Grand Prix of Syracuse

The first race of the European season, at Syracuse, saw the complete Ferrari team retire with mechanical bothers. Ascari broke his own car, took over Hawthorn’s and broke that. Farina and Villoresi also retired. It was left to de Graffenried driving a new A6G Maserati belonging to Enrico Platé, to finish first, with Louis Chiron on the new six-cylinder Osca in second place. Completing the field of finishers were three Coopers, third being Nuckey in a 1953 Bristol-engined car, fourth Brandon with the Ecurie  Richmond car of last year and fifth Peter Whitehead with his new Alta-engined model. Cole had a tyre burst on his 1953 Cooper-Bristol, hit the edge of the circuit and burst into flame, the ensuing melee causing bother to Tornaco and Hawthorn with their Ferraris.

Results — G.P.of Syracuse  —  March 22nd.  

1st:  E. de Graffenreid (Maserati 6-cyl)  —  148.172 k.p.h.

2nd.  L. Chiron (Osca 6-cyl)  —  3 laps behind

3rd:  R. Nuckey (Cooper-Bristol) —  6 laps behind

4th:  E. Brandon (Cooper-Bristol)  —  6 laps behind

5th:  P. Whitehead  (Cooper-Alta)  —  6 laps behind

Fastest lap:  A. Ascari (Ferrari) 2 min. 5 sec. — 158.400 k.p.h.