1956 World Sportscar Championship

Last updated

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.

Contents

Following the major accident at the 1955 24 Hours of Le Mans that killed 80 spectators, 1955 champions Mercedes-Benz officially withdrew from motorsports and thus did not defend their title. This led to the fewest factory-backed competitors for many years.

The championship was won by Ferrari.

Championship summary

Ferrari won the championship with the 860 Monza and 290 MM (pictured) Ferrari 1956 290 MM Scaglietti Spyder 2.jpg
Ferrari won the championship with the 860 Monza and 290 MM (pictured)
Maserati placed second with the Maserati 300S (pictured) Maserati 300 S.jpg
Maserati placed second with the Maserati 300S (pictured)
Jaguar placed third with the D-Type Jaguar D-type Paris 2010.jpg
Jaguar placed third with the D-Type

The 1956 World Sports Car Championship was ultimately contested over five races. While much of the controversy surrounding the tragedy at Le Mans had subsided by January 1956, those in the international racing community were still contending with the fallout. The organisers of the 24 Heures du Mans introduced regulations reducing the maximum engine capacity for prototype cars to 2.5 litres, which caused the race to lose championship status, but would return to the championship in 1957. Both the RAC Tourist Trophy and Carrera Panamericana were given championship status, but neither was run amid safety concerns. The RAC Tourist Trophy would never return to the Dundrod Circuit, and the Carrera Panamericana, the 1955 edition also cancelled, in spite of many attempts would never return. Returning to the championship was the 1000 km Nürburgring after being cancelled in 1955. Since championship regulations required at least five qualifying events actually be held, since Le Mans no longer qualified, and the Tourist Trophy and Carrera Panamericana cancelled, the Sveriges Grand Prix was upgraded to championship status in recognition of a successful race in 1955. [1] [2] [3]

The championship remained as a contest for manufacturers, with the factory teams of Scuderia Ferrari, Maserati, Aston Martin and Jaguar leading the way. As in previous seasons, the majority of the fields were made up of amateur or gentlemen drivers, often racing against professional racing drivers with experience in Formula One.

For Ferrari's assault on the 1956 championship, they settled on using virtually identical four- and twelve-cylinder-engined machines. Both cars shared exactly the same chassis and similarly styling. Carrozzeria Scaglietti built the aluminum bodies for both. The more successful of the two was the V12-engined 290 MM, which was driven to a debut victory in the Mille Miglia by Eugenio Castellotti. In the season finale, Phil Hill and Maurice Trintignant added a second win to the 290 MM's tally in only its third major race. The sister 860 Monza had an equally impressive first outing, with a one-two victory in the Florida International Grand Prix of Endurance. During the remainder of the season, the big fours supported Ferrari's chase for the championship with valuable podium finishes. With three very convincing wins in the five rounds, Ferrari were crowned World Champions at the end of the season. For the third time in four seasons, the title had gone to Maranello. [2] [4]

Ferrari's chief rivals, Maserati hired Stirling Moss for the season, and prepared a works team for all the rounds of the championship. At the opening round, the 1000 km Buenos Aires, the factory efforts paid off, when all the large 4.0-litre Ferraris suffered mechanical problems, and Moss and local hero, Carlos Menditéguy took overall victory, in a 300S. For the next rounds at Sebring and the Mille Miglia, Maserati prepared the 350S. The cars were on pace but succumbed to the competition. The Internationales ADAC 1000 Kilometer Rennen auf dem Nürburgring changed this when Moss and Jean Behra took over a second car and drove it to victory. The championship ended at the Sveriges Grand Prix and Maserati had high hopes to gain enough points to win over Ferrari. Despite bringing five cars, all the Maseratis retired, leaving Ferrari to take all the top five places and the championship. [2] [5]

Race schedule

RoundDateEventCircuit or LocationWinning driverWinning teamWinning carResults
1January 29 Flag of Argentina.svg 1000km of Buenos Aires Autódromo Municipal-Avenida Paz Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stirling Moss
Flag of Argentina.svg Carlos Menditéguy
Flag of Italy.svg Officine Alfieri Maserati Flag of Italy.svg Maserati 300S Results
2March 24 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Florida International Grand Prix of Endurance Sebring International Raceway Flag of Argentina.svg Juan Manuel Fangio
Flag of Italy.svg Eugenio Castellotti
Flag of Italy.svg Scuderia Ferrari Flag of Italy.svg Ferrari 860 Monza Results
3April 29 Flag of Italy.svg Mille Miglia Brescia-Rome-Brescia Flag of Italy.svg Eugenio Castellotti Flag of Italy.svg Scuderia Ferrari Flag of Italy.svg Ferrari 290 MM Results
4May 27 Flag of Germany.svg Internationales ADAV 1000 Kilometre Rennen auf dem Nürburgring Nürburgring Flag of Italy.svg Piero Taruffi
Flag of the United States.svg Harry Schell
Flag of France.svg Jean Behra
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stirling Moss
Flag of Italy.svg Officine Alfieri Maserati Flag of Italy.svg Maserati 300S Results
5August 12 Flag of Sweden.svg Sveriges Grand Prix Råbelövsbanan Flag of the United States.svg Phil Hill
Flag of France.svg Maurice Trintignant
Flag of Italy.svg Scuderia Ferrari Flag of Italy.svg Ferrari 290 MM Results

Points system

Championship points were awarded for the first six places in each race in the order of 8-6-4-3-2-1. [6] The best result per marque at each race counted. [6] Only the best 3 results out of the 5 races could be retained. [7]

Championship standings

Pos. [8] Make [8] Flag of Argentina.svg BUE Flag of the United States.svg SEB Flag of Italy.svg MMI Flag of Germany.svg NÜR Flag of Sweden.svg SWE Total [9]
1 Flag of Italy.svg Ferrari (6)88(6)824 (36)
2 Flag of Italy.svg Maserati 82818
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jaguar 437
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Aston Martin 325
5 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche 134
6 Flag of Germany.svg Mercedes-Benz 112

Note:

The cars

The following models contributed to the net championship point scores of their respective makes. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swedish Grand Prix</span> Formula One Grand Prix

The Swedish Grand Prix was a round of the Formula One World Championship from 1973 to 1978. It took place at the Scandinavian Raceway in Anderstorp, about 65 kilometres (40 mi) from Jönköping, in Småland, Sweden. The first race to hold the title of Grand Prix in Sweden was the Swedish Winter Grand Prix, an ice race similar to races held in Estonia, Finland and Norway. The first Swedish Summer Grand Prix was held in 1933, but was not repeated until 1949.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luigi Musso</span> Italian racing driver (1924–1958)

Luigi Musso was an Italian racing driver. In 1955 he joined the Ferrari team, entering into a fierce rivalry with Mike Hawthorn and Peter Collins, which boosted the performance of the team, but also encouraged greater risk-taking. According to Musso's fiancée, he was deep in debt by the time of the lucrative 1958 French Grand Prix, where he was fatally injured, somersaulting into a ditch while chasing Hawthorn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Collins (racing driver)</span> British racing driver (1931–1958)

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eugenio Castellotti</span> Italian racing driver (1930–1957)

Eugenio Castellotti was a racing driver from Italy. He won the 1956 Mille Miglia and 1956 12 Hours of Sebring, and took several Formula One World Championship podiums. His career was cut short by a fatal testing accident at Modena in 1957. He was nicknamed "Il Bello".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hans Herrmann</span> German racing driver (born 1928)

Hans Herrmann is a retired Formula One and sports car racing driver from Stuttgart, Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piero Taruffi</span> Italian racing driver (1906–1988)

Piero Taruffi was an Italian racing driver. He raced in Formula One from 1950 to 1956, winning the 1952 Swiss Grand Prix and finishing 3rd in the 1952 World Drivers' Championship. His most notable motorsports victory was the 1957 Mille Miglia, the final running of the cross-country sports car race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Sportscar Championship</span> Defunct auto racing series

The World Sportscar Championship was the world series run for sports car racing by the FIA from 1953 to 1992. The championship evolved from a small collection of the most important sportscar, endurance, and road racing events in Europe and North America with dozens of gentleman drivers at the grid to a professional racing series where the world's largest automakers spent millions of dollars per year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maserati 450S</span> Motor vehicle

The Maserati 450S is a racing car made by Italian automobile manufacturer Maserati for participating in FIA's endurance World Sportscar Championship racing. A total of nine were made.

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 1957 World Sportscar Championship season was the fifth season of the FIA World Sportscar Championship. It was a series for sportscars that ran in many worldwide endurance events. It ran from 20 January 1957 to 3 November 1957, and comprised seven races.

The 1960 World Sportscar Championship was the eighth FIA World Sportscar Championship. It was contested over a five race series commencing 31 January 1960 and ending 26 June 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aston Martin DBR1</span> 1956 sports racing car

The Aston Martin DBR1 is a sports racing car built by Aston Martin starting in 1956, intended for the World Sportscar Championship as well as non-championship sportscar races at the time. It is most famous as the victor of the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans, Aston Martin's only outright victory at the endurance classic. It is one of only three cars in the 1950s to win both the World Sports Car Championship and Le Mans 24 Hours in the same year. In addition the six World Sports Car Championship victories was a record for any car in the 1950s and remained a record in the championship until surpassed by the Ferrari 250TR. The three consecutive triumphs in 1959 at the Nürburgring, Le Mans and the Tourist Trophy equalled the record set by the Ferrari 250TR with its three consecutive victories at the start of the 1958 season.

Throughout its history, the Italian auto manufacturer Maserati has participated in various forms of motorsport including Formula One, sportscar racing and touring car racing, both as a works team and through private entrants. Maserati currently competes in Formula E in partnership with the Monaco Sports Group (MSG) as Maserati MSG Racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1956 Mille Miglia</span> Auto race held in Italy

The 23. edizione Mille Miglia was an auto race held on a 992.332 mile (1597 km) course made up entirely of public roads around Italy, mostly on the outer parts of the country on 28–29 April 1956. The route was based on a round trip between Brescia and Rome, with start/finish, in Brescia. It was the 3rd round of the 1956 World Sportscar Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1956 Swedish Grand Prix</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1956 1000 km of Nürburgring</span>

The 2. Internationales ADAC 1000 Kilometer Rennen auf dem Nürburgring took place on 27 May, on the Nürburgring Nordschleife,. It was also the fourth round of the F.I.A. World Sports Car Championship. This was the first time the event had taken place, since it was dropped from the championship following its inaugural event in 1953. It was also round two of the German Sportscar Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1957 1000 km of Nürburgring</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferrari Jano engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

Vittorio Jano designed a new 60° V12 engine for sports car racing for Ferrari. This new engine, introduced in 1956, combined elements of both Colombo and Lampredi engines with new features. Engine architecture was more of Lampredi school but retained smaller Colombo internal measurements. Jano moved to Ferrari along with his designs for the Lancia D50 in 1955 and went on to design not only a new V12 but also a family of the Dino V6 engines soon after. Some of the technical ideas came from the Jano's Lancia V8 DOHC engine, intended for Formula One. This family of engines replaced Lampredi inline-4s known from Ferrari Monza line and went on to win many international races and titles for Ferrari. The design team comprised Jano as well as Vittorio Bellentani, Alberto Massimino, and Andrea Fraschetti.

References

  1. Posthumus, Cyril (1961). World Sports Car Championship.
  2. 1 2 3 "World Sportscar Championship - Championships - Racing Sports Cars".
  3. "Reference at www.sportscardigest.com".
  4. "1956 World Sportscar Championship winning Ferraris".
  5. "1955 Maserati 300S | Maserati". 18 April 2016.
  6. 1 2 Peter Higham, The Guinness Guide to International Motor Racing, 1995, page 260
  7. 1 2 Peter Higham, The Guinness Guide to International Motor Racing, 1995, page 264
  8. 1 2 World Sports Car Championship (1953-1961), FIA Yearbook of Automobile Sport, Grey section, pages 118 & 119
  9. "1956 World Sportscar Championship, www.wspr-racing.com, as archived at web.archive.org". Archived from the original on 2007-09-27.
  10. "World Championship 1956, www.wspr-racing.com, as archived at web.archive.org". Archived from the original on 2007-09-29.

Further reading