1952 Italian Grand Prix

The 1952 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on 7 September 1952 at Monza. It was the eighth and final round of the 1952 World Championship of Drivers, in which each Grand Prix was run to Formula Two rules rather than the Formula One regulations normally used. The 80-lap race was won by Ferrari driver Alberto Ascari after he started from pole position. José Froilán González finished second for the Maserati team and Ascari's teammate Luigi Villoresi came in third.

1952 Italian Grand Prix
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Race details
Date 7 September 1952
Official name XXIII GRAN PREMIO D'ITALIA
Location Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza, Italy
Course Permanent racing facility
Course length 6.300 km (3.915 miles)
Distance 80 laps, 504.000 km (313.171 miles)
Weather Sunny
Pole position
Driver Ferrari
Time 2:05.7
Fastest lap
Drivers Italy Alberto Ascari (lap 56) Ferrari
Fastest lap Argentina José Froilán González (lap 57, 60) Maserati
Time 2:06.1
Podium
First Ferrari
Second Maserati
Third Ferrari
Lap leaders
Ferrari's Ascari and Villoresi during the race

Race report

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Due to the dominance of the Ferrari team throughout 1952, the World Drivers' Championship had already been clinched a month prior to the season-ending Italian Grand Prix. Nevertheless, Ferrari entered five drivers for their home race, with their Dutch Grand Prix trio—World Champion Alberto Ascari, Nino Farina and Luigi Villoresi—being joined by Piero Taruffi and André Simon, both of whom had competed for the Scuderia at various points of the season. There were also a number of privateer Ferraris, including the Ecurie Espadon pairing of Fischer and Stuck, as well as Charles de Tornaco of Ecurie Francorchamps, Louis Rosier and Peter Whitehead. The works Maserati team appeared for the first and only time in the 1952 World Championship, running three cars for Felice Bonetto, Franco Rol and José Froilán González. Also running A6GCMs were the Escuderia Bandeirantes trio of Bianco, Cantoni and Landi, while Enrico Platé's drivers—Toulo de Graffenried and debutant Alberto Crespo—ran the older 4CLT/48 equipped with the team's own revised engines. Gordini retained their previous driver lineup of Behra, Manzon and Trintignant, while Johnny Claes drove a privateer Simca-Gordini at Monza. HWM entered a pair of cars for Peter Collins and Lance Macklin, with Australian Tony Gaze running a privateer HWM. The Connaught team, absent since the British Grand Prix, returned to the Championship with a three-car entry consisting of Stirling Moss (who had driven for ERA at the previous event), Dennis Poore and Kenneth McAlpine.

For this event, only 24 cars were allowed to take the start, meaning that 11 of the 35 drivers who had entered the race failed to qualify. These included all of the HWMs, three of the privateer Ferraris, and both of the Enrico Platé-entered Maseratis. Ascari took his third consecutive pole position (and his fifth of the season), and the front row was completed by his teammates Villoresi and Farina, and the Gordini of Trintignant. The Maserati of González started from the second row, alongside the remaining works Ferraris of Taruffi and Simon, and the Gordini of Robert Manzon. Row three consisted of Stirling Moss in the leading Connaught, Frenchman Élie Bayol in the sole OSCA, Behra in the third and final works Gordini, and Mike Hawthorn in his privateer Cooper-Bristol. The remaining works Maseratis of Bonetto and Rol were only able to make the fourth row of the grid, starting from 13th and 16th, respectively.

José Froilán González emerged in first place at the start of the race, ahead of Ascari in second. The Argentine remained in the lead for the first 36 laps of the race, until a slow pit stop allowed the Ferraris of Ascari and Villoresi to pass him for first and second, respectively. Ascari held the lead for the remainder of the race, and, in so doing, took his sixth consecutive World Championship race victory. González caught up with Villoresi and passed him to take second place in his only Championship race of the season. Villoresi completed the podium by taking his second consecutive third-place finish. Farina was not far behind in fourth place, while the second Maserati of Felice Bonetto took the final points position in fifth, finishing a lap down on the leaders. The remaining works Ferraris of Simon and Taruffi finished in sixth and seventh place, respectively.[1]

As Taruffi finished outside the points, he was unable to overtake Nino Farina in the Drivers' Championship standings. The Ferrari team monopolised the top three positions, with World Champion Alberto Ascari ahead of teammates Farina and Taruffi.

Entries

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No Driver Entrant Constructor Chassis Engine Tyre
2   Robert Manzon Equipe Gordini Gordini Gordini T16 Gordini 20 2.0 L6 E
4   Maurice Trintignant Gordini Gordini T16 Gordini 20 2.0 L6 E
6   Jean Behra Gordini Gordini T16 Gordini 20 2.0 L6 E
8   André Simon Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 P
10   Nino Farina Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 P
12   Alberto Ascari Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 P
14   Piero Taruffi Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 P
16   Luigi Villoresi Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 P
18   Rudi Fischer Ecurie Espadon Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 P
20   Hans Stuck Ferrari Ferrari 212 Ferrari 166 2.0 V12 P
22   Felice Bonetto Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6G 2.0 L6 P
24   Franco Rol Maserati Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6G 2.0 L6 P
26   José Froilán González Maserati Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6G 2.0 L6 P
28   Kenneth McAlpine Connaught Engineering Connaught-Lea Francis Connaught A Lea Francis 2.0 L4 D
30   Dennis Poore Connaught-Lea Francis Connaught A Lea Francis 2.0 L4 D
32   Stirling Moss Connaught-Lea Francis Connaught A Lea Francis 2.0 L4 D
34   Élie Bayol Élie Bayol OSCA OSCA 20 OSCA Tipo 2000 2.0 L6 P
36   Eric Brandon Ecurie Richmond Cooper-Bristol Cooper T20 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D
38   Alan Brown Cooper-Bristol Cooper T20 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D
40   Ken Wharton Scuderia Franera Cooper-Bristol Cooper T20 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D
42   Mike Hawthorn Leslie D. Hawthorn Cooper-Bristol Cooper T20 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D
44   Piero Dusio1 Piero Dusio Cisitalia-BPM Cisitalia D46 BPM 2.0 L4 P
46   Gino Bianco Escuderia Bandeirantes Maserati Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6G 2.0 L6 P
48   Chico Landi2 Maserati Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6G 2.0 L6 P
50   Eitel Cantoni Maserati Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6G 2.0 L6 P
52   Lance Macklin HW Motors HWM-Alta HWM 52 Alta F2 2.0 L4 D
54   Peter Collins HWM-Alta HWM 52 Alta F2 2.0 L4 D
56   Tony Gaze Tony Gaze HWM-Alta HWM 52 Alta F2 2.0 L4 D
58   Alberto Crespo Enrico Platé Maserati-Platé Maserati 4CLT-48 Platé 2.0 L4 P
60   Toulo de Graffenried Maserati-Platé Maserati 4CLT-48 Platé 2.0 L4 P
62   Louis Rosier Ecurie Rosier Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 P
64   Bill Aston W.S. Aston Aston Butterworth Aston NB41 Aston Butterworth F4 2.0 F4 D
66   Johnny Claes Vicomtesse de Walckiers Simca-Gordini Simca-Gordini T15 Gordini 1500 1.5 L4 E
68   Peter Whitehead Peter Whitehead Ferrari Ferrari 125 Ferrari 166 2.0 V12 D
70   Charles de Tornaco Ecurie Francorchamps Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 E
Sources:[2][3]
^1 — Carlo Dusio, named substitute driver for the #44 Cisitalia-BPM, took no part in the Grand Prix.[4]

Classification

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Qualifying

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Pos No Driver Constructor Time Gap
1 12   Alberto Ascari Ferrari 2:05.7
2 16   Luigi Villoresi Ferrari 2:06.6 +0.9
3 10   Nino Farina Ferrari 2:07.0 +1.3
4 4   Maurice Trintignant Gordini 2:07.2 +1.5
5 26   José Froilán González Maserati 2:07.6 +1.9
6 14   Piero Taruffi Ferrari 2:07.8 +2.1
7 2   Robert Manzon Gordini 2:08.2 +2.5
8 8   André Simon Ferrari 2:09.1 +3.4
9 32   Stirling Moss Connaught-Lea Francis 2:09.8 +4.1
10 34   Élie Bayol OSCA 2:10.6 +4.9
11 6   Jean Behra Gordini 2:10.8 +5.1
12 42   Mike Hawthorn Cooper-Bristol 2:11.2 +5.5
13 22   Felice Bonetto Maserati 2:11.6 +5.9
14 18   Rudi Fischer Ferrari 2:11.8 +6.1
15 40   Ken Wharton Cooper-Bristol 2:12.2 +6.5
16 24   Franco Rol Maserati 2:12.7 +7.0
17 62   Louis Rosier Ferrari 2:12.7 +7.0
18 48   Chico Landi Maserati 2:13.0 +7.3
19 30   Dennis Poore Connaught-Lea Francis 2:14.0 +8.3
20 36   Eric Brandon Cooper-Bristol 2:14.0 +8.3
21 38   Alan Brown Cooper-Bristol 2:15.0 +9.3
22 28   Kenneth McAlpine Connaught-Lea Francis 2:15.1 +9.4
23 50   Eitel Cantoni Maserati 2:15.9 +10.2
24 46   Gino Bianco Maserati 2:17.1 +11.4
25 70   Charles de Tornaco Ferrari 2:17.5 +11.8
26 58   Alberto Crespo Maserati-Platé 2:17.8 +12.1
27 60   Toulo de Graffenried Maserati-Platé 2:18.4 +12.7
28 54   Peter Collins HWM-Alta 2:18.6 +12.9
29 68   Peter Whitehead Ferrari 2:18.8 +13.1
30 56   Tony Gaze HWM-Alta 2:20.3 +14.6
31 64   Bill Aston Aston Butterworth 2:20.7 +15.0
32 52   Lance Macklin HWM-Alta 2:21.0 +15.3
33 20   Hans Stuck Ferrari 2:22.8 +17.1
34 44   Piero Dusio Cisitalia-BPM No time
35 66   Johnny Claes Simca-Gordini-Gordini No time
Sources:[5][6]

*Entries with a pink background failed to qualify for the race.

Race

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Pos No Driver Constructor Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 12   Alberto Ascari Ferrari 80 2:50:45.6 1 8.51
2 26   José Froilán González Maserati 80 +1:01.8 5 6.51
3 16   Luigi Villoresi Ferrari 80 +2:04.2 2 4
4 10   Nino Farina Ferrari 80 +2:11.4 3 3
5 22   Felice Bonetto Maserati 79 +1 lap 13 2
6 8   André Simon Ferrari 79 +1 lap 8
7 14   Piero Taruffi Ferrari 77 +3 laps 6
8 48   Chico Landi Maserati 76 +4 laps 18
9 40   Ken Wharton Cooper-Bristol 76 +4 laps 15
10 62   Louis Rosier Ferrari 75 +5 laps 17
11 50   Eitel Cantoni Maserati 75 +5 laps 23
12 30   Dennis Poore Connaught-Lea Francis 74 +6 laps 19
13 36   Eric Brandon Cooper-Bristol 73 +7 laps 20
14 2   Robert Manzon Gordini 71 +9 laps 7
15 38   Alan Brown Cooper-Bristol 68 +12 laps 21
Ret 32   Stirling Moss Connaught-Lea Francis 60 Suspension 9
Ret 46   Gino Bianco Maserati 46 Engine 24
Ret 6   Jean Behra Gordini 42 Engine 11
NC 42   Mike Hawthorn Cooper-Bristol 38 Not classified 12
Ret 24   Franco Rol Maserati 24 Engine 16
Ret 4   Maurice Trintignant Gordini 5 Engine 4
Ret 28   Kenneth McAlpine Connaught-Lea Francis 4 Suspension 22
Ret 18   Rudi Fischer Ferrari 3 Engine 14
Ret 34   Élie Bayol OSCA 0 Gearbox 10
DNQ 70   Charles de Tornaco Ferrari Did not qualify
DNQ 58   Alberto Crespo Maserati-Platé Did not qualify
DNQ 60   Toulo de Graffenried Maserati-Platé Did not qualify
DNQ 54   Peter Collins HWM-Alta Did not qualify
DNQ 68   Peter Whitehead Ferrari Did not qualify
DNQ 56   Tony Gaze HWM-Alta Did not qualify
DNQ 64   Bill Aston Aston Butterworth Did not qualify
DNQ 52   Lance Macklin HWM-Alta Did not qualify
DNQ 20   Hans Stuck Ferrari Did not qualify
DNQ 44   Piero Dusio Cisitalia-BPM Did not qualify
DNQ 66   Johnny Claes Simca-Gordini-Gordini Did not qualify
Source:[7]
Notes
  • ^1 – Includes 0.5 points for shared fastest lap

Championship standings after the race

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Drivers' Championship standings
Pos Driver Points
  1   Alberto Ascari 36 (53.5)
  2   Nino Farina 24 (27)
  3   Piero Taruffi 22
  4   Rudi Fischer 10
  5   Mike Hawthorn 10
Source:[8]
  • Note: Only the top five positions are included. Only the best 4 results counted towards the Championship. Numbers without parentheses are Championship points; numbers in parentheses are total points scored.

References

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  1. ^ "Italian GP, 1952 Race Report". Grandprix.com. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  2. ^ "1952 Italian Grand Prix - Race Entries". manipef1.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  3. ^ "1952 Italian GP - Entry List". chicanef1.com. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Italy 1952 - Race entrants". statsf1.com. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  5. ^ "1952 Italian Grand Prix - Qualifying and Race Results". F1Pulse.com. F1 Pulse. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  6. ^ "Italy 1952 - Qualifications". StatsF1.com. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  7. ^ "1952 Italian Grand Prix". formula1.com. Archived from the original on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  8. ^ "Italy 1952 - Championship • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 1 March 2019.


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