Video: F1 racing in a parking lot in 1992

26th April 2024

Ethan Jupp

Remember the days when we used to see current Formula 1 cars in action outside of the F1 season? It never happens now of course because anything counts as testing miles, which is a shame, because that means non-championship spectacles like the Formula One Indoor Trophy can’t happen.

This crazy sprint event ran from 1988 to 1996 and was held in no less than the parking lot outside the Bologna Motor Show. To get an idea of what it’s all about, we’ve selected the rain-soaked 1992 running for today’s video.

Here we see several members of the 1992 F1 grid, Alex Zanardi, J.J. Lehto, Johnny Herbert, Michele Alboreto and more driving in appaling conditions. It is absolutely sodden on this tight, technical circuit trial, that sees the cars line up for sprint runs on separate identical circuits in a timed, first-to-the-finish run.

Can you imagine F1 doing this today? Come to think of it, the cars are probably too big and unwieldy for a makeshift circuit round a parking lot like this to actually work. All the same, the sport could do with a sense of fan service and fun that this invokes memories of, don’t you think?

Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the last video: Stunning trackside footage of the 1970 French Grand Prix