Pictorial Review
“Daily Express” Silverstone – French Grand Prix Reims – Reims 12-hour Sports-Car Race
Top, left: Revenge Is Sweet. — Gonzalez in the Ferrari which, by winning the British Grand Prix, mode up for the defeat of the Italians by Mercedes-Benz at Reims.
Top, right: Another Reversal Of Fortune. — Peter Collins winning the Over 1 1/2-litre Sports-Car Race at Silverstone for Aston Martin, some atonement for their failure to finish at Le Mans.
Bottom, left: Lotus Success. — Popular winner of the 1 1/2-litre Sports-Car Race at Silverstone was Colin Chapman in his MG.-engined, aerodynamic Lotus.
Bottom, right: One For Moss. — Stirling winning the Silverstone 500-c.c. Race in his Beart-prepared Cooper-Norton, driving impeccably in heavy rain.
Second For Mercedes. — King streaks along the fast straight towards Thillois, relentlessly chasing Fangio. The beautiful lines of the car bring a “new look” to Grand Prix design and its performance as threat to the Italians.
Unlucky Thirteen. — After trying as hard as he knew how to keep with the Mercedes, Gonzalez broke an oil pipe and spun round at Thillois, his Ferrari belching thick smoke and flame, on the thirteenth lap.
A Good Try by Mike Hawthorn in the works Ferrari, to keep up with the Mercedes, resulted in his engine blowing up; coupled with braking difficulties. Hawthorn had a nasty moment before he stopped the car.
Hard Luck Story — Bira, driving magnificently in his blue and yellow Maserati, was well set for third place in the French Grand Prix when, believe it or not, he ran out of fuel on the last lap.
Lone Representation on behalf of English cars was the H. W. M. driven by Lance Macklin. Like so many others it could not stand the terrific pace and joined the other fifteen retirements.
Back Again! — Mercedes return to Grand Prix racing with a bang, and a close first and second in the Grand Prix at Reims. After much staged “duelling” between Fangio and Kling, the former crossed the line one-tenth of a second before his team mate.
The Long Straight. — The Jaguar of Ecurie Francorchamps driven by Laurent/Swatters, which finished third in the Reims 12-hour event, leads the Wilson/Mayers Bristol, followed by the H. W. M. of Gaze/Whitehead.
Gordini/Maserati Duel. — Before the field dwindled, Behra (Gordini) was involved in several duels, this time with Roberto Mieres (Maserati), who retired with a broken piston, while Jean Behra finished sixth.
Early Morning Scene. — Over half way through the 12-hour sports-car race at Reims, the stands, boxes, pits and gallery are quite deserted, while the cars keep circulating.
A Change Of Drivers and a quick check up for the H. W. M. George Abecassis and mechanic button down the bonnet while Graham Whitehead sits in the cockpit ready for the “off” having relieved co-driver Gaze. They finished seventh in their class.
The New Hairpin replaces the old right-angled corner at Thillois, although it is still retained as an escape road. Pictured here is the Cunningham driven by Cunningham/Johnson and the Porsche of Polensky/Frankenberg, winner of their class.
Fourth For Ferrari. — After the Jaguar 1-2-3 came the Ferrari driven by Gregory/Biondetti. Gregory was involved in a breath-holding moment as he came over the line almost abreast with the yellow Jaguar and Briggs Cunninham’s car, but luckily trouble was avoided.
Britisher Second. — After Moss’ retirement near the end of the British Grand Prix, Hawthorn came in a very popular second for Ferrari.
Not In The Picture. — Karl Kling couldn’t pull out sufficient speed round Silverstone to get his Mercedes-Benz home higher than in seventh place in the British Grand Prix.
To The Victors The Spoils. — The Lotus team (l. to. r., Colin Chapman, Michael Anthony and Peter Gammon) receive their cups from the Hon. Max Aitken after their class victory in the 1 1/2-litre Sports-Car Race at Silverstone.
Italian Cars, English Drivers. — Stirling Moss passes Reg Parnell during the early stages of the British Grand Prix. Parnell’s Ferrari left him stranded but Moss drove brilliantly in second place until his Maserati’s back axle failed, as it has before.
Ace versus Aerodynamics. — Fangio wasn’t happy with the all-enveloping-bodied Mercedes-Benz on the Silverstone circuit, particularly in the wet. He opened an old practice-wound on the near side of the car and dented the cowling of the off side, sometimes without knowing he had hit the marker barrels. The gearbox also lost third speed, fourth gear had to be held in, and the champion of Reims fell back to fourth place behind three Italian cars.
Jaguar Once More. — This time in the Reims 12-hour sports-car race. Peter Whitehead is seen taking the flag. Partnered by Wharton they won at an average of 104.5 m.p.h.