1934 Masaryk Grand Prix

The event is known for the controversial entry and death of 29-year old Czechoslovak driver Josef Brázdil, named one of the most "bizarre" and "fantastic" stories in Grand Prix and motorsport history by specialised sources.{{Cite web |title=Motorsport Memorial - |url=http://motorsportmemorial.org/focus.php?db=ct&n=1059 |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=motorsportmemorial.org}}{{Cite web |title=1934 GRAND PRIX SEASON - 1934 Czech Masaryk Grand Prix (Masarykuv Okruh), 1934 Rio de Janeiro Grand Prix, 1934 Donington Park Trophy, 1934 Mountain championship, 1934 Modena Circuit (Circuito di Modena), 1934 Napels Grand Prix (Circuito di Napoli, Coppa Principessa di Piemonte), 1934 Alger Grand prix |url=http://www.goldenera.fi/gp3411.htm#38 |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=www.goldenera.fi}} Little is known of Brázdil's life until the month of the race. He was a Bratislava resident with no racing experience, and no known involvement in motorsport prior to the event. Brázdil and a Bratislavan friend named Štefan Marciš managed to convince Marciš' very wealthy American fiancée to buy a brand new Maserati 6C-34, one of the fastest and most expensive Grand Prix cars at the time, in cash. It had the same specifications as the ones driven by works Maserati drivers, such as Tazio Nuvolari. Marciš' fiancée financed an entry for Brázdil for the Masaryk Grand Prix, despite his complete lack of experience.

Brázdil took part in the opening practice session on Wednesday as planned, although several competitors complained about his erratic driving style. That night he was arrested for financial irregularities, of which the details are still unclear. He was released on bail shortly afterwards, on the condition that he would turn himself back to the police after the Grand Prix. He arrived to the track early in the morning the day after, and left the pits at around 8am, before the start of official practice. In his first flying lap, he had a fatal accident at the high speed U Krize kink. Due to the lack of braking marks, the lack of apparent mechanical issues on his car, and the fact that the accident occurred at a relatively easy part of the track, it has been speculated that his accident may have been a suicide due to his sudden legal troubles. However, it is also likely that his accident was just a simple error by a very inexperienced competitor driving an extremely challenging car.

File:All layouts of the Masaryk Circuit (Brno Circuit) between 1930 and today combined.png

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{{Grand Prix race report

| Name_of_race = Czechoslovakian Grand Prix

| Year_of_race = 1934

| Previous_year's_race = 1933 Masaryk Grand Prix

| Next_year's_race = 1935 Masaryk Grand Prix

}}

Category:Grand Prix race reports

Masaryk

Masaryk