Asmara circuit (in Italian called Circuito Asmara and in English sometimes "Circuit of Asmara") was a car race done in the main streets of Asmara, when it was a colony of the Kingdom of Italy. The Circuito was created in Italian Eritrea and was later done -with many interruptions- until .
History The Italian government after World War I gave importance to sport activities in the Italian colonies. One of the most followed were those related to car races. Indeed, in Italian Libya was created the famous "Gran Premio di Tripoli", one of the most important in the world during the late 1930s, but even minor car races were done in the other Italian colonies, like the one in Asmara (and later even in Somalia's Mogadiscio).
So, in Italian Asmara (capital of Eritrea), was done in 1938 the "Primo Circuito di Asmara".Photo of the 1938 "start", in front of the Asmara Opera House It was won by an "Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Monza" driven by Emilio Romano on the Christmas race called Coppa di Natale.Alfa Romeo in Asmara (in French) Before there has been a race for smaller cars with less the 1500cc, that was won by a 4CS Maserati and was called Coppa Governatore. In the main race there were 14 Alfa Romeo 1750Photo of one of the Alfa Romeo 1750 and was enthusiastically followed by many thousands of Italians and EritreansSimon Moore on the "1936 Alfa 8C"
The "Primo Circuito di Asmara" was made of two car races, the first being the most important:
"Coppa di Natale": 1. Emilio Romano (Alfa Romeo 2.8L) (108,810 km - 67,613 mi); 2. Antonio D'Agata (Maserati 2.6L) "Coppa del Governatore": 1. Ferdinando Gay (Maserati 1100) in 51’26"2 (72,540 km - 45,075 mi), at 84,891 km/h - 52,750 mph; 2. Cristoforo Bigi (Fiat 508) in 53’22"4
The race was done on the streets of Italian Asmara, with the start in front of the Asmara Opera: it was long nearly 2865 meters on each side of the "Viale Milano" and "Viale Roma" (now called "Sematat avenue") and lasted 40 laps (in Italian called "Giri") for a total of 108 kmThe 1952 Circuito di Asmara, with a map
Other years
The second "Circuito Asmara" was to be done in December 1939, but the beginning of World War II blocked it. Only in 1948 was done the second and was won by Ettore Salvatori on Maserati,Ettore Salvatori's Maserati 1100 even if it was done with reduced participation of cars.De Carli: Asmara circuits
After the end of the war the circuit was also done in 1950, 1951 and 1952, but was only for local people. The fifth done in 1952 was followed by huge crowds.Photos of the 1952 Asmara Circuit Later it was done with some interruptions until 1969, with the "Coppa SM Haile Selassie".1969 Circuito The last that was done in 19721972 race (when was called "Gran Premio Automobilistico Expo'72"Award personally given by Ethiopia emperor) with the presence of emperor Haile SelassieChichingiolo: Asmara corse (in Italian)
With the start of the Eritrean Civil Wars related to the struggle for the independence of Eritrea from Ethiopia all the car races were stopped in Asmara. But in the 2010s the car races are again done in Asmara, even if with "local cars".Video of 2014 local race cars in Asmara
See also Tripoli Grand Prix Mogadiscio circuit
Notes
Bibliography
Antonicelli, Franco. Trent'anni di storia italiana 1915 - 1945. Mondadori Editore. Torinop, 1961 Di Meglio, Rita. Gli Italiani in Eritrea. Italian Embassy in Eritrea. Asmara, 2004. Pool, David. (2001-12-01). From Guerrillas to Government: The Eritrean People's Liberation Front. Ohio University Press.