1954 RAC Tourist Trophy

Last updated

The 1954 RAC Tourist Trophy was a motor race for Sports Cars which took place on 11 September 1954 on the roads around Dundrod, (County Antrim, Northern Ireland). It was the 21st RAC Tourist Trophy and the fifth race of the 1954 World Sportscar Championship. The Tourist Trophy was awarded to handicap winners Paul Armagnac and Gérard Laureau driving a D.B. HBR Panhard however the overall race win for championship points was attained by Mike Hawthorn and Maurice Trintignant driving a Ferrari 750 Monza.

Contents

Going into the race, Ferrari was leading the World Sportscar Championship by eight points from Lancia. Victory by the Italian marque gave it the title for the second season running.

Dundrod Circuit Dundrod Circuit.svg
Dundrod Circuit

Report

Entry

A grand total of 56 racing cars were registered for this event, of which 52 arrived for practice and qualifying. Unlike 1953, many of the top European teams travelled to Northern Ireland from mainland Europe. Scuderia Ferrari, who could win the World Championship on the streets of County Antrim, entered two Ferrari 750 Monzas for the Le Mans winners José Froilán González and Maurice Trintignant, back-up by Mike Hawthorn and Umberto Maglioli. Hoping the keep the championship alive, Scuderia Lancia sent two of their D24s and two D25s (re-bodied D24s) over. Amongst their line-up was Juan Manuel Fangio and Alberto Ascari. From England, the two work teams of Jaguar Cars Ltd. and Aston Martin. The team from Coventry arrived with three cars, Jaguar D-Types for the all British pairings of Tony Rolt/Duncan Hamilton; Stirling Moss/Peter Walker and Peter Whitehead/Ken Wharton. David Brown also brought along three of his team’s DB3S, with Reg Parnell pairing up alongside Roy Salvadori. Graham Whitehead/Dennis Poore and winners of last year’s RAC Tourist Trophy, Peter Collins/Pat Griffith made up the crew of the other two Astons. Also from England came works entries from Automobiles Frazer Nash, Lotus Engineering, HWM and Kieft Cars. There were joined manufactures teams from Maserati, Osca and Deutsch et Bonnet. [1]

Race

Following an accident in practice, the Ferrari 750 Monza of González, did not start and Trintignant was transferred into the remaining car of Hawthorn. This resulted in Maglioli also missing out. [2]

A Ferrari 750 Monza, similar to that driven by Hawthorn/Trintignant Ferrari 750 Monza fl.jpg
A Ferrari 750 Monza, similar to that driven by Hawthorn/Trintignant

Although World Championship points were awarded based on scratch positions, the race itself was run as a handicap race, so the distance each car needed to complete depended on engine capacity. The race was scheduled for 94 laps, however no car started from scratch, the largest engined vehicles being the Lancias with a handicap of 4 laps and 5 minutes, 11.7 seconds. The race would end after the first car completed 94 handicap laps. [3]

The race was held in drying conditions, but rain returned during the race. Despite this, the Italian teams would finish in the first three places. Car number 15 (Scuderia Ferrari), driven by Mike Hawthorn and Maurice Trintignant took an impressive victory, winning in a time of 7hrs 14:13 mins., averaging a speed of 90.703 mph. Second place went to the Lancia of Piero Taruffi and Juan Manuel Fangio their D24, just 2:16 minutes behind. The podium was completed by another Lancia, that of Robert Manzon and Eugenio Castellotti, two laps adrift. Meanwhile, the HWM Jaguar 108 of George Abecassis and Jim Mayers were the best of the English entrants, finishing in fourth place, with the best of the works-Jaguars further behind in sixth. [4] [5] [6]

This year’s Tourist Trophy could come up with a sport historical particularity. Similar to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the handicap index rating was extended in the TT. In this rating, power and engine capacity of the vehicle in relation to the weight were set. This led to a handicap for large-displacement vehicles. This index score was extended parallel to the overall rating. Although the overall standings was used for the World Sportscar Championship, the index score was used to the decide the outcome of the Tourist Trophy. Thus this was won by the small D.B. HBR Panhard by Paul Armagnac and Gérard Laureau , who finished only 21st place in the overall standings.

Having won the scratch race, Ferrari gained the necessary points advance over Lancia to take the World Championship for Manufacturers title for the second season in a row, with one round remaining in Mexico. Should Ferrari win the 1954 Carrera Panamericana, they would have the maximum score available due to have the points are awarded, as only the best 4 results out of the 7 races could be retained by each manufacturer.

Official Classification

Scratch Race (for Championship points)

Class Winners are in Bold text.

PosNoClassDriverEntrantChassisLapsReason Out
1st15S3.0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike Hawthorn Flag of France.svg Maurice Trintignant Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 750 Monza 7hr 14:13, 84
2nd3S5.0 Flag of Italy.svg Piero Taruffi Flag of Argentina.svg Juan Manuel Fangio Scuderia Lancia Lancia D24 7hr 16:26, 84
3rd4S5.0 Flag of France.svg Robert Manzon Flag of Italy.svg Eugenio Castellotti Scuderia Lancia Lancia D24 7hr 16:27 82
4th9S5.0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg George Abecassis Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jim Mayers H. W. Motors HWM Jaguar 108 79
5th57S2.0 Flag of Italy.svg Luigi Musso Flag of Italy.svg Sergio Mantovani Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati A6GCS/53 79
6th6S3.0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ken Wharton Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Whitehead Jaguar Car Ltd. Jaguar D-Type 79
7th11S5.0 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jacques Swaters Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Roger Laurent Ecurie Francorchamps Jaguar C-Type 78
8th19S3.0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham Whitehead Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dennis Poore David Brown Aston Martin DB3S 78
9th31S2.0 Flag of the United States.svg Bob Said Flag of the United States.svg Masten Gregory Bob Said Ferrari 500 Mondial 75
10th35S2.0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Brown Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike Keen Robert J. Chase Cooper-Bristol T20 Sports 74
11th37S1.5 Flag of Ireland.svg Redmond Gallagher Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Don Beauman Redmond Gallagher Gordini T15S 73
12th32S2.0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dick Odlum Flag of Ireland.svg Cecil Vard Automobiles Frazer Nash Ltd. Frazer Nash Le Mans Replicas Mk II 72
13th10S5.0 Flag of Ireland.svg Joe Flynn Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Torrie Large Joe Kelly Jaguar C-Type 72
14th20S3.0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stirling Moss Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Walker Jaguar Cars Ltd. Jaguar D-Type 71
15th39S1.5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ken McAlpine Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Fairman Kenneth McAlpine Connaught AL/SR 71
16th45S1.5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ian Burgess Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Palmer-Morewood Bob Said Osca MT4 1350 70
17th30S2.0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Brian McCaldin Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Charles Eyre-Maunsell Brian McCaldin Triumph TR2 69
18th27S2.0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Johnstone Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ian Titterington J.B. Johnstone Triumph TR2 69
DNF1S5.0 Flag of Italy.svg Alberto Ascari Flag of Italy.svg Luigi Villoresi Scuderia Lancia Lancia D25 69Differential
19th28S2.0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ted Lund Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Blackburn Ted Lund Triumph TR2 68
20th29S2.0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bob Dickson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg W. Ken Richardson Robert Dickson Triumph TR2 68
21st52S750 Flag of France.svg Paul Armagnac Flag of France.svg Gérard Laureau Automobiles Deutsch et Bonnet D.B. HBR Panhard 67
22nd25S2.0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Leslie Brooke Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Scott Douglas Leslie Brooke Triumph TR2 67
23rd38S1.5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Raymond Flower Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ernie McMillen Raymond Flower Porsche 356 66
24th26S2.0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ray Merrick Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Maurice Tew Ray Merrick Triumph TR2 65
DISQ58S2.0 Flag of Italy.svg Cesare Perdisa Flag of Switzerland.svg Benoît Musy Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati A6GCS 63Assistance
25th47S1.1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bob Ferguson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Rippon Kieft Cars Ltd. Kieft-Climax 1100 60
NC23S2.0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin Davis Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Horace Gould Gilby Engineering Maserati A6GCS 60
26th54S750 Flag of France.svg Guy Allegre Flag of France.svg Albert Barbey Marocaine Panhard Dyna Z 58
DNF17S3.0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Reg Parnell Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Roy Salvadori David Brown Aston Martin DB3S 57Accident
DISQ22S2.0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg J. E. Byrnes Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ronnie Adams J. E. Byrnes Kieft-Bristol 48Mechanical
DNF51S750 Flag of France.svg René Bonnet Flag of France.svg Élie Bayol Automobiles Deutsch et Bonnet D.B. HBR Panhard 47Accident
DNF46S1.1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dick Steed Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Scott-Russell Lotus Engineering Lotus-MG Mark VIII 46Wheel
DNF56S2.0 Flag of Italy.svg Luigi Bellucci Flag of Italy.svg Giorgio Scarlatti Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati A6GCS 37Cooling system
DNF5S5.0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Rolt Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Duncan Hamilton Jaguar Cars Ltd. Jaguar D-Type 34Oil pressure
DNF49S1.1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Reece Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jackie G. Reece Giacomo Caprara Osca MT4 1100 33Accident
DNF36S1.5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Westcott Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tommy Bridger Kieft Cars Ltd. Kieft-MG 32Gearbox
DNF42S1.5 Flag of South Africa (1928-1994).svg Nigel Allen Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike Anthony Lotus Engineering Lotus-MG Mark VIII 20Track rod
DNF50S1.1 Flag of Germany.svg Harry Merkel Flag of Germany.svg Luc Buchberger Harry Merkel Porsche 550 19DNF
DNF18S3.0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Collins Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Pat Griffith David Brown Aston Martin DB3S 15Final drive
DNF41S1.5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin Chapman Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Costin Lotus Engineering Lotus-MG Mark VIII 15Accident
DNF43S1.5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Brian Naylor Flag of the United Kingdom.svg George Pitt Brian Naylor Cooper-MG T29 15Engine
DNF55S750 Flag of France.svg Pascal Berinstein Flag of France.svg Georges Trouis Franco-Brittanique D.B. HBR Panhard 14DNF
DNF16S3.0 Flag of Ireland.svg Joe Kelly Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Desmond Titterington Joe Kelly Ferrari 750 Monza 13Gearbox
DNF53S750 Flag of France.svg Jean Lucas Flag of Switzerland.svg Jean-Pierre Feuz Automobiles Deutsch et Bonnet D.B. HBR Renault 13DNF
DNF2S5.0 Flag of Argentina.svg Juan Manuel Fangio Flag of Italy.svg Eugenio Castellotti Scuderia Lancia Lancia D25 11Engine, oil leak
DNF8S5.0 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tony Gaze Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Riseley-Prichard H. W. Motors HWM Jaguar 105 9Engine
DNF21S2.0 Flag of Italy.svg Roberto Sgorbati Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lance Macklin Automobili Osca Osca 2000S 9Ignition
DNF34S2.0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Wilson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Brooks Henry Ohara Moore Frazer Nash Sebring 9DNF
DNF48S1.1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Don Parker Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Boshier-Jones Kieft Cars Ltd Kieft-Climax 1100 6Suspension
DNF44S1.5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Jackson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter LanePeter Jackson Cooper-MG T29 5Engine
DNS14S3.0 Flag of Argentina.svg José Froilán González Flag of France.svg Maurice Trintignant Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 750 Monza Accident in practice

[7] [8] [9]

Scratch Race - Class Winners

ClassWinners
Sports 50003Lancia D24Taruffi / Fangio
Sports 300015Ferrari 750 MonzaHawthorn / Trintignant
Sports 200057Maserati A6GCS/53Musso / Mantovani
Sports 150037Gordini T15SGallagher / Beauman
Sports 110047Kieft-Climax 1100Ferguson / Rippon
Sports 75052D.B. HBR PanhardArmagnac / Laureau

[11]

Overall Positions (Handicap event / adjusted result)

Top Six :

PosNoClassDriverEntrantChassisLaps
1st52S750 Flag of France.svg Paul Armagnac Flag of France.svg Gérard Laureau Automobiles Deutsch et Bonnet D.B. HBR Panhard 94
2nd15S3.0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike Hawthorn Flag of France.svg Maurice Trintignant Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 750 Monza 90
3rd57S2.0 Flag of Italy.svg Luigi Musso Flag of Italy.svg Sergio Mantovani Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati A6GCS/53 89
4th3S5.0 Flag of Italy.svg Piero Taruffi Flag of Argentina.svg Juan Manuel Fangio Scuderia Lancia Lancia D24 89
5th6S3.0 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ken Wharton Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Whitehead Jaguar Car Ltd. Jaguar D-Type 87
6th4S5.0 Flag of France.svg Robert Manzon Flag of Italy.svg Eugenio Castellotti Scuderia Lancia Lancia D24 87

[12]

Standings after the race

PosChampionshipPoints
1 Flag of Italy.svg Ferrari 30
2 Flag of Italy.svg Lancia 20
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jaguar 10
4 Flag of Italy.svg O.S.C.A. 8
5 Flag of Italy.svg Maserati 7

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 four results out of the six races could be retained by each manufacturer.

Related Research Articles

Mike Hawthorn British racing driver (1929–1959)

John Michael Hawthorn was a British racing driver. He became the United Kingdom's first Formula One World Champion driver in 1958, whereupon he announced his retirement, having been profoundly affected by the death of his teammate and friend Peter Collins two months earlier in the 1958 German Grand Prix. Hawthorn also won the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans, but was haunted by his involvement in the disastrous crash that marred the race. Hawthorn died in a road accident three months after retiring.

The 1957 Formula One season was the 11th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1957 World Championship of Drivers which commenced on 13 January 1957 and ended on 8 September after eight races. Juan Manuel Fangio won his fourth consecutive title, his fifth in total, in his final championship. A feat that would not be beaten until Michael Schumacher in 2003. The season also included numerous non-championship races for Formula One cars.

Peter Collins (racing driver) British racing driver

Peter John Collins was a British racing driver. He was killed in the 1958 German Grand Prix, just weeks after winning the RAC British Grand Prix. He started his career as a 17-year-old in 1949, impressing in Formula 3 races, finishing third in the 1951 Autosport National Formula 3 Championship.

Umberto Maglioli Italian racing driver

Umberto Maglioli was a racing driver from Italy. He participated in 10 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 13 September 1953. He achieved 2 podiums, and scored a total of 3 13 championship points. He participated in the Targa Florio race nineteen times, winning it three times, and the Mille Miglia ten times, with the best result being a second place in the Lancia Aurelia B20 GT in 1951.

1955 24 Hours of Le Mans Sports race

The 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 23rd 24 Hours of Le Mans and took place on 11 and 12 June 1955 on Circuit de la Sarthe. It was also the fourth round of the F.I.A. World Sports Car Championship. During the race, Pierre Levegh crashed into a crowd of spectators, killing 84 and injuring 120 in the deadliest accident in motor racing history.

1954 24 Hours of Le Mans

The 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans was a 22nd race for Sports Cars, and took place on 12 and 13 June 1954, at the Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France. It was also the fourth race of the 1954 World Sportscar Championship. The race was won by José Froilán González and Maurice Trintignant driving a Ferrari 375 Plus.

Ferrari Monza Motor vehicle

The Ferrari Monza is one of a series of cars built by Ferrari. In the early 1950s, Ferrari shifted from using the compact Gioacchino Colombo-designed V12 engine in its smallest class of sports racers to a line of four-cylinder engines designed by Aurelio Lampredi. Inspired by the success of the light and reliable 2.5 L 553 F1 car, the four-cylinder sports racers competed successfully through the late 1950s, culminating with the famed 500 Mondial and 750 Monza.

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

The 1954 World Sportscar Championship season was the second season of FIA World Sportscar Championship motor racing. It featured a series of six endurance races for sportscars, contested from 24 January to 23 November 1954. The championship was won by Ferrari.

The 1955 World Sportscar Championship season was the third season of FIA World Sportscar Championship motor racing. It featured a series of six endurance races for sportscars, contested from 23 January to 16 October 1955.

The 1956 World Sportscar Championship was the fourth annual FIA World Sportscar Championship. It was a contested by sportscars over a series of five races from 29 January to 12 August 1956.

1954 1000 km Buenos Aires

The 1954 1000 km Buenos Aires was a motor race for sports cars which was held on January 24 at the Autódromo Municipal-Avenida Paz,. It was the opening race of the 1954 World Sportscar Championship and was also the inaugural 1000 km Buenos Aires. The race was won by Giuseppe Farina and Umberto Maglioli, driving a Ferrari 375 MM

1953 1000km of Nürburgring

The 1953 ADAC 1000 Kilometer-Rennen Nürburgring took place on 30 August, on the Nürburgring Nordschleife,. It was also the fifth round of the F.I.A. World Sports Car Championship. This was the first time the event had taken place, although it would not run again until 1956.

1954 12 Hours of Sebring

The 1954 12 Hours of Sebring was a motor race for sports cars, staged on 7 March 1954 at the Sebring International Raceway, Florida, United States. It was the second race of the 1954 World Sportscar Championship and was the fourth 12 Hours of Sebring. The race was won by Bill Lloyd and Stirling Moss driving an Osca MT4 1450.

1955 1000 km Buenos Aires

The 1955 1000 km Buenos Aires took place on 23 January, on the Autódromo Municipal-Avenida Paz,. It was the second running of the race, and once again, it was opening round of the F.I.A. World Sports Car Championship. For this event, a longer section of the Autopista General Pablo Riccheri route was added, making the circuit 17.136 km in length.

1955 12 Hours of Sebring

The 1955 Florida International Twelve Hour Grand Prix of Endurance took place on 13 March, on the Sebring International Raceway. It was the second round of the F.I.A. World Sports Car Championship. For the fifth running of the event, the 5.2 mile course had been widened and smoothed with a new asphalt topping laid down. This was for safety and would allow the cars to achieve greater speed, especially in some of the corners.

1955 RAC Tourist Trophy

The 1955 RAC Tourist Trophy took place on 17 September, on the roads around Dundrod,. It was also the fifth round of the F.I.A. World Sports Car Championship, however it was the first championship race following the horrendous tragedy at Le Mans. It was also the Golden Jubilee year for the Tourist Trophy. Going into the race, Ferrari were leading the Manufacturers Championship by four points from Jaguar. Victory for the Italian marque would put them in a strong position to win a third successive title.

The 39a Targa Florio took place on 16 October, around the Circuito delle Madonie Piccolo,. It was also the sixth and final round of the F.I.A. World Sports Car Championship. The title lay between Ferrari, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz, with Ferrari leading 19 points to 16 from the other two marques.

1956 Swedish Grand Prix

The 1956 Sveriges Grand Prix took place on 12 August, at the Råbelövsbanan, Kristianstad. Although this was the second running of the race, it was the first time as a round of the F.I.A. World Sports Car Championship. The previous year's race, won by Juan Manuel Fangio was the first big race held in Sweden, and the organiser, Kungl Automobil Klubben dealt with it so well, the F.I.A. promoted the race. For this year's event, the circuit was widened and resurfaced.

1957 1000km of Nürburgring

The 3. Internationales ADAC 1000 Kilometer Rennen auf dem Nürburgring took place on 26 May 1957, on the Nürburgring Nordschleife,. It was also the fourth round of the F.I.A. World Sports Car Championship. This would the first championship since the dreadful events in the Mille Miglia, Italy just a fortnight ago, where Alfonso de Portago crashed killing himself, his co-driver and nine spectators.

References

  1. "Tourist Trophy 1954 - Entry List - Racing Sports Cars".
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-10-21. Retrieved 2014-11-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Hough, Richard (1957). Tourist Trophy: The History of Britain's Greatest Motor Race. pp. 225–232.
  4. "Tourist Trophy 1954 - Racing Sports Cars".
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2014-11-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-10-21. Retrieved 2014-11-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-10-21. Retrieved 2014-11-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Tourist Trophy 1954 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars".
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2014-11-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2014-11-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. "Tourist Trophy 1954 - Racing Sports Cars".
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2014-11-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
World Sportscar Championship
Previous race:
24 hours of Le Mans
1954 season Next race:
1954 Carrera Panamericana