1939 in motorsport explained

The following is an overview of the events of 1939 in motorsport including the major racing events, motorsport venues that were opened and closed during a year, championships and non-championship events that were established and disestablished in a year, and births and deaths of racing drivers and other motorsport people.

Annual events

The calendar includes only annual major non-championship events or annual events that had own significance separate from the championship. For the dates of the championship events see related season articles.

DateEventRef
14 May30th Targa Florio[1]
30 May27th Indianapolis 500[2]
12–16 June28th Isle of Man TT[3]
17–18 June16th 24 Hours of Le Mans[4]

Births

DateMonthNameNationalityOccupationNoteRef
1JanuaryPhil ReadBritishMotorcycle racer500cc Grand Prix motorcycle racing World champion (-).[5]
29MayAl UnserAmericanRacing driverIndianapolis 500 winner (1970-1971, 1978, 1987).[6]
11JuneJackie StewartBritishRacing driverFormula One World Champion .[7]
30Harry KällströmSwedishRally driver1976 Acropolis Rally winner.[8]
5AugustRoger ClarkBritishRally driver1976 Lombard RAC Rally winner.[9]
12DecemberEmerson FittipaldiBrazilianRacing driverFormula One World Champion . Indianapolis 500 winner (1989, 1993)[10]

Deaths

DateMonthNameAgeNationalityOccupationNoteRef
8FebruaryBill Cummings32AmericanRacing driverIndianapolis 500 winner (1934).[11]
30MayFloyd Roberts39AmericanRacing driverIndianapolis 500 winner (1938).[12]
11AugustJean Bugatti30FrenchAutomotive designer and test engineer

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 30^ TARGA FLORIO. targaflorio.info. 16 April 2017.
  2. Web site: 1939 Indianapolis 500. racing-reference.info. Racing Reference. 15 April 2017.
  3. Web site: TT 1939. iomtt.com. Isle of Man TT. 15 April 2017.
  4. Web site: Le Mans Register - 1939. formula2.net. 16 April 2017.
  5. Web site: Phil Read. motorsportmagazine.com. Motor Sport Magazine. 16 April 2018.
  6. Web site: Al Unser. motorsportmagazine.com. Motor Sport Magazine. 17 April 2018.
  7. Web site: Jackie Stewart. en.espn.co.uk. ESPN. 15 April 2018.
  8. News: Harry Källström. 27 April 2018. ewrc-results.com. ewrc-results.com.
  9. News: Roger Clark. 27 April 2018. ewrc-results.com. ewrc-results.com.
  10. Web site: Emerson Fittipaldi. en.espn.co.uk. ESPN. 15 April 2018.
  11. Web site: Bill Cummings. motorsportmagazine.com. Motor Sport Magazine. 17 April 2018.
  12. Web site: Floyd Roberts. motorsportmagazine.com. Motor Sport Magazine. 17 April 2018.