The day after the foundation of the provincial sodality of the Automobile Club Chieti in 1927, Chieti's first approach to motor sport took place with an uphill race on 14th May 1931.
It was a success with public and critics, which led the organizers to hold a second edition with a circuit race the following year.
After the horrors of the war, Chieti once again challenged the wind on 5 September 1951, when the regional preliminary round of the 5th Volante d'Argento was held. In the wake of these successes, on 31 August 1952 the Gran Criterium Vetturette was launched, an event open to two-seater sports cars of 750cc and Formula 3 single-seaters in the Corsa Category, with a capacity of up to 750cc.
Eric Brandon's encore of victories in the last two editions is accompanied by over twenty thousand fans. A direct offshoot of the Gran Criterium Vetturette is, from 7 September 1958, the hill climb race Coppa Città di Chieti.
There were nine editions of this event, which brought Chieti to the forefront of national and international motorsport, with the participation of top-level drivers, including the unforgettable Ignazio Giunti.
From the 1980s onwards, Francavilla, Ortona and Vasto also made an active role in the growth of the sport through various regularity events.
The history of speed in Chieti is an exciting story, not only in terms of sport but also with a great social impact, to be handed down to the posterity of this 'strong and gentle' Abruzzo, because a better future can be built from historical memory, just like 'Quando Chieti sfidava il vento' (When Chieti challenged the wind).
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