STORY OF THE DAY: Marzotto Wins Monaco’s Sports-Car Grand Prix

On 2 June 1952, Vittorio Marzotto won the Monaco Grand Prix in the number 94 Ferrari 225 S Vignale Spider. That year’s event was contested by sports cars and did not form part of the Formula One World Championship. Marzotto’s victory gave Ferrari an important success on the principality’s celebrated street circuit.

Monaco required sustained precision between buildings, kerbs and the harbour, with little room to recover from an error. Marzotto maintained his concentration through the long race and used the compact Ferrari’s agility to negotiate the repeated braking zones and confined corners more effectively than his opposition.

The 225 S used a tubular chassis and a front-mounted Colombo V12 enlarged to approximately 2.7 litres. Vignale’s light open body kept weight and frontal area modest, while the car’s short proportions were well suited to Monaco. Drum brakes and period suspension demanded careful management throughout the race.

Marzotto was an Italian gentleman driver from a prominent industrial family whose brothers also competed in Ferraris. Particularly associated with road racing, he later finished second in the 1954 Mille Miglia. Victory at Monaco became his defining international result and demonstrated his ability to master an enclosed street course.