 Former racing driver Giulio Ramponi worked with the up-and-coming Richard Seaman, and convinced him to buy the 1927-vintage Delage 15S8 from Earl Howe.Venables 2008, p.51Georgano 1971, p.292 Despite its age, fitted with a modern supercharger, it was still very competitive – with not even the mighty Auto Union able to exceed the 100 bhp per litre barrier as the Delage did.