Gran Premio di Syracusa

Siracusa, 11 Mar 1951

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

Notes on the cars:

1. Ferrari 375/50 ['1'] (Luigi Villoresi): One of the pair of Ferrari 375s introduced at the 1950 Italian GP and marked 'GP/50/1'. Believed to be Serafina's car at Monza (handed over to Ascari) and then used by Villoresi in the first few races of 1951. Crashed by Villoresi at San Remo and again at Berne five weeks later. This car does not appear to have raced thereafter as the team had thre 1951-model 375s. Subsequent history unknown.
2. Ferrari 212 [0102] (Dorino Serafini): Dorino Serafini raced at Syracusa and Pau in March 1951 in a factory-entered experimental tipo 212 Ferrari which is said to have carried the customer chassis number '0102'. Ferrari historian Michael Muller believes that this 212 was the 'EX' car from 1950, as raced by Villoresi at Bremgarten in June (as a 125) and Geneva in July (as a 275). Serafini's car shared the same wheelbase and De Dion rear suspension as 'EX'. After these two appearances, Michael is confident that the 212 became the third works 166 F2 car: the 'GP3-50' that first appeared at Parc Borely for the Grand Prix de Marseille F2 race on 8 Apr 1951.
3. Talbot T26C-DA [110 053] (Louis Rosier): Built in 1950 using parts from '110 003' and raced for the works by Martin, Chaboud and Giraud-Cabantous in 1950 then by Rosier as a private entry in 1951. Driven by Trintignant for Ecurie Rosier in 1952, then Giraud-Cabantous 1952-53. Owned by Marceau Hauret 1955 and Houdayer (Paris) 1981. Raced from 1987-2000 by François d'Huart (Belgium) as '100105'.
4. Ferrari 375/50 ['2'] (Alberto Ascari): One of the pair of Ferrari 375s introduced at the 1950 Italian GP and marked 'GP/50/1'. Believed to be Ascari's car at Monza and then used by Ascari at the first two races of 1951. Then became the team's muletto and used by Gonzales to win the British GP and by Ascari to win at the Nürburgring. Last seen when raced by Chico Landi at the Italian GP. The car stamped '2' that was later owned by Rosier appears to be a late-51 375, not this 1950 car. Subsequent history unknown.
5. Maserati 4CLT-48 [1609] (Giuseppe Farina): Maserati records show this car going to Nino Farina on 14 Nov 1949. Driven by Farina in 1950 Argentine Temporada, at Albi 1950 and in 1951 non-championship F1 races. From Farina to the Schlumpf brothers and now in the Musée National de l'Automobile de Mulhouse. The car apparently wears the chassis plate 1602 (another Farina-owned 4CLT).
6. Maserati 4CLT-48 [1607] (Harry Schell): To Enrico Platé for 1949 (dated 14 Nov 1949 in Maserati records) and raced by Bira up to Geneva 1950. Car fitted with a 4450cc OSCA V12 engine for Bira for the 1951 season. The OSCA was taken to Australia in 1955 by Bira as a spare car to his 250F and sold there to Alf Harvey who raced it from 1955 to 1959. The car then went to the UK for historic racing and was bought by Tom Wheatcroft in 1971. Subsequently in the Donington Museum.
7. Maserati 4CLT-48 [1601] ("B Bira"): 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.

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.