1955 Belgian Grand Prix
The Grand Prix of Belgium 1955 was held on June 5, 1955 held at the Circuit de Spa -Francorchamps in Spa -Francorchamps and was the fourth round of the Formula 1 season 1955.
- 3.1 Start -up
- 3.2 race
- 4.1 Drivers' Championship
Reports
Background
After the fatal accident of former two -time world champion Alberto Ascari of private sports car test drives the Lancia team withdrew due to financial problems and lack of interest of the new Lancia owner of Formula 1. Eugenio Castel Lotti, who took second place in the second race of the season in Monaco, nevertheless took part in a private Lancia in the race. Mercedes and Ferrari won before this Grand Prix one race apiece. The Indianapolis 500, the third race of the season were perceived by all European teams as a void result and they stayed away from participating.
The French Gordini team did not take part in the race, so only the four teams Ferrari, Mercedes, Maserati and Vanwall were at the start, and Castel Lotti, Louis Rosier and Johnny Claes in private cars. Only 13 riders were registered for the competition.
In the drivers' world championship lead Ferrari driver Maurice Trintignant ahead of Mercedes driver Juan Manuel Fangio and Bob Sweikert, who took part in any further Grand Prix except at the Indianapolis 500.
For Giuseppe Farina this was the last race. For two more Grand Prix, he was reported, but each took no part in the race.
Training
The training for the Grand Prix of Belgium 1955 dominated Castellotti in the Lancia and was a time of 4:18,1 half a second quicker than second-placed Fangio in the Mercedes. In position three in the front row is qualified Fangio's team mate Stirling Moss in the second Mercedes, behind the Ferrari of Farina and the Maserati of Jean Behra. Mike Hawthorn in the Vanwall started from ninth on the grid, Monaco winner Trintignant started from a tenth place after he did not participate in the training and qualified in tenth place car of Harry Schell drove in the race.
This was the only pole position in the career of Castel Lotti and the last for a Lancia D50.
Race
Schell did not participate in the race, as he had to leave his car Trintignant. Also Claes was already before the race due to engine problems at its private Maserati.
Fangio won the starting duel and secured the lead, his teammate Moss was able to overtake in the first laps Castellotti. Fangio and Moss controlled from then on the race and steadily built the Mercedes- double lead on the competition out. The third Mercedes from Karl Kling was dueling with Jean Behra and Paul Frère at position four, as Behra in the third round in the La Source turned off the track and his car badly damaged. Behra was unhurt and continued the race later in the Maserati of Roberto Mieres continued.
In round eight Hawthorn fell out due to a gearbox failure, so Vanwall again succeeded no Zieleinkunft. Farina supplied with Castellotti a duel, but what cost him a lot of time in the long struggle with Fangio and Moss. Farina only came past Castel Lotti, as this with a broken gearbox gave up the race on lap 16. Kling in the third Mercedes followed just five laps later, his car had an oil leak.
This Farina had occurred in third place, behind the two Mercedes, whose lead was on him but too big. Until the finish changed to the points nothing more, Mercedes won with a superior double victory ahead of Farina in the Ferrari. Local hero Frère secured fourth place, Behra drove the car from Mieres fifth place finish. Trintignant missed scoring points short.
By race victory Fangio won back the lead in the world championship. He received for winning eight points and an extra point for the fastest lap time during which Trintignant remained in this race without points. It was his third and final overall victory at the Belgian Grand Prix. Farina was in the drivers' standings after the race, one point behind in third place Trintignant, Moss moved up to fifth place.
Message list
Comments
Classifications
Line-up
Race
Standings after the race
The first five of the race were 8, 6, 4, 3, 2 points. The driver with the fastest lap of the race also received 1 point. It included only the five best results from seven races.