Race report – 1928 Coppa Acerbo

GRAND PRIX OF PERIL! DELAGE SWEEPS PODIUM IN GRUELING COPPA ACERBO AT PESCARA

Pescara, August 4, 1928 – The Abruzzi countryside played host yesterday to the ninth round of the Golden Era Championship, the famed Coppa Acerbo, an event known across Europe as one of the most daunting and spectacular tests of motoring endurance. The circuit, stretching nearly 25 kilometres, proved a brutal examination of man and machine, featuring blisteringly fast coastal straights, tight village streets, and a treacherous hill climb section before plunging back towards the Adriatic. With literally no safety barriers, the risks involved were tremendous, embodied by the raw and adventurous spirit of Grand Prix racing in this decade.

The race, scheduled for ten full laps of this difficult road course, culminated in a stunning all-of-top-10 finish for the Delage marque, underscoring the formidable strength of the Delage 15S8 model. A record number of drivers – 28, had registered for the race so the roar of the engines seconds before the start flag were probably heard into Africa.

A Swift and Dangerous Start

The field began under a standing start, utilising a staggered release to temper the inevitable early skirmishes. The starting grid, determined by the luck of the ballot, saw many seasoned contenders favourably placed, yet others, such as Tolonen and Uotila, faced a hard fight from the back.

The opening lap was fraught with incident. Early in the running, Anssi Hyytiainen seized the initiative, piloting his Delage to the lead position. Close behind, Markus Peltonen and Hayley Smith jostled fiercely for position in the top three. The early laps quickly weeded out the unlucky, with Kari Uotila being involved in contact and Tomas Kuusela suffering multiple early collisions with both the environment and other cars before retiring. But for Uotila this was just the beginning, soon on lap 2 his supecharger blew up and he was forced to limp rest of the race with underpowered and damaged vehicle.

Kuusela and Tolonen warmed up some old memories and punted each other few times on the first lap that caused both to lose some time. Eventually unfortunate Kuusela flipped his Delage and was forced to retire. He did seem quite okay though with cold beverages while watching the rest of the race from the paddock.

Nurmi also had challenges and some crashes that caused him some damage and a bit later he also got valve issues that were so severe, that he decided to make extra pitstop to make sure he could finish the race.

The Pescara Peril Claims Its Victims

The sheer length and variety of corners, coupled with demands on the 1920s suspension and the pervasive threat of brake fade, made tyre and mechanical management paramount. The Mercedes SSK, a machine combining sheer size and strength with immense straight-line speed, was piloted by Evadne Cleo, Paul von Rosen and Erik Halin, though all of them struggled with early incidents on the unforgiving course.

For Cleo this was a real test of adaptation as she hadn’t driven a single meter with the german powerhouse before she started the race with it. She just seized the rare opportunity once that became available.

Mid-race, the standings were violently shaken by cruel fate:

• Anssi Hyytiainen’s superb run from the start ended abruptly when he missed a braking point and went out of the race, having briefly led the field. He barely survived alive flipping his car at the hillside. After hospital examination, he explained that he just got a bit too overconfident on the twisty track that was quickly starting to become his favorite.
• Markus Peltonen, having inherited the lead, succumbed to a rear left puncture on the fifth lap, forcing a momentary halt for an on-track wheel change that cost him valuable time.
• The most lamentable misfortune befell the quick Hayley Smith, whose charge through the field—highlighted by setting the race’s best potential speed—was curtailed by mechanical woes of an electrical nature, forcing a lengthy pit stop. Though she rejoined the fray with a new magneto, she lost significant ground.
• Kent LeFredge also demonstrated astonishing bravery, continuing on for a time even with a wheel facing “entirely in the wrong direction”.

These incidents proved the truth that in this form of racing, victory relies as much upon survival as upon raw talent.

Bugatti struggled horrendously

If the day was nothing but glory to the French Delage, their countrymen couldn’t share that proudness. Bugattis could beat only one Delage – the badly damaged poor one that Uotila still managed to bring to the flag despite his frustration. His exasperation grew especially high as he was also the main mechanic of his car and he refused to give any interviews after the race. Some rumours still were heard that his assistant mechanic had collected the wrenches from the nearby field in the dusk. But the Bugatti pits were ghostly silent after the race.They just packed their equipment and left home without saying a word. They truly have some improvement to be done for their machinery.

Talbot performing relatively well

Despite all expectations Talbots were going well on the narrow streets of Pescara they were able to get pretty decent results Ledu Renaud crossing the finish line at 12th position and Heru Lah at 14th. Especially Lah was seemingly happy after the race.

Mercedes returned to Grand Prix racing

Mercedes’ return to Grand Prix racing wasn’t a triumph they had hoped for. In practice the results were still promising, but in the real test the reliability just wasn’t there yet. The ever solid performant Paul von Rosen and Erik Halin, who made a comeback after a few year hiatus were disappointed, but yet optimistic about the future of their machinery, even though they had mechanical issues today. Halin exploded his supercharger to mention some of them.

Their third driver Evadne Cleo, who was called as a replacement in the 11th hour, struggled a bit to get familiar with the german monster due to its quite personal torque that made downshifting an artform. She even got to the race a bit late as the team needed to instruct her how it all operates, but despite the quick crash course she was eventually forced to retire.

Delage Supremacy to the Chequered Flag

As the race entered its final stages, the battle for the lead crystallised into a tense duel between the two Delages of the TissiTuning Racing stable: Eetu Nurmi and the recovering Markus Peltonen. Nurmi, climbing 17 places from his starting position, ultimately managed the distance with the composure and speed necessary to claim the victory after over an hour and forty-seven minutes of relentless driving.

Nurmi took the chequered flag for a well-deserved first place. His teammate, Markus Peltonen, whose recovery drive following the two tyre punctures was admirable, finished in a solid second place, giving some balsam to his wounds after being diqualified in Nürburgring.

The final step of the podium was secured by Daniel Withoeft in the third Delage 15S8. His driving was flawless and the locals could only watch in awe as he smoothly commanded his green carriage on the hillside.

Old rivals Korkiakoski and Tolonen populating the next positions. Both men were bragging about their numerous mistakes and offroad excursions and fortune on them as they were still able to continue without big issues despite all. Although Tolonen was once again punishing his gearbox more than it could take and he was forced to minimise shifting in the final laps to be able to finish. Same was heard from Alex Henry who finished 6th.

Marvelous performance were also given by Joni Lindholm and Aditya Surve, who both commanded an already antique machines both still finishing in top-10. Lindholm even brought his ’24 Delage to the flag in top notch condition with 0 collisions – like it was before the race.

Kai Syvertsen sealed the top 10 by driving to the checquered flag in position 10. After the race he looked his team officers with a bit bad eye as he had been given the old ’26 model instead of the latest model, but seemingly that incident went off without too much drama.

The race proved a spectacular demonstration of endurance and speed, solidifying the dominance of the Delage 15S8 model in this era, which clinched the top 11 finishing spots.

Final Classification: 1928 Coppa Acerbo (Pescara)

Race broadcast: