Miami GP: what the Havana Grand Prix could have been

HeMiami Grand Prix of 2024 evokes memories of the short-lived but legendaryHavana Grand Prix, which took place between 1957 and 1960. During those years, the Cuban capital became the scene of an automobile event that sought not only to entertain, but also to attract tourism and glamor to the island in the midst of the era ofFulgencio Batista.

The firstHavana Grand Prix was held at the iconicPier, marked by the victory ofJuan Manuel Fangio, who drove aMaserati 300S. The event was not only a race, but an example of the connection betweenCuba and the international automotive elite. However theBig prize of 1958 was overshadowed by the kidnapping ofFangio, organized by rebels of theJuly 26 Movement, who sought to draw attention to their fight against the government ofBatista.

This event, together with the tragic accident in whichArmando Garcia Cifuentes lost control of hisFerrari, killing six spectators, gave a dramatic and somber character to the race. Despite these events, theBig prize It continued in 1960 at a new location, using service roads from a military airfield, before disappearing from the international calendar.

The first edition ofHavana Grand Prix In 1957 it was not only a motorsport competition, but also a spectacle of glamor and technique. Participating cars included high-performance models such as theMaserati 300 S and theFerrari 410. Juan Manuel Fangio, a motorsports legend, took the victory on that occasion, leaving an indelible mark in the history of motorsports in Cuba. Carroll Shelby and Alfonso de Portago rounded out the top spots, both driving Ferraris, demonstrating the strength and exceptional design of these vehicles.

In 1958, the scene of theHavana Grand Prix was dramatically altered by Fangio's kidnapping, but that didn't stop the race. This year,Stirling Moss He won the victory driving a Ferrari, once again showing the skill and technical mastery of the drivers and their machines. The 1960 race marked the end of this series in Cuba, with Moss repeating victory, this time in aMaserati, followed closely by Pedro Rodríguez de la Vega in aFerrari 250 TR59 and Masten Gregory in aPorsche 718. This event not only stood out for the competition, but also for the convergence of automotive talents and technologies from around the world.

Now,as Miami prepares for its own Grand Prix, we can't help but think about what could have been if theHavana Grand Prix would have continued to develop in a different political and social context. This event not only represents a legacy of what was, but a reflection of what it could have become: a bridge between cultures and eras, uniting motorsport enthusiasts under the Caribbean sun.

In an almost poetic parallelism,Miami picks up the baton, symbolizing a new chapter in the history of motorsports in the Cuban exile, a memory of what could have been a symbol of progress and unity for aCuba different. However, with the coming to power of the communists, all these glamorous events were removed from the Cuban public scene, replaced by a more bleak panorama of continuous crisis.