OldRacingCars.com

British Grand Prix

Silverstone, 14 May 1949

ResultsLapsTime/Speed
1 Emmanuel de Graffenried Maserati 4CLT-48 [1601] - s/c 4
#2 Enrico Plate (see note 1)
100 3h 52'50.2
77.31 mph
2 Bob Gerard ERA B Type [R14B] - s/c 6
#7 F R Gerard (see note 2)
100 3h 53'55.4
3 Louis Rosier Talbot T26C [110 001] 6
#16 Écurie Rosier (see note 3)
99
4 David Hampshire,
Billy Cotton
ERA B Type [R12B] - s/c 6
#8 D A Hampshire (see note 4)
99
5 Philippe Étancelin Talbot T26C [110 008] 6
#24 P Étancelin (see note 5)
97
6 Fred Ashmore Maserati 4CLT-48 [1593] - s/c 4
#11 R Parnell (see note 6)
97
7 George Abecassis Alta GP [No 1] - s/c 4
#18 G E Abecassis (see note 7)
96
8 Peter Whitehead,
Dudley Folland
Ferrari 125 [10C] - s/c V12
#21 P N Whitehead (see note 8)
95
9 Geoff Ansell,
Brian Shawe-Taylor
ERA B Type [R9B] - s/c 6
#6 G E Ansell (see note 9)
94
10 Johnny Claes Talbot T26C [110 011] 6
#19 Écurie Belge (see note 10)
92
11 Philip Fotheringham-Parker,
Duncan Hamilton
Maserati 6CM [1551] - s/c 6
#22 J D Hamilton & P Fotheringham-Parker
(see note 11)
92
R Raymond Mays,
Ken Richardson
Ferrari 125 [02C] - s/c V12
#4 G A Vandervell (see note 12)
81 accident
R Reg Parnell Maserati 4CLT-48 [1596] - s/c 4
#10 R Parnell (see note 13)
69 transmission
R Roy Salvadori Maserati 4CL [1584] - s/c 4
#25 R F Salvadori
65 valves
R David Murray Maserati 4CL [1569] - s/c 4
#9 D Murray (see note 14)
64 engine
R John Bolster ERA B Type [R5B] - s/c 6
#27 P H Bell (see note 15)
52 accident
R Peter Walker ERA B Type [R10B] - s/c 6
#28 P N Whitehead (see note 16)
50 brakes
R "B Bira" Maserati 4CLT-48 [1598] - s/c 4
#1 Prince Birabongse (see note 17)
47 accident
R Louis Chiron Talbot T26C [110 007] 6
#15 Écurie France (see note 18)
41 universal-joint
R Archie Baring Maserati 4CM [1521] - s/c 4
#26 A A Baring
39 water-leak
R Yves Giraud-Cabantous Talbot T26C [110 006] 6
#17 G Grignard (see note 19)
39 piston
R Luigi Villoresi Maserati 4CLT-48 [1594] - s/c 4
#12 Scuderia Ambrosiana (see note 20)
36 crankshaft
R Cuth Harrison ERA C Type [R8C] - s/c 6
#23 T C Harrison (see note 21)
25 oil pressure
R George Nixon ERA A Type [R2A] - s/c 6
#20 G R Nixon (see note 22)
16 supercharger
R Tony Rolt (4.5 F1) 3.4-litre Alfa-Aitken Special - Alfa Romeo 8
#3 A P R Rolt
15 axle
DNS Enrico Plate Maserati 4CLT-48 [1601] - s/c 4
#2 Enrico Plate (see note 23)
Did not start
DNS Bob Ansell,
George Bainbridge
Maserati 4CL [1555/1579] - s/c 4
#5 R E Ansell
Did not start
DNS Georges Grignard Talbot T26C [110 006] 6
#17 G Grignard (see note 24)
Did not start
DNS John Heath Alta GP [No 1] - s/c 4
#18 G E Abecassis (see note 25)
Did not start
DNS Graham Whitehead ERA B Type [R10B] - s/c 6
#28 P N Whitehead (see note 26)
Did not start
DNA Leslie Johnson,
TASO Mathieson
ERA E Type [GP2] - s/c 6
#14 T A S O Mathieson (see note 27)
Did not arrive
DNA Harry Schell,
Zora Arkus-Duntov
Talbot T26 [MD90130] 6
#29 Horschell Racing Corporation
Did not arrive
DNA Geoff Richardson RRA - ERA s/c 6
#30 G N Richardson (see note 28)
Did not arrive

All cars are 1.5-litre s/c F1 or 4.5-litre F1 unless noted.

Qualifying
1 Luigi Villoresi (4.5 F1) 1.5-litre Maserati 4CLT-48 [1594] - Maserati s/c 4 2'09.8
2 "B Bira" (4.5 F1) 1.5-litre Maserati 4CLT-48 [1598] - Maserati s/c 4 2'10.2
3 Peter Walker (4.5 F1) 1.5-litre ERA B Type [R10B] - ERA s/c 6 2'13.2
4 Emmanuel de Graffenried (4.5 F1) 1.5-litre Maserati 4CLT-48 [1601] - Maserati s/c 4 2'13.6
5 Bob Gerard (4.5 F1) 1.5-litre ERA B Type [R14B] - ERA s/c 6 2'14.4
6 Reg Parnell (4.5 F1) 1.5-litre Maserati 4CLT-48 [1596] - Maserati s/c 4 2'14.8
7 Tony Rolt (4.5 F1) 3.4-litre Alfa-Aitken Special - Alfa Romeo 8 2'15.8
8 Philippe Étancelin (4.5 F1) 4.5-litre Talbot T26C [110 008] - Talbot 6 2'15.8
9 Cuth Harrison (4.5 F1) 1.5-litre ERA C Type [R8C] - ERA s/c 6 2'16.4
10 Louis Rosier (4.5 F1) 4.5-litre Talbot T26C [110 001] - Talbot 6 2'17.2
11 Yves Giraud-Cabantous (4.5 F1) 4.5-litre Talbot T26C [110 006] - Talbot 6 2'17.4
12 George Abecassis (4.5 F1) 1.5-litre Alta GP [No 1] - Alta s/c 4 2'17.6
13 Geoff Ansell (4.5 F1) 1.5-litre ERA B Type [R9B] - ERA s/c 6 2'18.0
14 Peter Whitehead (4.5 F1) 1.5-litre Ferrari 125 [10C] - Ferrari s/c V12 2'18.4
15 Louis Chiron (4.5 F1) 4.5-litre Talbot T26C [110 007] - Talbot 6 2'19.2
16 John Bolster (4.5 F1) 1.5-litre ERA B Type [R5B] - ERA s/c 6 2'20.0
17 Fred Ashmore (4.5 F1) 1.5-litre Maserati 4CLT-48 [1593] - Maserati s/c 4 2'20.8
18 Johnny Claes (4.5 F1) 4.5-litre Talbot T26C [110 011] - Talbot 6 2'23.2
19 Raymond Mays (4.5 F1) 1.5-litre Ferrari 125 [02C] - Ferrari s/c V12 2'24.6
20 David Hampshire (4.5 F1) 1.5-litre ERA B Type [R12B] - ERA s/c 6 2'25.2
21 Archie Baring (4.5 F1) 1.5-litre Maserati 4CM [1521] - Maserati s/c 4 2'27.0
22 Philip Fotheringham-Parker (4.5 F1) 1.5-litre Maserati 6CM [1551] - Maserati s/c 6 2'29.0
23 Roy Salvadori (4.5 F1) 1.5-litre Maserati 4CL [1584] - Maserati s/c 4 2'29.2
24 George Nixon (4.5 F1) 1.5-litre ERA A Type [R2A] - ERA s/c 6 2'29.8
25 David Murray (4.5 F1) 1.5-litre Maserati 4CL [1569] - Maserati s/c 4 2'30.4

Notes on the cars:

  1. Maserati 4CLT-48 [1601] (Emmanuel de Graffenried): To Enrico Platé for 1949 (dated 7 Mar 1949 in Maserati records) and driven by Emmanuel de Graffenried. Continued as de Graffenried's well-used car through 1950 and 1951. Probably one of two cars extensively rebuilt as Plate-Maseratis for 1952. Probably raced by Ottorino Volonterio in F2 in 1953. Sold with the sister car (probably 1598) by de Graffenried to 20th Century Fox for film work then sold again via Tom Carstens (Tacoma, WA). Subsequent history unknown.
  2. ERA B Type [R14B] (Bob Gerard): Johnny Wakefield 1938-39 and then Bob Gerard's main ERA from 1946 to 1953. Then via Jimmy Stuart to Donald Day in 1959. Apart from a short period, Day has owned it ever since. Recent drivers include Ted Rollason, Goff Tidball and Paul Richardson. Retained 2007.
  3. Talbot T26C [110 001] (Louis Rosier): Talbot-Lago T26C chassis '110 001' was raced by Louis Rosier from 1948 to 1950 and then under the Ecurie Rosier banner by Pozzi in 1950; by Henri Louveau and Louis Chiron in 1951; and by Giraud-Cabantous, Chaboud and Mairesse in 1952. It was acquired by the Musée Henri Malatre at Rochetaillé, France, in 1956 and was still on display in 1990.
  4. ERA B Type [R12B] (David Hampshire, Billy Cotton): Built by White Mouse Stable in 1939 on a new factory B-Type chassis and using the mechanical parts from R12C. Raced by Bira 1946-47 as 'Hanuman II' then to David Hampshire and David Murray for 1949 and 1950. Through a chain of mainly Scottish owners and then to Sam Tingle in Rhodesia in 1957. Then via Allan Gillespie back to Britain for Bill Morris in 1962. Campaigned by Morris up to 1998 then to David Wenman in 1999. Retained 2007.
  5. Talbot T26C [110 008] (Philippe Étancelin): Talbot-Lago T26C chassis '110 008' was Philippe Etancelin's car in 1948 and then passed to Jean Achard November 1950. Achard moved to Brazil, taking the car, and sold it there to Pinheiro Pires who raced it in Brazil from 1951 to 1954. Remains to UK via Colin Crabbe in the 1980s and then via other UK owners to Tony Bianchi c1999. Has been raced in historics up to 2005.
  6. Maserati 4CLT-48 [1593] (Fred Ashmore): Shown in Maserati records as Alberto Ascari's early 1948 car. To Reg Parnell 1949 for Fred Ashmore then raced in 1950 by David Hampshire and others as part of Scuderia Ambrosiana. Then David Murray's car for 1951. Crashed in practice at the Nürburgring for the 1951 German GP and not seen again.
  7. Alta GP [No 1] (George Abecassis): Alta 'GP1' was built for George Abecassis and raced in 1948 and 1949. Later formed the basis of a HW-Alta-Jaguar sports which went to Phil Scragg and registered as RPG 418. Three owners later the car went to Kenya, returning to the UK in 1973. It was owned by Chris Lunn in 2005. The 'GP1' Alta in the Donington Museum was built up from some parts of GP1 plus a frame of unknown origin. (Source: Powered by Jaguar 2nd Ed 2005, Nye)
  8. Ferrari 125 [10C] (Peter Whitehead, Dudley Folland): Peter Whitehead bought 10C new for 1949 and used it through 1949 and 1950 before buying a newer ex-works 125. This car was raced by Dobson in 1951 and later sold to David Murray. Whitehead later bought a 1949/50 LWB Tipo 125 renumbered 0114; it is this latter car that spent many years in the Donington Collection.
  9. ERA B Type [R9B] (Geoff Ansell, Brian Shawe-Taylor): A customer car for Denis Scribbans and then Bob Ansell up to 1949. Guest drivers included Brian Shawe-Taylor, who then bought the car and raced it 1950-51. Then via Irish and UK owners, entering historic racing in 1955. Raced by the Mann brothers from 1976 to 1993, then to Switzerland for four years, back to Peter Mann and then to Rainer Ott (Germany) in 2005. Retained 2007.
  10. Talbot T26C [110 011] (Johnny Claes): Talbot-Lago T26C chassis '110 011' was Johnny Claes car in 1948-50 and then sold to Duncan Hamilton (and Fotheringham-Parker) and raced 1951-53. Stored in France until 1955 when Hamilton sold it to Allan Freeman in New Zealand who raced it through to 1961. It was bought by Joe Hepworth in 1963 and returned to England; then via other UK and French owners until sold to Bernie Ecclestone 1996. Retained 2002.
  11. Maserati 6CM [1551] (Philip Fotheringham-Parker, Duncan Hamilton): Delivered on 25 Oct 1937 to Earl Howe, probably acting as agent for a South African purchaser. Immediately shipped to South Africa for the 1937/38 winter season to be raced by Bill Everitt, before passing to local driver Buller Meyer. Imported to UK in 1947 UK by George Abecassis who raced it briefly before selling it to Duncan Hamilton and Philip Fotheringham-Parker who campaigned it extensively in 1948, 49 and 1950. To Brian Finglass in early 1950s, before passing to Fred Zambucka in New Zealand, then via various New Zealand owners to the Geer brothers (U.K.) about 1980. Believed to be retained 2007.
  12. Ferrari 125 [02C] (Raymond Mays, Ken Richardson): The original prototype SWB (short wheelbase of 2160mm) swing-axle Tipo 125 was used in 1948 and then sold to Tony Vandervell as the first Thinwall Special for 1949. It was returned to the factory and then rebodied, or just renosed, making it difficult to identify in 1950. Several of these cars were sold off for 1951, a 212 serial #0110 to Rudi Fischer; a 166 serial #0112 to Scuderia Guastalla and a third car to Argentina, while a fourth car remained as a hire car. It is not currently possible to say with confidence which was which.
  13. Maserati 4CLT-48 [1596] (Reg Parnell): Maserati records list this as Reg Parnell's car dated 14 Sep 1948. Raced by Parnell from 1949 to 1951, under the Scuderia Ambrosiana banner in 1950 and 1951, also by Hampshire in 1951. Sold or leased to Bobby Baird mid-1951 and then sometime after 1952 sold to Count Johnny Lurani. Lurani sold it in 1955 to Pat Hoare in New Zealand where it raced until the mid-1960s and then spent many years in the Queenstown Motor Museum. It was sold in 1982 and returned to Europe in 1989. Sold at auction a number of times in the late 1980s and 1990s. Owned by Max Lustenberger (Switzerland) from 1999. Retained 2004.
  14. Maserati 4CL [1569] (David Murray): Delivered on 29 May 1939 to Johnny Wakefield who campaigned it successfully up to the outbreak of war. After Wakefield's death in 1942, purchased by Reg Parnell. Raced by extensively Parnell between 1946 and 1948, after which it was raced by David Murray in 1948/49. Fitted by Parnell with twin-stage supercharged engine, then Ambrosiana team spare during 1950 before passing via John Green to Bobby Baird in 1951. To George Weaver in USA, then via British, Swiss and German owners to Georg Kaufmann (Switzerland). Retained 2005
  15. ERA B Type [R5B] (John Bolster): Bira's second car, acquired in 1936 and named 'Remus' . Raced for White Mouse Stable in 1936 but used only as a back-up car 1937. Via Tony Rolt from 1938 to 1945, Ian Connell in 1946, Peter Bell (driver John Bolster) 1947-49 and others until bought by the Lindsay family in 1958. Raced by Hon Patrick Lindsay in historic events 1959-85 and, since his death, by son Ludovic Lindsay 1986-2000. Retained by the family in 2007.
  16. ERA B Type [R10B] (Peter Walker): Peter Whitehead's regular B Type from 1936 to 1952 (also driven by Peter Walker and Graham Whitehead). Then via other UK and US owners to Nick Mason who raced and demonstrated it for more than 20 years from 1980. With Paddins Dowling by 2006. Retained 2007.
  17. Maserati 4CLT-48 [1598] ("B Bira"): Maserati records show this car going to 'B. Bira' 23 Sep 1948. Bira raced 1948 British GP, 1949 Argentine Temporada and 1949 European season. Retained 1950 being used as Platé team car from Pescara. Raced by Harry Schell for Enrico Platé in 1951 then becoming one of two cars extensively rebuilt as Platé-Maseratis for 1952. Probably raced by Giovanni de Riu in F2 in 1953. Then sold via de Graffenried to 20th Century Fox for film work and then acquired by Tom Carstens (Tacoma, WA). Subsequent history unknown.
  18. Talbot T26C [110 007] (Louis Chiron): Talbot-Lago T26C chassis '110 007' was Paul Vallee's Ecurie France car driven by Chiron 1948-49 and Apezteguia in 1950. To Tom Hawkes in Australia in 1951. From him it passed to Doug Whiteford, Rex Taylor and then a string of Australian, UK (including a loan period in the Donington Collection), Swiss, US and French owners to Bernie Ecclestone's collection in 1997. Retained 2002.
  19. Talbot T26C [110 006] (Yves Giraud-Cabantous): Talbot-Lago T26C chassis '110 006' was raced by Georges Grignard in 1948, by Giraud-Cabantous in 1949, Pozzi and Levegh in 1950 and by Jean Blanc in one 1951 hillclimb. Then to Ecurie Belgique in 1951 and retained to 1952. Reappeared in US ownership in 1964 and then via two further US owners to Dean Butler in 1998. Retained 2003. This car was on display at the 2006 Brussels Retro Festival honouring Ecurie Francorchamps.
  20. Maserati 4CLT-48 [1594] (Luigi Villoresi): Maserati records say this was Luigi Villoresi's 1948 car and then identified as Villoresi's Scuderia Ambrosiana entry early in 1949 and then a Scuderia Milan entry at the 1949 Italian GP. Subsequent history unknown, making it the earliest 4CLT to disappear.
  21. ERA C Type [R8C] (Cuth Harrison): Built in 1938 using mechanical parts from R8B and raced by Earl Howe 1938 and until a crash in the 1939 International Trophy. Then to Reg Parnell for 1946, Cuth Harrison from 1947 to 1951, Brian Shawe-Taylor 1951 and 1952; then a chain of other owners until acquired in 1977 by Bruce Spollon. Rebuilt to correct C-type specs and raced from 1981 to 2003.
  22. ERA A Type [R2A] (George Nixon): A works 1100cc car in 1934, usually raced by Humphrey Cook and then re-engined as a 1500 for 1935 and raced mainly by Mays. Then via Nicky Embiricos, Con Pollock, HW Motors (Abecassis and Heath) 1947 and Reg Parnell (1948) to George Nixon for 1948/49. Also owned by George Hartwell, Harry Kaley and Ted Lloyd-Jones before entering historic racing in the late 1950s. Through a chain of other owners and owned by Rodney Smith (US) since 1997. Retained by his family 2007.
  23. Maserati 4CLT-48 [1601] (Enrico Plate): To Enrico Platé for 1949 (dated 7 Mar 1949 in Maserati records) and driven by Emmanuel de Graffenried. Continued as de Graffenried's well-used car through 1950 and 1951. Probably one of two cars extensively rebuilt as Plate-Maseratis for 1952. Probably raced by Ottorino Volonterio in F2 in 1953. Sold with the sister car (probably 1598) by de Graffenried to 20th Century Fox for film work then sold again via Tom Carstens (Tacoma, WA). Subsequent history unknown.
  24. Talbot T26C [110 006] (Georges Grignard): Talbot-Lago T26C chassis '110 006' was raced by Georges Grignard in 1948, by Giraud-Cabantous in 1949, Pozzi and Levegh in 1950 and by Jean Blanc in one 1951 hillclimb. Then to Ecurie Belgique in 1951 and retained to 1952. Reappeared in US ownership in 1964 and then via two further US owners to Dean Butler in 1998. Retained 2003. This car was on display at the 2006 Brussels Retro Festival honouring Ecurie Francorchamps.
  25. Alta GP [No 1] (John Heath): Alta 'GP1' was built for George Abecassis and raced in 1948 and 1949. Later formed the basis of a HW-Alta-Jaguar sports which went to Phil Scragg and registered as RPG 418. Three owners later the car went to Kenya, returning to the UK in 1973. It was owned by Chris Lunn in 2005. The 'GP1' Alta in the Donington Museum was built up from some parts of GP1 plus a frame of unknown origin. (Source: Powered by Jaguar 2nd Ed 2005, Nye)
  26. ERA B Type [R10B] (Graham Whitehead): Peter Whitehead's regular B Type from 1936 to 1952 (also driven by Peter Walker and Graham Whitehead). Then via other UK and US owners to Nick Mason who raced and demonstrated it for more than 20 years from 1980. With Paddins Dowling by 2006. Retained 2007.
  27. ERA E Type [GP2] (Leslie Johnson, TASO Mathieson): The second E-Type, first raced by Leslie Brooke 1947, then taken over by ERA Ltd and raced by Leslie Johnson 1948-50, latterly for TASO Mathieson. Peter Walker 1951, then went with GP1, appearing in Scotland with Jaguar engine in 1962. To Gordon Chapman in 1966 and still owned by the Chapman family in 2000.
  28. RRA (Geoff Richardson): Built by Geoff Richardson using mechanical parts of an ex-works Riley raced before the war by Percy Maclure, in a new Richardson-built frame. Raced initially with the engine from the White Riley, and sometimes therefore called the ERA-Riley. Richardson continued to race the car, mainly in small English events, until 1955, replacing the engine with a 2.5 Riley in 1954 and a 2.0 Alta in 1955. The car was then dismantled but reassembled by Keith Knight, still with Alta engine, in 1965. Retained by Knight into this century.

Formula 1 events 1948-1953

The results published here were compiled by David McKinney and Adam Ferrington from a range of sources including Autocourse, Motor Sport and Autosport, as well as the F1 Register's A Record of Grand Prix and Voiturette Racing Volume 5 covering 1950 and 1951. Individual car identities were then meticulously checked against their enormous libraries of books and photographs, notably Talbot-Lago de Course by Pierre Abeillon, Les Gordini by Robert Jarraud, Gordini – Un Sorcier, Une Equipe by Christian Huet and The History of English Racing Automobiles by David Weguelin.

David has also contributed extensively from his notes on car identities compiled over 40 years of research, Michael Müller has contributed immaculately researched histories of all the 1948-1950 Ferrari 125s, and Doug Nye, both through his books and his personal assistance on HWM, has also been of great help.

Please note that since David's sad death in 2014, Adam and Allen have agreed that these pages will remain unaltered from now on, as a lasting testimony to David's expertise.