Formula 1 (F1) ventured to Casablanca in 1958 for a historic race at the Ain Diab circuit for the final round of the year, according to PlanetF1.
The 4.724-mile track, designed by the Royal Automobile Club of Morocco, marked the final round of the F1 season and played a crucial role in deciding the championship between Stirling Moss and Mike Hawthorn.
Moss won the race, but Hawthorn’s second-place finish secured him the championship by just one point.
Despite the excitement, the race was overshadowed by the tragic death of driver Stuart Lewis-Evans, leading to the track’s closure shortly after.
Formula 1’s journey to Casablanca was part of an era when the sport explored unique and challenging circuits worldwide.
The Ain-Diab circuit’s brief stint on the calendar is a reminder of Morocco’s place in motorsport history.
In contrast, other forgotten tracks also shaped the sport. Switzerland’s Bremgarten circuit, known for its treacherous conditions, hosted its last race in 1954 before a national motorsport ban.
Italy’s Pescara Circuit, the longest ever on the F1 calendar, held a dangerous allure until racing was discontinued in 1961.
Similarly, South Africa’s Prince George Circuit and Austria’s Zeltweg Airfield had brief but memorable moments in F1 history.
While California’s Riverside International Raceway hosted just one United States Grand Prix in 1960 before fading into obscurity.
These circuits, including Morocco’s Ain-Diab, reflect a bygone era of Formula 1 when the sport was still finding its footing and testing the limits of both drivers and tracks.