1955 Avon Trophy

Last updated
1955 Avon Trophy
Non-championship race in the 1955 Formula One season
Castle Combe Circuit track map.svg
Race details
Date1 October 1955
Official name I Avon Trophy
Location Castle Combe Circuit, Wilts.
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 2.961 km (1.84 mi)
Distance 55 laps, 162.831 km (101.2 mi)
Pole position
Driver Vanwall
Time 1:14.4
Fastest lap
Driver Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Harry Schell Vanwall
Time 1:13.6
Podium
First Vanwall
Second Maserati
Third Cooper-Bristol

The I Avon Trophy was a non-championship Grand Prix which was held at the Castle Combe Circuit on 1 October 1955, three weeks after the end of the season. It was the inaugural running of the Avon Trophy, and the last race run to Formula One regulations to be held at the circuit.

Contents

The race was won from pole by American, Harry Schell, ahead of privateer Horace Gould, in second and Bob Gerard in third.

Background

The Castle Combe circuit, converted from an airfield just five years earlier, welcomed Formula One racing for the fourth consecutive year, having hosted the Joe Fry Memorial Trophy in previous years.

The inaugural Avon Trophy, although post-season and non-championship, was attended by numerous championship contenders from the 1955 season, as well as some new faces ahead of 1956. Among those who entered the race were American, Harry Schell, privateer Horace Gould and Frenchman, Louis Rosier. Peter Collins and future championship runner-up, Tony Brooks also attended.

Classification

Qualifying

PosNo.DriverConstructorTime/GapGrid
126 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Harry Schell Vanwall 1m14.41
26 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Horace Gould Maserati +0.62
312 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bob Gerard Cooper-Bristol +0.63
430 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Brooks Connaught-Lea-Francis +2.64
510 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Roy Salvadori Maserati +2.85
64 Flag of France.svg Louis Rosier Maserati +3.26
740 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham Whitehead Connaught-Lea-Francis +3.27
82 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Walker Connaught-Alta +4.48
920 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul Emery Emeryson-Alta +5.89
1034 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Kyffin Cooper-Bristol +9.010
1128 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alastair Birrell Cooper-Bristol +12.411
1232 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dick Gibson Connaught-Lea-Francis +12.412
1314 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Collins Maserati unknown13
1418 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Young Connaught-Alta unknown14
DNA8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Les Leston Maserati
DNA16 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ron Flockhart BRM
DNA22 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike Hawthorn Ferrari
DNA36 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bruce Halford Cooper-Bristol
DNA38 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Young Connaught-Lea-Francis

Race

PosNo.DriverConstructorLapsTime/Retired
126 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Harry Schell Vanwall 551:10:32.8
26 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Horace Gould Maserati 55+20.0 s
312 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bob Gerard Cooper-Bristol 55+32.6 s
410 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Roy Salvadori Maserati 55
530 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tony Brooks Connaught-Lea-Francis 54
640 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham Whitehead Connaught-Lea-Francis 54
732 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dick Gibson Connaught-Lea-Francis 53
82 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Walker Connaught-Alta Gearbox
918 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Michael Young Connaught-Alta
1020 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paul Emery Emeryson-Alta
Ret4 Flag of France.svg Louis Rosier Maserati 18Broken shock absorber
Ret14 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Collins Maserati 9De Dion tube
Ret28 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alastair Birrell Cooper-Bristol
Ret34 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Kyffin Cooper-Bristol

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References

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1955 International Gold Cup
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