1952 French Grand Prix

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1952 French Grand Prix
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Rouen-les-Essarts.jpg
Race details
Date 6 July 1952 (1952-07-06)
Official name XXXIX Grand Prix de l'ACF
Location Rouen-Les-Essarts, Grand-Couronne, France
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 5.100 km (3.169 miles)
Distance 77 laps, 392.700 km (244.012 miles)
Weather Rain
Pole position
Driver
 Ferrari
Time 2:14.8
Fastest lap
Driver Flag of Italy.svg Alberto Ascari Ferrari
Time 2:17.3 on lap 28
Podium
First
 Ferrari
Second
 Ferrari
Third
 Ferrari
Lap leaders
  • 1952 French Grand Prix

The 1952 French Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on 6 July 1952 at Rouen-Les-Essarts. It was race 4 of 8 in the 1952 World Championship of Drivers, in which each Grand Prix was run to Formula Two rules rather than the Formula One regulations normally used. Unusually this race was run over a duration of 3 hours, rather than a fixed distance. [1]

Contents

Report

Having won the previous weekend's Grand Prix de la Marne, Jean Behra, racing for Equipe Gordini, was among the favourites for the first French Grand Prix to be held at Rouen-Les-Essarts. Also driving for Gordini were regulars Robert Manzon and Prince Bira, alongside Maurice Trintignant, who replaced Johnny Claes from the lineup for the previous round. Claes entered the race in a Simca-Gordini under his own 'Ecurie Belge' label, which he had used in the 1950 and 1951 seasons. Ferrari retained their lineup of Ascari, Farina and Taruffi, who had locked out the front row of the grid in Belgium. There were also several privateer Ferrari entries: the Swiss duo of Rudi Fischer and Peter Hirt, representing Ecurie Espadon, the Italian pairing of Franco Comotti and Piero Carini, for Scuderia Marzotto, and Louis Rosier. HWM again ran regular drivers Lance Macklin and Peter Collins, this time alongside Frenchman Yves Giraud-Cabantous. While the factory Maserati team remained absent, their new car, the A6GCM, made its World Championship debut, driven by Philippe Étancelin of Escuderia Bandeirantes. Enrico Platé entered a pair of older Maseratis, the 4CLT/48 model, for Toulo de Graffenried and Harry Schell. Completing the grid were Peter Whitehead, in a privately run Alta, and Mike Hawthorn, who again took part in a Cooper-Bristol.

Ascari took his second consecutive pole position, with his Ferrari teammates Farina and Taruffi again joining him on the front row of the grid. The Gordini team locked out the second row, with Behra and Manzon qualifying in fourth and fifth, respectively. Their teammates Trintignant and Bira started from the third row, alongside Peter Collins in the fastest of the HWMs. The new Maserati A6GCM proved a disappointment, with Philippe Étancelin only managing to qualify on the seventh row of the grid (out of eight).

The Ferraris once again dominated the race, with Alberto Ascari leading Farina from start to finish, thus taking his second consecutive victory in the World Championship. Despite a good start from the Gordinis of Manzon and Behra, that saw them take third and fourth place, respectively, by the end of the first lap, Piero Taruffi managed to regain third place on lap 4 and subsequently held it for the remainder of the race, ensuring that it was an all-Ferrari podium. Manzon finished fourth, a lap behind Taruffi, while his teammate Maurice Trintignant took the final points-scoring position of fifth. HWM driver Peter Collins took sixth, two laps behind Trintignant, ahead of Jean Behra, for whom seventh represented something of a recovery, having been in last place at the end of lap 3. His race had been compromised when he crashed and consequently needed to pit. [2]

Ascari's win, and fastest lap, ensured that he took a five-point lead in the Drivers' Championship, ahead of fellow Ferrari driver Piero Taruffi. Farina's second consecutive second-place finish took him to third in the standings, one point adrift of Taruffi. Indianapolis 500 winner Troy Ruttman was a further four points behind in fourth, one point ahead of Gordini driver Robert Manzon.

Entries

NoDriverEntrantConstructorChassisEngineTyre
2 Flag of France.svg Robert Manzon Equipe Gordini Gordini Gordini T16 Gordini 20 2.0 L6 E
4 Flag of France.svg Jean Behra Gordini Gordini T16 Gordini 20 2.0 L6 E
6 Flag of Thailand.svg Prince Bira Gordini Gordini T16 Gordini 20 2.0 L6 E
8 Flag of Italy.svg Alberto Ascari Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 P
10 Flag of Italy.svg Nino Farina Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 P
12 Flag of Italy.svg Piero Taruffi 1 Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 P
14 Flag of France.svg Louis Rosier Ecurie Rosier Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 D
16 Flag of Switzerland.svg Toulo de Graffenried 2 Enrico Platé Maserati-Platé Maserati 4CLT-48 Platé 2.0 L4 P
18 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Harry Schell Maserati-Platé Maserati 4CLT-48 Platé 2.0 L4 P
20 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lance Macklin HW Motors HWM-Alta HWM 52 Alta F2 2.0 L4 D
22 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Collins HWM-Alta HWM 52 Alta F2 2.0 L4 D
24 Flag of France.svg Yves Giraud-Cabantous HWM-Alta HWM 52 Alta F2 2.0 L4 D
26 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Whitehead Peter Whitehead Alta Alta Alta F2 2.0 L4 D
28 Flag of France.svg Philippe Étancelin 3 Escuderia Bandeirantes Maserati Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6G 2.0 L6 P
30 Flag of Brazil (1889-1960).svg Chico Landi 4 Maserati Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6G 2.0 L6 P
32 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Johnny Claes Ecurie Belge Simca-Gordini Simca-Gordini T15 Gordini 1500 1.5 L4 E
34 Flag of Switzerland.svg Rudi Fischer 5 Ecurie Espadon Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 P
36 Ferrari 212 Ferrari 166 2.0 V12
38 Flag of Italy.svg Franco Comotti 6 Scuderia Marzotto Ferrari Ferrari 166F2-50 Ferrari 166 2.0 V12 P
40 Flag of Italy.svg Piero Carini 6 Ferrari Ferrari 166F2-50 Ferrari 166 2.0 V12 P
42 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike Hawthorn 6 Archie Bryde Cooper-Bristol Cooper T20 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D
44 Flag of France.svg Maurice Trintignant Equipe Gordini Simca-Gordini Simca-Gordini T15 Gordini 1500 1.5 L4 E
Sources: [3] [4]
^1 — Piero Taruffi qualified and drove the entire race in the #12 Ferrari. Luigi Villoresi, who was also entered in the same car, was unable to participate due to injury. [5]
^2 — Toulo de Graffenried qualified and drove 26 laps of the race in the #16 Maserati. Harry Schell, whose own vehicle had already retired, took over the car for a further 8 laps before again being forced to retire. [6]
^3 — Philippe Étancelin qualified and drove the entire race in the #28 Maserati. Eitel Cantoni was also entered in the car, but took no part in the Grand Prix after being fired. [5]
^4 — Chico Landi withdrew from the event prior to practice. [5]
^5 — Rudi Fischer qualified and drove 37 laps of the race in the #36 Ferrari. He was initially due to drive the #34 Ferrari 500, but engine problems in practice meant that he instead participated in a 212. Peter Hirt took over the car for the remainder of the race. [6] Rudolf Schoeller, named substitute driver for the car, was not used during the Grand Prix. [7]
^6 — Vittorio Marzotto, Sergio Sighinolfi and Reg Parnell were the designated substitute drivers for cars #38, #40 and #42, respectively. None of the three was used during the Grand Prix. [7]

Classification

Qualifying

PosNoDriverConstructorTimeGap
18 Flag of Italy.svg Alberto Ascari Ferrari 2:14.8–
210 Flag of Italy.svg Nino Farina Ferrari 2:16.2+ 1.4
312 Flag of Italy.svg Piero Taruffi Ferrari 2:17.1+ 2.3
44 Flag of France.svg Jean Behra Gordini 2:19.3+ 4.5
52 Flag of France.svg Robert Manzon Gordini 2:20.4+ 5.6
644 Flag of France.svg Maurice Trintignant Simca-Gordini-Gordini 2:21.6+ 6.8
722 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Collins HWM-Alta 2:21.9+ 7.1
86 Flag of Thailand.svg Prince Bira Gordini 2:23.0+ 8.2
914 Flag of France.svg Louis Rosier Ferrari 2:27.0+ 12.2
1024 Flag of France.svg Yves Giraud-Cabantous HWM-Alta 2:27.5+ 12.7
1116 Flag of Switzerland.svg Toulo de Graffenried Maserati 2:28.6+ 13.8
1218 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Harry Schell Maserati 2:29.0+ 14.2
1326 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Whitehead Alta 2:29.5+ 14.7
1420 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lance Macklin HWM-Alta 2:30.9+ 16.1
1542 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike Hawthorn Cooper-Bristol 2:32.0+ 17.2
1628 Flag of France.svg Philippe Étancelin Maserati 2:33.7+ 18.9
1736 Flag of Switzerland.svg Rudi Fischer Ferrari 2:34.6+ 19.8
1838 Flag of Italy.svg Franco Comotti Ferrari 2:36.0+ 21.2
1940 Flag of Italy.svg Piero Carini Ferrari 2:37.7+ 22.9
2032 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Johnny Claes Simca-Gordini-Gordini 2:39.6+ 24.8

Race

PosNoDriverConstructorLapsTime/RetiredGridPoints
18 Flag of Italy.svg Alberto Ascari Ferrari 773:02:42.619 1
210 Flag of Italy.svg Nino Farina Ferrari 76+ 1 lap26
312 Flag of Italy.svg Piero Taruffi Ferrari 75+ 2 laps34
42 Flag of France.svg Robert Manzon Gordini 74+ 3 laps53
544 Flag of France.svg Maurice Trintignant Simca-Gordini-Gordini 72+ 5 laps62
622 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Collins HWM-Alta 70+ 7 laps8
74 Flag of France.svg Jean Behra Gordini 70+ 7 laps4
828 Flag of France.svg Philippe Étancelin Maserati 70+ 7 laps18
920 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lance Macklin HWM-Alta 70+ 7 laps14
1024 Flag of France.svg Yves Giraud Cabantous HWM-Alta 68+ 9 laps10
1136 Flag of Switzerland.svg Rudi Fischer
Flag of Switzerland.svg Peter Hirt 		Ferrari 66+ 11 laps17
1238 Flag of Italy.svg Franco Comotti Ferrari 63+ 14 laps16
Ret6 Flag of Thailand.svg Prince Bira Gordini 56Axle7
Ret42 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike Hawthorn Cooper-Bristol 51Ignition15
Ret16 Flag of Switzerland.svg Toulo de Graffenried
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Harry Schell 		Maserati 34Brakes12
Ret26 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Whitehead Alta 17Clutch13
Ret14 Flag of France.svg Louis Rosier Ferrari 17Engine9
Ret32 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Johnny Claes Simca-Gordini-Gordini 15Engine20
Ret18 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Harry Schell Maserati 7Gearbox11
Ret40 Flag of Italy.svg Piero Carini Ferrari 2Engine19
DNS34 Flag of Switzerland.svg Rudi Fischer Ferrari 0Engine
Source: [8]
Notes

Shared drives

Championship standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings
PosDriverPoints
1uparrow green.svg 11 Flag of Italy.svg Alberto Ascari 18
1downarrow red.svg 12 Flag of Italy.svg Piero Taruffi 13
1uparrow green.svg 13 Flag of Italy.svg Nino Farina 12
1downarrow red.svg 14 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Troy Ruttman 8
1uparrow green.svg 35 Flag of France.svg Robert Manzon 7
Source: [9]

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References

  1. ↑ Hodges, David (1967). The French Grand Prix. pp. 152–155.
  2. ↑ "French GP, 1952 Race Report". Grandprix.com. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  3. ↑ "1952 French Grand Prix - Race Entries". manipef1.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  4. ↑ "1952 ACF GP - Entry List". chicanef1.com. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 "France 1952 - Result". statsf1.com. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  6. 1 2 "French Grand Prix 1952 - Results". ESPN F1. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  7. 1 2 "France 1952 - Race entrants". statsf1.com. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  8. ↑ "1952 French Grand Prix". formula1.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  9. ↑ "France 1952 - Championship • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
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