1953 World Sportscar Championship

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The 1953 World Sportscar Championship was the first FIA World Sportscar Championship. It was a seven race [1] international motor racing series for sports cars contested from 8 March to 23 November 1953. The championship was won by Ferrari. [1]

Contents

Season

Ferrari won the championship with its 340 MM (pictured) and 375 MM models Ferrari 340 MM (1953) crop.jpg
Ferrari won the championship with its 340 MM (pictured) and 375 MM models
Jaguar placed second with its C-Type Retromobile 2011 - Jaguar Type C - 1953 -6.jpg
Jaguar placed second with its C-Type
Aston Martin placed third with its DB3 (pictured) and DB3S models 1952 Aston Martin DB3.jpg
Aston Martin placed third with its DB3 (pictured) and DB3S models
Lancia placed equal fourth with its D20 & D24 models. A D24 is pictured above Lancia D24 (24716921540).jpg
Lancia placed equal fourth with its D20 & D24 models. A D24 is pictured above
Cunningham placed equal fourth with its C-4R (pictured) and C-5R models Cunningham C4R.JPG
Cunningham placed equal fourth with its C-4R (pictured) and C-5R models

The 1953 World Sports Car Championship was contested over a seven race series. Now legendary and shockingly dangerous races such as the Mille Miglia and the Carrera Panamericana were part of an international race calendar, accompanied by the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 24 Hours of Spa, with the inaugural race being the 12 Hours of Sebring in the United States.

The Championship was for manufacturers, and works teams such as Scuderia Ferrari, Lancia, Aston Martin and Jaguar leading the way, but the majority of the fields were made up of amateur or gentlemen drivers, often up against professional racing drivers with experience in Formula One. Sometimes, even the Drivers World Champion joined in.

Entries were divided into classes based on engine displacement. Scuderia Ferrari were a dominant force in 1953, winning three of the seven races.

Season results

Results

RoundDateEventCircuit or LocationWinning driverWinning teamWinning carResults
108/03 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg 12 Hours of Sebring Sebring International Raceway Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Phil Walters
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg John Fitch
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Briggs Cunningham Cunningham C-4R Results
226/04 Flag of Italy.svg Mille Miglia Brescia-Rome-Brescia Flag of Italy.svg Giannino Marzotto
Flag of Italy.svg Marco Crosara
Flag of Italy.svg Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 340 MM Results
313/06
14/06
Flag of France.svg 24 Hours of Le Mans Circuit de la Sarthe Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Rolt
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Duncan Hamilton
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jaguar Cars Ltd. Jaguar C-Type Results
425/07
26/07
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg 24 Hours de Spa Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Flag of Italy.svg Giuseppe Farina
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike Hawthorn
Flag of Italy.svg Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 375 MM Results
530/08 Flag of Germany.svg ADAC 1000km Nürburgring Nürburgring Flag of Italy.svg Alberto Ascari
Flag of Italy.svg Giuseppe Farina
Flag of Italy.svg Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 375 MM Results
605/09 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg RAC Tourist Trophy Dundrod Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Collins
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Pat Griffith
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Aston Martin Ltd. Aston Martin DB3S Results
719/11
23/11
Flag of Mexico (1934-1968).svg Carrera Panamericana Tuxtla Gutiérrez-Ciudad Juárez Flag of Argentina.svg Juan Manuel Fangio
Flag of Italy.svg Gino Bronzoni
Flag of Italy.svg Scuderia Lancia Lancia D24 Results

Championship

Pos.Manufacturer Flag of the United States.svg SEB Flag of Italy.svg MMI Flag of France.svg LMS Flag of Belgium (civil).svg SPA Flag of Germany.svg NÜR Flag of the United Kingdom.svg TTR Flag of Mexico.svg PAN Total
1 Flag of Italy.svg Ferrari (1)8(2)88327 (30)
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jaguar 4866(4)24 (28)
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Aston Martin 62816
4= Flag of Italy.svg Lancia 4812
4= Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cunningham 8412
6 Flag of Italy.svg Alfa Romeo 66
7 Flag of Germany.svg Borgward 44
8= Flag of France.svg D.B. 33
8= Flag of Germany.svg Porsche 33
10= Flag of Italy.svg O.S.C.A. 22
10= Flag of Germany.svg Veritas 22
10= Flag of France.svg Talbot 22
13= Flag of Italy.svg Maserati 11
13= Flag of France.svg Gordini 11
13= Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Frazer Nash 11

Championship points were awarded for the first six places in each race in the order of 8-6-4-3-2-1. Manufacturers were only awarded points for their highest finishing car with no points awarded for positions filled by additional cars. Only the best 4 results out of the 7 races could be retained by each manufacturer. Points earned but not counted towards the championship totals are listed within brackets in the above table.

The cars

The following models contributed to the net championship point scores of their respective manufacturers.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1954 RAC Tourist Trophy</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1958 1000 km Nürburgring</span>

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References

  1. 1 2 World Sports Car Championship (Makes), 1974 FIA Yearbook of Automobile Sport, Grey section, page 122