1952 Swiss Grand Prix

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1952 Swiss Grand Prix
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Circuit Bremgarten.svg
Circuit Bremgarten track layout
Race details
Date18 May 1952
Official name XII Großer Preis der Schweiz
Location Circuit Bremgarten, Bern, Switzerland
Course Temporary street/road circuit
Course length 7.280 km (4.524 miles)
Distance 62 laps, 451.360 km (280.462 miles)
Weather Sunny
Pole position
Driver
 Ferrari
Time 2:47.5
Fastest lap
Driver Flag of Italy.svg Piero Taruffi Ferrari
Time 2:49.1 on lap 46
Podium
First
 Ferrari
Second
 Ferrari
Third
 Gordini
Lap leaders
  • 1952 Swiss Grand Prix

The 1952 Swiss Grand Prix was a Formula Two race held on 18 May 1952 at Bremgarten Circuit. It was the first 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.

Contents

Pre-WWII Grand Prix great Rudolf Caracciola crashed heavily during a support sports car race. He survived with a broken leg, but this crash effectively ended his racing career. He was driving a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL; his brakes locked up going into a corner and the car skidded off the road and hit a tree.

Italian driver Piero Taruffi scored his only win in a World Championship race, driving for Ferrari.

Report

With the withdrawal of Alfa Romeo from the World Championship, Ferrari were left as the sole competitive team under the existing Formula One regulations. It was therefore decided to restrict the World Championship Grand Prix races to Formula Two cars.

The works Ferrari team brought three drivers to the Swiss Grand Prix, namely Farina, Taruffi and Simon. Regular Ferrari drivers Alberto Ascari and Luigi Villoresi were both unavailable, the former due to his participation in the Indianapolis 500, and the latter because of his having had a road accident. Also running Ferraris were Rudi Fischer and Peter Hirt of Ecurie Espadon, and veteran Frenchman Louis Rosier. Gordini also had a three-car team for this race, consisting of Robert Manzon, B. Bira and the debutant Jean Behra. The HWM team, returning to the World Championship for the first time since the previous race at Bremgarten, fielded the all-British quartet of Abecassis, Collins, Macklin and Moss. Maserati had planned to enter defending World Drivers' Champion Juan Manuel Fangio and fellow Argentinian José Froilán González, but this did not come into fruition. Completing the field were the sole AFM entry of Hans Stuck and a number of privately run cars representing various constructors.

Former Alfa Romeo driver Nino Farina took pole position, alongside Taruffi and Manzon on the front row of the grid. Simon and Fischer started from the second row, in front of Collins, Behra and Toulo de Graffenried, who was driving an Enrico Platé-entered Maserati.

Polesitter Farina led the race until his car broke down. His Ferrari teammate assumed the lead, which he held for the remainder of the race. Moss was impressively running in third place in the early stages, behind Farina and Taruffi, before he had to stop. Moss and Macklin withdrew from the race. The main battle was between Behra and Simon, for second place (once Farina had retired). When Behra had to stop, due to his exhaust pipe having fallen off, Farina, who had taken over Simon's car, assumed second place. However, further problems meant that he once again had to retire, on lap 51, handing second to local driver Rudi Fischer. The Swiss driver took his first Championship podium, being the only driver not to be lapped by Taruffi, who took his first (and only) World Championship race victory. Behra completed the podium, taking third on debut, while Ken Wharton (fourth) and Alan Brown (fifth) took the first points finishes for Frazer Nash and Cooper, respectively. [1]

Entries

NoDriverEntrantConstructorChassisEngineTyre
2 Flag of Germany.svg Hans Stuck AFM AFM-KüchenAFM 6Küchen 2.0 V8 E
4 Flag of Germany.svg Toni Ulmen Toni Ulmen Veritas Veritas Meteor Veritas 2.0 L6 D
6 Flag of France.svg Jean Behra Equipe Gordini Gordini Gordini T16 Gordini 20 2.0 L6 E
8 Flag of France.svg Robert Manzon Gordini Gordini T16 Gordini 20 2.0 L6 E
10 Flag of Thailand.svg Prince Bira Simca-Gordini Simca-Gordini T15 Gordini 1500 1.5 L4 E
12 Flag of France.svg Louis Rosier Ecurie Rosier Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 D
14 Flag of France.svg Maurice Trintignant Ferrari Ferrari 166F2-50 Ferrari 166 2.0 V12 P
16 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg George Abecassis HW Motors HWM-Alta HWM 52 Alta F2 2.0 L4 D
18 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Collins HWM-Alta HWM 52 Alta F2 2.0 L4 D
20 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lance Macklin HWM-Alta HWM 52 Alta F2 2.0 L4 D
22 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ken Wharton Scuderia Franera Frazer Nash-Bristol Frazer Nash FN48 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D
24 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Eric Brandon Ecurie Richmond Cooper-Bristol Cooper T20 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D
26 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Brown Cooper-Bristol Cooper T20 Bristol BS1 2.0 L6 D
28 Flag of Italy.svg Nino Farina Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 P
30 Flag of Italy.svg Piero Taruffi Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 P
32 Flag of France.svg André Simon 1 Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 P
34 Flag of Argentina.svg Juan Manuel Fangio 2 Officine Alfieri Maserati Maserati Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6G 2.0 L6 P
36 Flag of Argentina.svg José Froilán González 2 Maserati Maserati A6GCM Maserati A6G 2.0 L6 P
38 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Toulo de Graffenried Enrico Platé Maserati-Platé Maserati 4CLT-48 Platé 2.0 L4 P
40 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Harry Schell Maserati-Platé Maserati 4CLT-48 Platé 2.0 L4 P
42 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Rudi Fischer Ecurie Espadon Ferrari Ferrari 500 Ferrari Type 500 2.0 L4 P
44 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Peter Hirt 3 Ferrari Ferrari 212 Ferrari 166 2.0 V12 P
46 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stirling Moss HW Motors HWM-Alta HWM 52 Alta F2 2.0 L4 D
50 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Max de Terra 4 Alfred Dattner Simca-Gordini Simca-Gordini T11 Gordini 1500 1.5 L4 E
Sources: [2] [3]
^1 — André Simon qualified and drove 21 laps of the race in the #32 Ferrari. Nino Farina, whose own vehicle had already retired, took over the car for a further 30 laps before again being forced to retire. [4]
^2 — Juan Manuel Fangio and José Froilán González, whose cars were unavailable, withdrew from the event prior to practice. [5]
^3 — Peter Hirt qualified and drove the entire race in the #44 Ferrari. Rudolf Schoeller, named substitute driver for the car, was not used during the Grand Prix. [6]
^4 — Max de Terra drove the #50 Simca-Gordini in the race. Alfred Dattner, who was also entered in the same car, was unable to take part in the Grand Prix due to illness. [5]

Classification

Qualifying

PosNoDriverConstructorTimeGap
128 Flag of Italy.svg Nino Farina Ferrari 2:47.5–
230 Flag of Italy.svg Piero Taruffi Ferrari 2:50.1+ 2.6
38 Flag of France.svg Robert Manzon Gordini 2:52.1+ 4.6
432 Flag of France.svg André Simon Ferrari 2:52.4+ 4.9
542 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Rudi Fischer Ferrari 2:53.3+ 5.8
618 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Collins HWM-Alta 2:55.9+ 8.4
76 Flag of France.svg Jean Behra Gordini 2:55.9+ 8.4
838 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Toulo de Graffenried Maserati-Platé 2:56.4+ 8.9
946 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stirling Moss HWM-Alta 2:56.4+ 8.9
1016 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg George Abecassis HWM-Alta 2:56.9+ 9.4
1110 Flag of Thailand.svg Prince Bira Simca-Gordini 2:59.3+ 11.8
1220 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lance Macklin HWM-Alta 3:00.2+ 12.7
1322 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ken Wharton Frazer Nash-Bristol 3:00.9+ 13.4
142 Flag of Germany.svg Hans Stuck AFM 3:01.7+ 14.2
1526 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Brown Cooper-Bristol 3:02.5+ 15.0
164 Flag of Germany.svg Toni Ulmen Veritas 3:05.6+ 18.1
1724 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Eric Brandon Cooper-Bristol 3:05.8+ 18.3
1840 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Harry Schell Maserati-Platé 3:07.6+ 20.1
1944 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Peter Hirt Ferrari 3:10.2+ 22.7
2012 Flag of France.svg Louis Rosier Ferrari No time–
2150 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Max de Terra Simca-Gordini No time–
2214 Flag of France.svg Maurice Trintignant Ferrari No time–

Race

PosNoDriverConstructorLapsTime/RetiredGridPoints
130 Flag of Italy.svg Piero Taruffi Ferrari 623:01:46.129 1
242 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Rudi Fischer Ferrari 62+2:37.256
36 Flag of France.svg Jean Behra Gordini 61+1 lap74
422 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ken Wharton Frazer Nash-Bristol 60+2 laps133
526 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Brown Cooper-Bristol 59+3 laps152
638 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Toulo de Graffenried Maserati-Platé 58+4 laps8
744 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Peter Hirt Ferrari 56+6 laps19
824 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Eric Brandon Cooper-Bristol 55+7 laps17
Ret10 Flag of Thailand.svg Prince Bira Simca-Gordini 52Engine11
Ret32 Flag of France.svg André Simon
Flag of Italy.svg Nino Farina 		Ferrari 51Magneto4
Ret40 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Harry Schell Maserati-Platé 31Engine18
Ret46 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stirling Moss HWM-Alta 24Withdrew9
Ret20 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lance Macklin HWM-Alta 24Withdrew12
Ret8 Flag of France.svg Robert Manzon Gordini 20Radiator3
Ret28 Flag of Italy.svg Nino Farina Ferrari 16Magneto1
Ret18 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Collins HWM-Alta 12Halfshaft6
Ret16 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg George Abecassis HWM-Alta 12Halfshaft10
Ret2 Flag of Germany.svg Hans Stuck AFM 4Engine14
Ret4 Flag of Germany.svg Toni Ulmen Veritas 4Fuel leak16
Ret12 Flag of France.svg Louis Rosier Ferrari 2Accident20
Ret50 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Max de Terra Simca-Gordini 1Magneto21
DNS14 Flag of France.svg Maurice Trintignant Ferrari 0Engine22
Source: [7]
Notes

Shared drive

Championship standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings
PosDriverPoints
1 Flag of Italy.svg Piero Taruffi 9
2 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Rudi Fischer 6
3 Flag of France.svg Jean Behra 4
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ken Wharton 3
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan Brown 2
Source: [8]

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References

  1. ↑ "Swiss GP, 1952 Race Report". Grandprix.com. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  2. ↑ "1952 Swiss Grand Prix - Race Entries". manipef1.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "1952 Swiss GP - Entry List". chicanef1.com. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  4. ↑ "Swiss Grand Prix 1952 - Results". ESPN F1. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Switzerland 1952 - Result". statsf1.com. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  6. ↑ "Switzerland 1952 - Race entrants". statsf1.com. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  7. ↑ "1952 Swiss Grand Prix". formula1.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  8. ↑ "Switzerland 1952 - Championship • STATS F1". www.statsf1.com. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
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