I'm Arnold Hernandez Diaz for the BBC War Service.

This is the driver and the dictator.

Story of cars, guns in trick, power and death.

Set here in Cuba, my home in the late 50s, a forgotten story of a shadowed by major events in the years that came later.

Even today in Cuba when you see someone driving too fast, you shout,

Ooy, thank you.

The Argentinian driver, one Manuel Fungchio, five times Formula One world champion,

wins the first Grand Prix to ever be celebrated on Havana's waterfront racetrack,

the Malecon.

That's Vanjou, our driver, and his first Cuban Grand Prix in 1957. There is a picture of Sanjo being presented with the trophy

no far from where I'm standing now, scented by Fulhensioatista, the dictator,

and that's probably the only time they met in by Fulhensioatista, the dictator.

And that's probably the only time they met in 1957,

when the sporting event was a glamorous success.

Her manner was still a destination for Americans in those days. It was a big social event of the year which is what Batista and the government wanted. Hollywood stars and celebrities they wanted to turn it into a Las Vegas I think. It was Batista's idea that to become a world

to Mexico.

It was Batista's idea that to become a world-class city

and attract attention to,

you should stage this major Grand Prix.

And it worked, for various reasons.

It brought attention to the city.

The only comparable race at that time was in Monaco,

...