1950 British Grand Prix

The 1950 British Grand Prix, formally known as The Royal Automobile Club Grand Prix d'Europe Incorporating The British Grand Prix,[4] was a Formula One motor race held on 13 May 1950 at the Silverstone Circuit in Silverstone, England. It was the first World Championship Formula One race, as well as the fifth British Grand Prix, and the third to be held at Silverstone after motor racing resumed after World War II. It was the first race of seven in the 1950 World Championship of Drivers.

1950 British Grand Prix
Silverstone Circuit in 1950–1951 configuration
Race details
Date 13 May 1950
Official name The Royal Automobile Club Grand Prix d'Europe Incorporating The British Grand Prix
Location Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone, England
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 4.649 km (2.889 mi)
Distance 70 laps, 325.430 km (202.213 mi)
Weather Sunny, mild, dry.
Attendance 100,000[1]
Pole position
Driver
Alfa Romeo
Time 1:50.8[2]
Fastest lap
Driver Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo
Time 1:50.6[3] on lap 2
Podium
First
Alfa Romeo
Second
Alfa Romeo
Third
Alfa Romeo

The 70-lap race was won by Giuseppe Farina for the Alfa Romeo team, after starting from pole position, with a race time of 2:13:23.6 and an average speed of 146.378 km/h. Luigi Fagioli finished second in another Alfa Romeo, and Reg Parnell third in a third Alfa Romeo.

The race followed the non-championship Pau Grand Prix and San Remo Grand Prix (both won by Juan Manuel Fangio), the Richmond Trophy (won by Reg Parnell) and the Paris Grand Prix (won by Georges Grignard).

Report
RAF Silverstone airport in 1945

Held on 13 May at Silverstone Circuit, and also designated as the Grand Prix of Europe for 1950, this very first World Championship round was attended by George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, and the Earl & Countess Mountbatten of Burma.[1]

Participants

In all, there were 22 competing, 21 qualified for the race, and 11 classified. Numbers 7 and 13 were not assigned. The Alfa Romeo factory team arrived at the circuit with four 158s for Fangio, Farina, Fagioli & domestic driver Reg Parnell. Ferrari decided not to take part but there were a handful of Maseratis, one of them a factory car for Monegasque driver Louis Chiron. Scuderia Ambrosiana prepared two cars for David Hampshire and David Murray, Enrico Platé entered two drivers of aristocratic origin, Prince Bira of Siam and Baron Toulo de Graffenried. Joe Fry entered a private Maserati and Scuderia Milano entered Felice Bonetto, but he did not arrive. These cars were raced in Italian Rosso Corsa livery. Talbot-Lago sent over two factory cars in the traditional French pale blue colour to be driven by Yves Giraud-Cabantous and Eugène Martin. Other private Talbots were entered by Louis Rosier, Philippe Etancelin and Belgian Johnny Claes, in a yellow car. The rest of the field was made up of local machinery, which included four E.R.A.s and two Altas, in British racing green.[1]

The race

Farina was fastest in qualifying and the other three Alfas were alongside him on the front row. The second row consisted of "B. Bira" in a Maserati and the two factory Talbots. In accordance with the standard at the time, the rest of the grid consisted of rows of four and three alternating, up to the sixth row. Felice Bonetto was the only driver who did not take part in qualifying and would not take part in the race. On 13 May, 21 drivers from 9 countries were represented at the old Silverstone airport, 4 from France, 2 from Italy, 1 each from Belgium, Ireland, Monaco, Argentina, Thailand and Switzerland. The UK was represented by 9 drivers. The race drew 200,000 spectators. At the start of the race, Farina took the lead with Fagioli and Fangio in pursuit, while Cabantous got a poor start and lost 4 positions. In the early laps they switched around between themselves several times to keep everyone amused. Fangio retired with engine troubles caused by a broken oil pipe and so Farina led Fagioli home by 2.5 seconds with Parnell a distant third despite hitting a hare during the race. The nearest challenger was Giraud-Cabantous two laps down, Bira having retired with a fuel problem. Crossley and Murray duelled at the back before retiring, de Graffenried had done so on lap 34, while Chiron was demoted to the role of viewer 10 laps earlier. Giuseppe Farina led for 63 laps (1–9, 16–37 and 39–70). Luigi Fagioli led for 6 laps (10–15). Juan Manuel Fangio led for 1 lap (38). Joe Fry drove car #10 for the first 45 laps, then Brian Shawe-Taylor took over for 19 laps for a total 64 laps, distance 297.536 km. Peter Walker drove car #9 for 2 laps, then Tony Rolt drove for and additional 3 laps, totaling 5 laps, a distance of 23.245 km. Giuseppe Farina achieved the fastest lap of the race, with a 1:50.6 on Lap 2.[1]

Entries
Maserati 4CLT/48
Alfa Romeo Alfetta 158
Talbot-Lago T26C
NoDriverEntrantConstructorChassisEngineTyre
1 Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo SpA Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 158 Alfa Romeo 158 1.5 L8s P
2 Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo SpA Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 158 Alfa Romeo 158 1.5 L8s P
3 Luigi Fagioli1 Alfa Romeo SpA Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 158 Alfa Romeo 158 1.5 L8s P
4 Reg Parnell Alfa Romeo SpA Alfa Romeo Alfa Romeo 158 Alfa Romeo 158 1.5 L8s P
5 David Murray Scuderia Ambrosiana Maserati Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s D
6 David Hampshire Scuderia Ambrosiana Maserati Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s D
8 Leslie Johnson T.A.S.O. Mathieson ERA ERA E ERA 1.5 L6s D
9 Peter Walker2 Peter Walker ERA ERA E ERA 1.5 L6s D
10 Joe Fry3 Joe Fry Maserati Maserati 4CL Maserati 4CL 1.5 L4s D
11 Cuth Harrison Cuth Harrison ERA ERA B ERA 1.5 L6s D
12 Bob Gerard Bob Gerard ERA ERA B ERA 1.5 L6s D
14 Yves Giraud-Cabantous Automobiles Talbot-Darracq Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago T26C-DA Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 D
15 Louis Rosier Automobiles Talbot-Darracq Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 D
16 Philippe Étancelin Automobiles Talbot-Darracq Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 D
17 Eugène Martin Automobiles Talbot-Darracq Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago T26C-DA Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 D
18 Johnny Claes Ecurie Belge Talbot-Lago Talbot-Lago T26C Talbot 23CV 4.5 L6 D
19 Louis Chiron Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s P
20 Toulo de Graffenried Enrico Platé Maserati Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s P
21 B. Bira Enrico Platé Maserati Maserati 4CLT/48 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s P
22 Felice Bonetto Scuderia Milano Maserati Maserati 4CLT/50 Maserati 4CLT 1.5 L4s P
23 Joe Kelly Joe Kelly Alta Alta GP Alta 1.5 L4s D
24 Geoffrey Crossley Geoffrey Crossley Alta Alta GP Alta 1.5 L4s D
26 Raymond Mays4 Raymond Mays ERA ERA D ERA 1.5 L6s D
Sources:[5][6]
^1 — Luigi Fagioli qualified and drove all 70 laps of the race in the #3 Alfa Romeo. Gianbattista Guidotti, named substitute driver for the car, was not used at the Grand Prix.[7]
^2 — Peter Walker qualified and drove 2 laps of the race in the #9 ERA. Tony Rolt took over the car for 3 laps of the race.[8]
^3 — Joe Fry qualified and drove 45 laps of the race in the #10 Maserati. Brian Shawe-Taylor took over the car for 19 laps of the race.[8]
^4 — Entry cancelled prior to event.[9]

Classification

Qualifying
PosNoDriverConstructorTimeGap
1 2 Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo 1:50.8 –
2 3 Luigi Fagioli Alfa Romeo 1:51.0 + 0.2
3 1 Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo 1:51.2 + 0.4
4 4 Reg Parnell Alfa Romeo 1:52.2 + 1.4
5 21 Prince Bira Maserati 1:52.6 + 1.8
6 14 Yves Giraud-Cabantous Talbot-Lago-Talbot 1:53.4 + 2.6
7 17 Eugène Martin Talbot-Lago-Talbot 1:55.4 + 4.6
8 20 Toulo de Graffenried Maserati 1:55.8 + 5.0
9 15 Louis Rosier Talbot-Lago-Talbot 1:56.0 + 5.2
10 9 Peter Walker ERA 1:56.6 + 5.8
11 19 Louis Chiron Maserati 1:56.6 + 5.8
12 8 Leslie Johnson ERA 1:57.4 + 6.6
13 12 Bob Gerard ERA 1:57.4 + 6.6
14 16 Philippe Étancelin Talbot-Lago-Talbot 1:57.8 + 7.0
15 11 Cuth Harrison ERA 1:58.4 + 7.6
16 6 David Hampshire Maserati 2:01.0 + 10.2
17 24 Geoffrey Crossley Alta 2:02.6 + 11.8
18 5 David Murray Maserati 2:05.6 + 14.8
19 23 Joe Kelly Alta 2:06.2 + 15.4
20 10 Joe Fry Maserati 2:07.0 + 16.2
21 18 Johnny Claes Talbot-Lago-Talbot 2:08.8 + 18.0
DNA 22 Felice Bonetto Maserati – –
Source:[10]

Race
PosNoDriverConstructorLapsTime/RetiredGridPoints
1 2 Giuseppe Farina Alfa Romeo 70 2:13:23.6 1 91
2 3 Luigi Fagioli Alfa Romeo 70 + 2.6 2 6
3 4 Reg Parnell Alfa Romeo 70 + 52.0 4 4
4 14 Yves Giraud-Cabantous Talbot-Lago-Talbot 68 + 2 Laps 6 3
5 15 Louis Rosier Talbot-Lago-Talbot 68 + 2 Laps 9 2
6 12 Bob Gerard ERA 67 + 3 Laps 13  
7 11 Cuth Harrison ERA 67 + 3 Laps 15  
8 16 Philippe Étancelin Talbot-Lago-Talbot 65 + 5 Laps 14  
9 6 David Hampshire Maserati 64 + 6 Laps 16  
10 10 Joe Fry
Brian Shawe-Taylor		 Maserati 64 + 6 Laps 20  
11 18 Johnny Claes Talbot-Lago-Talbot 64 + 6 Laps 21  
Ret 1 Juan Manuel Fangio Alfa Romeo 62 Oil pipe 3  
NC 23 Joe Kelly Alta 57 Not classified 19  
Ret 21 Prince Bira Maserati 49 Out of fuel 5  
Ret 5 David Murray Maserati 44 Engine 18  
Ret 24 Geoffrey Crossley Alta 43 Transmission 17  
Ret 20 Toulo de Graffenried Maserati 36 Engine 8  
Ret 19 Louis Chiron Maserati 26 Clutch 11  
Ret 17 Eugène Martin Talbot-Lago-Talbot 8 Oil pressure 7  
Ret 9 Peter Walker
Tony Rolt		 ERA 5 Gearbox 10  
Ret 8 Leslie Johnson ERA 2 Compressor 12  
Source:[11]
Notes
  • ^1 – Includes 1 point for fastest lap

Championship standings after the race
Drivers' Championship standings
Pos Driver Points
1 Giuseppe Farina 9
2 Luigi Fagioli 6
3 Reg Parnell 4
4 Yves Giraud-Cabantous 3
5 Louis Rosier 2
Source:[12]
  • Note: Only the top five positions are listed. Only the best 4 results counted towards the Championship.
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gollark: Technically, it is.
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References
  1. "World's Premier Motor Race". Dundeee Evening Telegraph. 13 May 1950. Retrieved 18 July 2020 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. Lang, Mike (1981). Grand Prix! Vol 1. Haynes Publishing Group. p. 14. ISBN 0-85429-276-4.
  3. Lang, Mike (1981). Grand Prix! Vol 1. Haynes Publishing Group. p. 15. ISBN 0-85429-276-4.
  4. The Royal Automobile Club Grand Prix d'Europe. Royal Automobile Club. 1950.
  5. "1950 British Grand Prix - Race Entries". manipef1.com. Archived from the original on 19 May 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  6. "1950 British GP - Entry List". chicanef1.com. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  7. "Britain 1950 - Race entrants". statsf1.com. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  8. "British Grand Prix 1950 - Results". ESPN F1. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  9. "Britain 1950 - Result". statsf1.com. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  10. "Britain 1950 • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  11. "1950 British Grand Prix". formula1.com. Archived from the original on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  12. "Britain 1950 - Championship". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
Previous race:
None		 FIA Formula One World Championship
1950 season		 Next race:
1950 Monaco Grand Prix
Previous race:
1949 British Grand Prix		 British Grand Prix Next race:
1951 British Grand Prix
Previous race:
1949 Italian Grand Prix		 European Grand Prix
(Designated European Grand Prix)		 Next race:
1951 French Grand Prix
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