1950 GP Season / You can enter events now

[pi314159]

Welcome to the year 1950. Racing has well and truly returned from the hiatus caused by the war. In addition to the factory teams of manufacturers such as Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Talbot or Gordini, the tracks of Europe are attracting numerous adventurous men and women who are pursuing the thrill of motor racing.

You will take control of one such driver. Whether your fortune comes from a successful car dealership, is inherited from your wealthy great-uncle, a generous sponsor supporting a young talent, or maybe from shadier origins, you now have decided to invest it into racing cars and take to the tracks of Europe.

Note: Originally, I meant for your drivers to be fictional, but if you prefer to manage a real driver that's fine too. I won't let you take control of Fangio or Ascari, but Johnny Claes is fine.

So this is how things will work:

Creating your driver:

This will be the most important part since your character will hopefully enjoy a long and successful motorsports career. Please use the following form to create your driver:

Driver Tier: As explained below
Name:
Background: Make sure they're not just a name.
Nationality:
Base: The country where your driver is based will affect different costs in the game
Age: Should be between 20 and 50
Skill range: Will be 5-8 for regular entrants and 2-6 for locals, unless you request a worse one.
Driving Style: Aggressive/Balanced/Cautious

The following tiers of drivers exist in this game:

Professionals: Professional drivers are employed by factory teams to race their state of the art cars and challenge for the world championship. Professional drivers cannot be created directly, but a successful privateer driver can attract the attention of factory teams and become a professional later on.

Privateers: Privateer drivers are the regular entrants in this series. They are well-funded and buy and prepare their own cars to compete in various events across the continent. The budget of a privateer entrant will be 40,000.

Locals: Local drivers who are more involved in their regional racing scene and like to use the chance to share a grid with the big names from time to time. Locals start out with a budget of 20,000.

Wildcards: Have a story you want to tell but it doesn’t fit into the regular driver creation schemes? Want to put a Jaguar sports car engine into a pre-war Mercedes and send it to Indy? Or make Guidobaldi’s F1 dream come true? That’s what the wild card class is for. Wild card entrants won’t be competitive and will only be allowed to enter a limited number of events. They’re just here to add a little flavour to this universe.

You can create one regular driver and one local or wildcard driver.

Buying cars:

You can buy Formula 1 and Formula 2 cars to compete in the different events on the calendar. There are currently 13 Formula 1 cars and 8 Formula 2 cars available for purchase. The cost in the table below is the base cost, importing cars from another country will incur a 20% customs fee.

Formula 1 cars:

Code: Select all

Ferrari 125 F1   17500 (1 available) ITA
Talbot T26C      15000 (2 available) FRA
Maserati 4CLT/48 15000 (5 available) ITA
Gordini T15 F1   13500 (3 available) FRA
ERA E-Type       12000 (SOLD OUT) GBR
Maserati 4CL     10500 (4 available) ITA
Alta GP          10000 (2 available) GBR
Milano-Speluzzi  10000 (1 available) ITA
ERA C-Type        9000 (SOLD OUT) GBR
ERA B-Type        7500 (3 available) GBR
SVA-Fiat 1500     7500 (1 available) ITA
Delage 15 S8      7500 (2 available) FRA
ERA A-Type        6000 (1 available) GBR

Formula 2 cars:

Code: Select all

Ferrari 166 F2 9000 (SOLD OUT) ITA
HWM 50         7500 (1 available) GBR
Gordini T15 F2 7500 (1 available) FRA
Alta F2        6000 (2 available) GBR
Veritas Meteor 6000 (4 available) GER
AFM Typ 1950   6000 (2 available) GER
Cooper T12     4500 (2 available) GBR
Cisitalia D46  3000 (2 available) ITA

Entering events:
Entering events costs money for entry fees, travel and car maintenance. The entry fee depends on the prestige of the event, the travel fee on the distance from the event to your base. If your car gets damaged during the event, you may have to pay for repairs. You may not enter two clashing events. Formula 2 cars are eligible for Formula 1 events, but will not be competitive.

The 1950 season consists of the folllowing 38 events:
March 18: Grand Prix de Marseille / Marseille
April 2: Targa Florio / Sicily
April 10: Richmond Trophy / Goodwood
April 10: Grand Prix de Pau / Pau
April 16: Gran Premio de San Remo / San Remo
April 23: Mille Miglia / Brescia-Rome-Brescia
April 30: Grand Prix de Paris / Linas-Montlhéry
May 13: British Grand Prix / Silverstone
May 21: Grand Prix de Monaco / Monaco
May 28: Gran Premio dell'Autodromo di Monza / Monza
May 28: Grand Prix des Frontieres / Chimay
May 30: Indianapolis 500
June 4: Prix de Berne / Bremgarten
June 4: Großer Preis der Schweiz / Bremgarten
June 11: Grand Prix des Remparts / Angoulême
June 11: Gran Premio di Roma / Terme di Caracalla
June 11: Internationales ADAC-Eifelrennen / Nürburgring
June 15: British Empire Trophy / Douglas Circuit
June 18: Grand Prix Automobile de Belgique / Spa-Francorchamps
June 24: 24 Heures du Mans / Le Mans
July 2: Coupe des Petites Cylindrées / Reims-Gueux
July 2: Grand Prix de l'ACF / Reims-Gueux
July 9: Gran Premio di Bari / Lungomare Circuit, Bari
July 9: Jersey Road Race / Saint Helier
July 16: Grand Prix de l'Albigeois / Albi
July 23: Grote Prijs van Nederland / Zandvoort
July 30: Grand Prix des Nations / Geneva
August 7: Nottingham Trophy / Retfort Gamston Airport
August 12: Ulster Trophy / Dundrod
August 15: Circuito di Pescara / Pescara
August 19: Sheffield Telegraph Trophy / Retfort Gamston
August 20: Großer Preis von Deutschland / Nürburgring
August 26: BRDC International Daily Express Trophy / Silverstone
September 3: Gran Premio d'Italia / Monza
September 30: Goodwood Trophy / Goodwood
October 15: Circuito del Garda / Salò
October 29: Gran Premio de Penya Rhin / Pedralbes
December 17: Gran Premio del Presidente Arturo Alessandri Palma / Valdivia Norte, Santiago

Events in black are Formula 1 races, events in bold count towards the world championship, red denotes Formula 2, and blue denotes sports car events. Sports car events are just there for the fun and won't contribute to your budget.

Entry fees:
World Championship Grand Prix - 1500
Non-Championship Formula 1 - 750
Formula 2 - 375

Travel fees:
Intercontinental - 5000
International - 2000
International (neighboring country) - 1250
National - 750

Repairs:
Accident damage - Depends on severity of the accident, up to complete destruction of car
Engine failure - 25% of base value

Final notes

On danger: Motor racing is dangerous, this is especially true for this period of time. And it will be dangerous for your drivers. However, I won't kill any of your drivers against your will. The worst I'll inflict on them is a multi-month injury. If it results in your driver missing a major part of the season, you'll be allowed to create a secondary character.

On realism: In the early days of Formula 1, reality sometimes appears stranger than fiction to us who are accustomed to the professionalism of modern motorsport. Back then, you had drivers take a tea break in the middle of a race, retire from a race after hitting a cow, or winning Le Mans while hungover after their disqualification was unexpectedly reversed. Nonetheless, if your submission is overly ridiculous, or crude, or even offensive, your driver can be excluded from participation. Also, the levels of professionalism expected vary from event to event. A driver of questionable preparedness might be accepted into a local Formula 2 event but may not be allowed to take part in a World Championship Grand Prix.

Existing Drivers
Ken Penberthy, 40
Base: United Kingdom
Budget: 28,000
Garage: ERA E-Type #1

"Tiger Maharaja", 34
Base: Cambridge, United Kingdom
Budget: 9,200
Garage: Ferrari 166 F2 #1

Ariël Gomez, 24
Base: Valencia, Spain
Budget: 7,375
Garage: Maserati 4CL #1

Michel Coopmans, 30
Base: Leuven, Belgium
Budget: 19,000
Garage: Ferrari 125 F1 #1

Gennaro Giordano, 30
Base: Italy
Budget: 22,500
Garage: Ferrari 125 F1 #2

Manon Martel, 24
Base: Montlhéry, France
Budget: 25,000
Garage: Talbot-Lago T26C #1

C.K. Chung, 35
Base: Paris, France
Budget: 25,000
Garage: Talbot-Lago T26C #2

Cyril Poole, 29
Base: Mansfield, United Kingdom
Budget: 11,000
Garage: ERA C-Type #1

Hans Huber, 24
Base: Bordeaux, France
Budget: 25,000
Garage: Talbot-Lago T26C #3

Riccardo Gabelloti, 19
Base: Palermo, Italy
Budget: 11,000
Garage: Ferrari 166 F2 #2

Leopold Raeder, 28
Base: Bonn, Germany
Budget: 22,000
Garage: Maserati 4CLT/48 #1

Giordano 'Gordon' Zola, 26
Base: Milan, Italy
Budget: 29,500
Garage: Maserati 4CL #2

Michael McClenaghan, 32
Base: Maida Vale, London, UK
Budget: 29,200
Garage: Ferrari 166 F2 #3

Ji-Hoon 'Andrew' Cho, 23
Base: Paris, France
Budget: 19,000
Garage: Ferrari 125 F1 #3

Jonith Kidney, 33
Base: Aylesbury, England
Budget: 12,500
Garage: HWM 50 #1

Bob Reed, 23
Base: Paris, France
Budget: 25,000
Garage: Talbot-Lago T26C #4

Albi Ayatsbehers, 36
Base: Biarritz, France
Budget: 11,375
Garage: Gordini T15 F2 #1

[Aislabie]

Driver Tier: Privateer
Name: Ken Penberthy
Background: Ken Penberthy, born in Northampton on 26th November 1909, was a distinguished local racing driver prior to the Second World War. Now into his 40s, he aims to recapture the many years of racing lost to the War and to enter as many races as he can. One of his biggest regrets is that he was never able to partake in any of the big Grand Prix races at Brooklands.
Nationality: British
Base: Northamptonshire, United Kingdom
Age: 40
Skill range: 7-ish I think
Driving Style: Aggressive

Note: You may kill this driver

[Nessafox]

Driver Tier: Locals
Name: Ariël Gomez
Background: Born in Peru in a mining town, got involved with his uncle who was a mechanic.Participated in local events even from a young age of 12 (because regulations in Peru weren't that strict), was well-regarded for his technical skills and not too shabby behind the wheel. However as serious racing experience was hard to come by in Peru and he had to work in the local mines, as a school education was hard to come by, he spared all the money he got and moved to Spain to try his luck there. Got impressive results with pretty old material, but went a bit under the radar because even shining in outdated material doesn't get you noticed. Nevertheless this young charming boy will do everything to achieve his dream of becoming a professional driver and also financially support his family back home in Peru. He is 50% native american descent and has a high probability of having lung problems later in his career. .
Nationality:Peruvian.
Base: Valencia, Spain
Age: 24
Skill range: 6
Driving Style: Balanced

Driver Tier: Privateer
Name: Michel Coopmans
Background: Son of the owner of a well-regarded jenever distillery in Leuven, he was always well-off. Regarded as a prodigy in private school, he was destined to take over the company. Praised for great commercial skills. However, as many prodigies, he was always in search of danger, being it flying his private plane or racing one of his fast cars. When he takes it slow, he'd go on a trip with his motorboat. Always enjoying the presence of fine ladies and the finer drinks. Once won a game of poker against a secret British agent in the Monaco Casino and almost got confused for the actual bad guy. Since then has a bit of a trama regarding anything British. However being in Monaco, he found out that racing fast cars could be pretty lucrative, as he predicted this sport would get more famous as time went on. Looking at the opportunity for fame, and also making a name for the Coopmans jenever brand, he's excited to be a part of this circus. The second world war however put a dent in his plans. He would be drafter for the Belgian air force, but barely got any action seeing how quickly Belgium surrendered. Still got a badge of honour for taking down 3 german fighter planes with his outdated biplane. Almost didn't survive his crashlanding, so now thinks he can survive anything. Then raced cars regularly after the war, including a win in the 1948 edition of the 24 hours of Spa, driving an Alfa-Romeo. Is married, has 2 children up to this point and has plenty of mistresses. It is rumoured one of these mistresses is also involved with an influential team boss and could arrange something.
Nationality:Belgian
Base: Leuven, Belgium
Age: 30
Skill range: 6,9
Driving Style: Agressive

[Aislabie]

Driver Tier: Local
Name: "Tiger" Maharaja
Background: Purported to be either the fourth or fifth son of the ruler of an obscure Princely State, "Tiger" Maharaja (a nickname he adopted to avoid bringing attention to his disapproving family) never left England after completing his profoundly expensive Eton & Cambridge education. He had little interest in academia, nor any athletic prowess, but did develop a love of expensive automobiles. On a whim, he has decided to buy one to drive in Grands Prix.
Nationality: Indian
Base: Cambridge, United Kingdom
Age: 34
Skill range: 2 or lower
Driving Style: Cautious

Note: You may kill this driver

[_gg_]

Driver Tier: Privateer
Name: Gennaro Giordano
Background: Considered to be a talented young driver before the outbreak of the war destroyed the championship, Giordano has become a prominent driver in his late 20s by winning some races after the war ended. Now, he’s 30 years old and he’s more determined than ever to win the championship like many have predicted before when he was 18 years old.
Nationality: Italian
Base: Italy
Age: 18
Skill range: 8
Driving Style: Aggressive

[Frogfoot9013]

Tier: Privateer
Name: Manon Martel
Nationality: French
Date of birth: 29th July, 1925
Place of birth: Algiers, France
Location: Montlhéry, France
Skill: 8
Driving style: Cautious

Background: The youngest of four children, Martel was exposed to car racing from a surprisingly early age; her father brought her to the first ever Grand Prix d'Alger at nearby Staouéli, something that would become an annual fixture in her childhood. Though she was too young to really know what was going on, she knew immediately she wanted a life of driving the big loud noisy automobiles which had enthralled her that day. Her father was predictably dismissive of her ambitions, stating that driving a car was something for the men to do. He also did not approve of young Manon's mingling with indigenous Algerians, which was very frowned-upon in pied-noir society.

While she had no access to cars during her youth, Manon spent much of her youth trying to read what she could about them. In particular, she was fascinated by the stories she read about Le Mans and Montlhéry, and she dreamt of taking a Delahaye up Montlhéry's fearsome banked corners. When her head wasn't stuck in a book, she could be found adventuring along the nearby beach and in the sea itself, or illicitly socialising with her native Algerian friends. Furthermore, she studied English during her time in collège, though her education would be cut to an abrupt halt in 1939.

The Second World War would change her life forever; her three older brothers were all predictably called up to serve in the army, two of which would be killed at the Second Battle of Sedan. When the Algerian government sided with the Vichy regime, she and her parents sided with the Free French and her father promptly went missing, never to be seen again. Despite being only fifteen at the time, Manon would join the Resistance, her actions mostly involving delivering of messages between cells of the Algiers Resistance; at no stage did she use a weapon to harm someone. During one of these runs, she was cornered by a patrol of Vichy soldiers, which, to her shock, was led by her brother Jean. Because Jean could not bear to harm his younger sister, Manon was let run free with a warning, though the paperwork she was carrying was confiscated. This would be used by the Vichy forces for planning and executing a night raid to wipe out the cell Manon was affiliated with. The loss of most of her social circle overnight, as a result of both her own mistake and what she saw as betrayal by her brother took its toll on Manon, and out of guilt, she withdrew from working for the Resistance for several months, worried she might endanger the Resistance's operations with her carelessness. During this time, she retreated to the safety of the indigenous Algerians, who welcomed her in without suspicion, a rarity for pieds-noirs. She would however take part in Operation Torch, where she acted as a translator for local resistance and GIs. For these actions, she was awarded a Médaille de la Résistance in 1945.

Though her family had been torn apart by the war, this had the side-effect of giving her significantly more freedom in what she could do, and Manon decided to take her dream of becoming a racing driver more seriously. However, this would mean uprooting and leaving Algérie behind for the strange environment of mainland France, something she could not afford. After working in a local factory for a while, she was able to put together the money to move to mainland France. Once off the boat, she made her way north to Montlhéry, figuring that being both a stone's throw away from Paris and right beside one of France's most prominent racing circuits would be the perfect way to get her foot in the door to the world of motorsports.

Despite her best efforts, she could never fit in truly in Mainland France. Often, she felt as if she was a foreigner in a foreign land, despite being born and bred in France, no different to any other Frenchwoman, or so she had been led to believe. However, as storm clouds gather back home, perhaps racing cars in mainland France is the safer option for Martel...

[kevinbotz]

Driver Tier: Privateer
Name: "C.K." Chung

Background: The third son of a distinguished Chinese banking family only surpassed in stature by the Kungs, and the Soongs, Chung's lurid, colourful existence is, in many respects, an oddly complementary anecdote to the tumultuous history of early 20th-century China. Unburdened by the responsibilities shouldered by his elder brothers, Chung eschewed the quiet studiousness expected of him for the pleasures of a wholly unrepressed bon vivant indulging in the myriad vices available in 1930s Shanghai. A terrible embarrassment to his family - indeed, only his total immateriality to family affairs saved him from an outright disownment - and a darling of Shanghai tabloids, Chung seemed destined for the desultory hedonism of a noteworthy nobody.

Fortunately for him, war has a habit of redeeming maladjusted young men. Having been forced to flee his epicurean existence by the Japanese invasion, Chung enlisted as a pilot officer in the hideously decrepit and underarmed Nationalist Chinese Air Force, where he distinguished himself by downing a dozen Japanese aircraft in his Polikarpov and, far more surprisingly, somehow managing to not die in the process. Reluctantly feted as a national hero - there were scarcely any at that point who weren't already martyrs - Chung rapidly rose through the ranks, despite being generally despised by his immediate superiors for his impetuousness, egotism, and an almost pathological contempt for authority. Nevertheless, Chung boasted powerful patrons who, already cognisant of his family background, also recognised a genuinely capable officer, in an officer corps desperately in need of such men, and who, critically, seemed to possess no political ambition whatsoever; his plethora of faults, too, seemed to hold diminished importance amidst the pressures of war - a character was what was needed to raise the spirits of a beleaguered and battered Chinese public.

The end of the war, and the ensuing Civil War, however, irrevocably altered Chung's trajectory - even his near-suicidal bravado and swashbuckling could not hope to halt the inexorable Communist advances, nor the deepening Nationalist rot. When the die was finally and firmly cast, most Nationalist officers theatrically took with them a handful of Chinese soil as they absconded toward the Formosan redoubt. Chung, never an especially dedicated patriot, nor terribly sentimental, instead loaded his Curtiss C-46 with 6.6 tons of gold, delivered 6 tons to Taipei's coffers, and promptly resigned his commission; he had no desire to serve in a peacetime military, irrespective of how tenuous that peace seemed, and would eventually prove to be. His patrons, wholly occupied with jockeying for power and influence over the new vestigial state, turned a blind eye to Chung's unauthorised appropriations - Chung, and the embezzled gold, were all now inconsequential in the grand scheme of things, after all, and it would not do to antagonise the Chung family if possible, irrespective of the rift between Chung and his household.

An extraordinarily wealthy, yet deeply disaffected Chung aimlessly drifted through the great ports of the world in the months following - Hong Kong, Singapore, Trincomalee, Muscat, Istanbul, Algiers, Casablanca - trying in vain to recapture the profligate joys of his pre-war life. Eventually, with the assistance of former Allied attachés whom he befriended during the war, Chung settled in Paris, domiciled in an oppressively extravagant apartment on the Avenue Montaigne and left utterly bored out of his mind. A friend, having noticed his ennui (it was difficult not to, given Chung's progressively worsening temper), suggested motor racing as a potential outlet. Chung's initial reaction was to scoff; certainly, he enjoyed fast cars during his youthful misadventures in Shanghai, and he had maintained a supercharged Cord on-base during the war years, but the notion that fast cars alone, in amateur competition, could somehow be comparable to the adrenaline of combat, that he so desperately craved and so desperately missed, seemed patently absurd. Nevertheless, Chung eventually found himself persuaded, and entered himself into the Lausanne Grand Prix with an ERA.

Despite a relatively ignominious result - his ERA expired a mere 12 laps in - Chung found himself irretrievably enamoured; motor racing would do for a replacement obsession. Reinvigorated, Chung dove into the sport, replacing his ERA with a first-rate Talbot-Lago, and entered into every race that he could register for with reckless abandon. Chung soon proved to be a formidable competitor, with impeccable manual dexterity and a finely honed sense of mechanical sympathy inherited from his years as a pilot, as well as impressive sang froid belied by his capricious, tempestuous bearing.

Armed with his inheritance and his war spoils, C.K. Chung appears to be wholly consumed by his new fixation. Chung's Parisian apartment has been virtually unoccupied for the past few months, as he obsessively prepares for the inaugural Formula One season of 1950. In many respects, Chung has not changed - he remains as effortlessly gregarious and insufferable as he always has been - but his friends have noticed certain subtle, yet material differences; his intentions are no longer as transparent, his conversations no longer as decipherable. Even his closest confidants can no longer say for certain whether his preoccupation is merely driven by a "harmless" wish to relive his glory days as a heroic flying ace, or if he's truly seeking the death that he narrowly escaped.

Nationality: Republic of China
Base: Paris, France
Age: 35
Skill range: 8
Driving Style: Aggressive

[HawkAussie]

Driver Tier: Local
Name: Cyril Poole
Background: Born on 13 March 1921, Poole was a multi-sport player with a career in football for Mansfield Town before joining Gillingham and later Wolves. While playing football in the winter, he played cricket in the summer with his breakthrough happening in 1948 when he was called up to play county cricket for Nottinghamshire in 1948 and is looking like he might be a good player for the team. It was this random interest in motorsport that entice him to compete in motorsport on his off weeks during the cricket calendar.
Nationality: British
Base: Mansfield, England
Age: 29
Skill range: 4
Driving Style: Balanced

[Hermann95]

Driver Tier: Privateer
Name: Hans Huber
Nationality: Austrian
Base: Bordeaux, France
Age: 25
Skill range: 8
Driving Style: Cautious

Background:
Hans grew up in very rough circumstances near the City of Graz in Austria. The time between the two World Wars was a tough one, especially for his father who was wounded in the First World War. Hans had to fight in the Second World War, from 1943 till the end. He was never in line with the regime but was taught by his father to not do anything against it. Hans ended up operating the Flammenwerfer for most of his time in the War, which still haunts him. He developed a huge fear against fire, as it reminds him of everything that has happened during the War.

After the War, Hans had to learn that his parents and his younger brother Franz died when an artillery missile hit their house. His only relative that was left over was his uncle Kurt, who was a winemaker. Together they decided to leave Austria behind and so they moved to France, into the region of Bordeaux. They spent some time working in the region before the opportunity to buy a vineyard arose. They went all-in and bought everything they needed to make their own wine, which turned out to be a huge success.

With his new wealth Hans searched for opportunities to spend his money and found plenty of them in the local racing scene. His uncle reminded him of the danger of racing but Hans followed his passion. He even raced in the Le Mans 24h race in 1949 where the engine of his Delahaye 175S gave up while leading the race. This showed Hans that he can compete on the big stage, which he wants to prove further by entering Grand Prix racing in 1950.

_____________________________________
Driver Tier: Local
Name: Riccardo Gabelloti
Nationality: Italian
Base: Palermo, Italy
Age: 19
Skill range: 2
Driving Style: Aggressive

Riccardo Gabelloti was born into a wealthy family in Palermo. His father, his uncle and his brothers are all working in the “construction company” which is a family business and makes them good money. Riccardo is currently busy spending the money, rather than earning it.

He started racing at the age of 16, despite not officially allowed. Rumours are that his family made it possible for him to race, as they threatened race organisers all around Sicily. Ricci, as he is called by his close friends, doesn’t have any fear and therefore developed a driving style which could be described as ruthless and cutthroat. Many accidents in his races gave him his nickname, Ricci capottare, which loosely translated means Ricci is rolling over. “Never give up, never let the family down“, is written on all of his cars, in English so that even foreign drivers are able to understand it, to show his competitors that his family might come after them if they harm him in any way.

[Bleu]

Tier: Privateer
Name: Leopold Raeder
Nationality: Germany
Base: Bonn, Germany
Age: 28
Skill range: 7
Driving Style: Balanced

Leopold spent his childhood in Adenau and developed passion for motorsport since Nürburgring circuit was close, and he even sometimes escaped school to watch cars going around the circuit. He has also good engineering skills and he was working with the tanks during World War II. Knows "Green Hell" exceptionally well, and has even done some maintenance work there.

[pasta_maldonado]

Tier: Privateer
Name: Gordiano "Gordon" Zola
Nationality: Italian
Base: Milan, Italy
Skill range: 5
Driving style: death wish
Age: 26

Born to Frederico and Maria Zola in the summer of 1924 in a small farming town outside of Milan, young Gordiano was a sickly child. The Zola family were moderately well-off, what with Frederico's job as a civil servant, but money was spread thin as there were 8 hungry mouths to feed - Giordiano, his parents, and 5 older sisters.

Giordiano suffered from various ailments during his childhood, including whooping cough, tonsilitis, and a bout of polio that left him with a boomerang shaped left leg. Things took a turn for the worse in the Easter of 1929 as the local priest was called to administer last rites to a rapidly fading Giordiano. Later in life, Giordiano recalled the priest telling his mother that he was unlikely to make it through the night.

Somehow, young Giordiano went on to make a full recovery. His mother called it a miracle from Jesus Christ himself, with His divine intervention bringing her son back to life as He once did. His father, however, was less than impressed, viewing Giordiano as weak, crippled, and a disgrace to the family. Nightly meetings with his father's belt wouldn't subside until Giordiano was packed off to boarding school.

Away at school, Giordiano would discover his joint passions of cheese and speed. Giordiano and friends would embark on weekly raids of the school's pantry in search of the finest fromage, and would often make off with a wheel of blue cheese. It was this dedication to dairy that earned him the nickname "Gordon" from his classmates.

His other love of speed arose from one incident in the spring of 1939. One sunny afternoon, one thing led to another, and Gordon found himself behind the wheel of an old Lancia Lambda speeding along the country lanes. However, this joy ride would be short lived, thanks to an inexperienced Gordon rolling the car into a cow pasture after swerving to avoid a family of ducks crossing the road. Unfortunately for Gordon, the car belonged to the local chief of police. Naturally, Gordon was expelled from the boarding school.

This was the beginning of the worst part of Gordon's life. Beaten within an inch of his life by his outraged father, he would be put to work on the family farm for long hours 6 days a week. Gordon proved to be a dab hand behind the wheel of a tractor and excelled at cheese-making, but this did little to earn his father's respect. When Italy entered World War 2 in 1940, Gordon attempted to carry out his duty and serve his country, but was deemed medically unfit to serve due to his bowed left leg. Crushed by rejection, Gordon returned to the family farm, ruing his terrible luck in life.

Gordon would be dealt another blow in 1943 as his entire family was killed during the RAF's bombing of Milan. Gordon survived the event as he was left behind to mind the cows, deemed too much of a failure by his father to warrant the price of a ticket. Ownership of the farm passed to Gordon, who initialled struggled with a cocktail of rage, grief, and despair. Finding no solace in the bottom of the bottle, Gordon worked to increase cheese production at the farm. By the end of the war, the farm was turning a healthy profit.

However, Gordon's poor education would come back to bite him. Harsh winters, a farmhand strike, and mathematical illiteracy all contributed to dwindling profits from cheese sales over the years. Growing equally tired of farm life and depressed, Gordon decided to sell the farm at the start of 1949 and go racing - just like he did all those years ago. Gordon adapted quickly from driving a tractor to driving cars, finding his bowed left leg made it easier to apply heel-and-toe on downshifting. As the year drew to a close, Gordon began to feel things again. Maybe racing could help him feel alive again.

Gordon has his sights firmly set on F1 for 1950. It's do or die - if his racing career fails, he has nothing to live for.

Note: you can kill this driver

[Ataxia]

Driver Tier: Privateer
Name: Michael "Two Wheels" McClenaghan
Nationality: Irish
Base: Maida Vale, London, UK
Age: 32
Skill range: 7
Driving Style: Aggressive

Background: A multiple motorcycling champion in the 1940s, "Two Wheels" made the transition to racing cars in 1949. Born in Cork at the end of the First World War, McClenaghan grew up racing scramblers until making the move to road racing, joining the field for numerous Ulster Grands Prix - racing Sunbeams and Gileras.

He briefly served in the SAS, before being dishonourably discharged for breaking into an abandoned vineyard in Vichy France and drinking a full barrel of grand cru wine in one night, having used the estate as a base of operations to assist French Resistance members. After a Resistance member, Philippe Mailloux, dialled in McClenaghan's commanding officer to explain his concern at the amount of wine he had consumed, the Irish officer wrested control of the phone and drunkenly blurted down the phone "if you can take the man out of Cork, then the man can take out the cork". He was court-martialled and discharged, although the court was secretly impressed by his constitution.

McClenaghan then returned to motorcycle racing, but a colossal Isle of Man TT shunt almost killed him. His Velocette ran over a small rock, which caused his rear wheel to slide off and catapult McClenaghan over a wall into a nearby graveyard. He came to rest slumped against the headstone of a Ms. Barbara Dwyer, a former seamstress who had ironically met her maker after she was run over by a motorbike.

A known aficionado of any type of alcoholic beverage, McClenaghan often competed when drunk during his 20s, but has sensibly reduced his drinking to nothing more than a post-race niff from a hip-flask, to tide him over before tucking into the drinks cabinet that he requests accompany him to each race. Although blessed by plenty of natural talent, McClenaghan's carefree nature (to put it mildly) has sometimes deprived him of the results he is capable of achieving.

He lives alone in a reconverted converted pub in Maida Vale; a converted pub, McClenaghan then converted it back into a pub for his own personal amusement and to have a socially acceptable reason to eat pork scratchings at home. He cites whiskey-collecting, off-road motorcycling and "chasing skirt" as his main hobbies.

[Spooder918]

Driver Tier: Privateer
Name: Ji-Hoon 'Andrew' Cho
Nationality: South Korean
Base: Paris, France
Age: 23
Skill range: 7
Driving Style: Balanced

Ji-Hoon Cho comes from a family from Seoul, South Korea. While the country currently maybe poor and in war, Ji-Hoon's family was a rich family that moved to the States in the 1930s. After World War II, Ji-Hoon followed his friend to watch the Indy 500. He was fascinated by the racing cars, and decided he wanted to try one himself. With his family's old and new wealth combined (his family started a successful food company) he started racing cars, first in America, but after seeing the speed of a Ferrari, he decided he wanted to drive a Ferrari, and thus tried to move to Italy. However, his family was radically against this idea, as Italy had until recently been in the Axis powers, in which a certain Imperial Japan, the one that controlled Korea, was in. He moved to the next best option which was France, and he has stayed there since, getting ready to race all those cars he had seen and drove sometimes.

______________________________

Driver Tier: Local
Name: Jonith Kidney
Nationality: British
Base: Aylesbury, England
Age: 33
Skill Range: 4
Driving Style: Aggressive

Born to a poor family, Kidney wasn't well off when he saw his first motor race when he was 13. However, his life changed when his parents were given huge compensation for helping out a rich man who had lost his wallet and glasses. Now able to afford to start a business, they started a restaurant, which boomed. With all these riches, Kidney finally was able to do what he dreamed of: Motor racing. However, the war came around. While their restaurant wasn't one of the unlucky ones that were destroyed, they still were far worse off than the start. However, they did have enough money to restart the restaurant and start racing again, just with a far smaller budget. Nowadays, Kidney operates the restaurant after his parents retired, and occasionally continues to race cars.

[tommykl]

Driver tier: privateer
Name: Bob Reed
Background: Born on August 16th 1926, Bob has spent the post-War years carving a reputation as a consistent pair of hands as both a driver and a mechanic in the nascent stock car racing scene, particularly NASCAR in his native South Carolina. After some of the drivers on the circuit began discussing entering the inaugural Carrera Panamericana with its diverse international participants, Bob realised that his dreams went beyond the dirt tracks of the South and immediately remembered the conversation that began his interest in motorsport to begin with: a chance encounter during his WWII military service with Harry Schell whose parents had both been Grand Prix drivers. Then an 18-year-old with stars in his eyes, Bob now had tangible experience and a plan. Getting in touch with Harry all these years later, he bought a one-way ticket from Greenville to Paris, where he would live in the Schells' spare room. He'll make this work no matter how many dues he has to pay.
Nationality: American (born in Greenville, SC)
Base: Paris, France
Age: 23
Skill range: 7
Driving style: Balanced

[pi314159]

Thanks everyone for the drivers you've entered! I'm looking very much forward to getting this started. Since we've now got a solid number of drivers entered, I'll move on to the next phase: Buying cars.

As I want to keep things fair for everyone involved, I've decided to give everyone until Wednesday, April 14, 9 PM CEST to submit your car bids. In this initial phase, every driver will only be allowed to purchase one car. If more drivers express their interest in a certain model than cars are available, I will use a Random Number Generator to decide who will get the cars. Please submit your car bids in the following format:

Driver:
Preferred car:
Backup option 1:
Backup option 2:

This series is still open to new drivers and will remain so. Drivers submitted before the car market deadline may enter bids for cars. From Thursday onwards, the remaining cars can be bought directly and drivers may buy more than just one car.

Also, I have decided to revise travel costs and entry fees a little to allow you to enter a few more races.

[pasta_maldonado]

Driver: Gordiano 'Gordon' Zola
Preferred car: Maserati 4CL
Backup option 1: Milano-Speluzzi

[Frogfoot9013]

Driver: Manon Martel
Preferred Car: Talbot T26C
Backup Option: Gordini T15 F1

[Aislabie]

Driver: Ken Penberthy
Preferred car: ERA E-Type
Backup option 1: ERA C-Type
Backup option 2: ERA B-Type

Driver: Tiger Maharaja
Preferred car: Ferrari 166 F2
Backup option 1: ERA C-Type

[Spooder918]

Driver: Ji-Hoon 'Andrew' Cho
Preferred car: Ferrari 125 F1
Backup option 1: Maserati 4CLT/48
Backup option 2: Talbot T26C

Driver: Jonith Kidney
Preferred car: HWM 50
Backup option 1: ERA B-Type
Backup option 2: ERA A-Type

[kevinbotz]

Driver: C.K. Chung
Preferred car: Talbot T26C
Backup option 1: Gordini T15 F1
Backup option 2: Maserati 4CLT/48

[Bleu]

Driver: Leopold Raeder
Preferred car: Maserati 4CLT/48
Backup option 1: Gordini T15 F1
Backup option 2: Maserati 4CL

[Bleu]

I decided to create second driver.

Driver Tier: Local
Name: Albi Ayatsbehers
Background: Born in French Basque region, Albi has more experience on hillclimb events. But now he has decided to try his skills with circuit racing with F2 car.
Nationality: French
Base: Biarritz, France
Age: 36
Skill range: 4
Driving Style: Aggressive

Driver: Albi Ayatsbehers
Preferred car: Gordini T15 F2
Backup option 1: HWM 50
Backup option 2: Alta F2

[Nessafox]

Driver: Ariël Gomez
Preferred car: Maserati 4CL
Backup option 1: Ferrari 166 F2
Backup option 2: Gordini T15 F2

Driver: Michel Coopmans
Preferred car: Ferrari 125 F1
Backup option 1: Maserati 4CLT/48
Backup option 2: Talbot T26C

[_gg_]

Driver: Gennaro Giordano
Preferred car: Ferrari 125 F1
Backup option 1: Maserati 4CLT/48
Backup option 2: Talbot T26C

[HawkAussie]

Driver: Cyril Poole
Preferred car: ERA C-Type
Backup option 1: ERA B-Type
Backup option 2: Alta GP

[Ataxia]

Driver: Michael "Two Wheels" McClenaghan
Preferred car: Ferrari 166 F2
Backup option 1:HWM 50
Backup option 2: Alta F2

[Hermann95]

Driver: Hans Huber
Preferred car: Talbot T26C
Backup option 1: Gordini T15 F1
Backup option 2: Maserati 4CL

Driver: Riccardo Gabelloti
Preferred car: Ferrari 166 F2
Backup option 1: Gordini T15 F2
Backup option 2: Veritas Meteor

[tommykl]

Driver: Bob Reed
Preferred car: Talbot-Lago T26C
Backup option 1: Maserati 4CLT/48
Backup option 2: Ferrari 166 F2

[pi314159]

Sorry for neglecting this for the past week. Thanks everyone for submitting your car bids, and thanks for not starting any bidding wars so I didn't even have to do any RNGs! Everyone will get their preferred car.

From now on you can register your entries into races. Whether you enter races as they come along or plan out the entire season in advance is entirely up to you. Just keep in mind that damage to your car or an injury to your driver might force a change of plan, or an unexpected good result may offer new possibilities.

Entrants should be submitted in the following format:
Event(s):
Entrant:
Driver:
Car:

It could for example be this:
Event: Grand Prix de Pau
Entrant: Écurie Belge
Driver: Johnny Claes
Car: Talbot-Lago T26C #1

I should also explain how the sportscar races are going to work. They're only here for fun, so you can enter them free of charge. Just pick a historically accurate car and a teammate (don't pick drivers who historically drove for factory teams). Two of your drivers can also team up for the sportscar races. Submit your entries as above, but you need to enter two drivers and you only need to enter the model of the car, not the chassis number. Here's another example:

Event: 24 Heures du Mans
Entrant: Healey Motors Ltd.
Drivers: Tony Rolt / Duncan Hamilton
Car: Nash-Healey E

I'll give you all a week to get your early-season plans sorted and then let's go!

[Aislabie]

Ken Penberthy
Events:

• Richmond Trophy (Goodwood)
• British Grand Prix (Silverstone)
• Monaco Grand Prix (Monte Carlo)
• Swiss Grand Prix (Bremgarten)
• British Empire Trophy (Douglas)
• French Grand Prix (Reims-Gueux)
• Jersey Road Race (St Helier)
• Nottingham Trophy (Gamston Airport)
• Ulster Trophy (Dundrod)
• Sheffield Trophy (Gamston Airport)
• Daily Express Trophy (Silverstone)
• Italian Grand Prix (Monza)
• Goodwood Trophy (Goodwood)

Entrant: Penberthy & Son Minicabs
Car: ERA E-Type #1

"Tiger" Maharaja
Events:

• Targa Florio (Madonie // Teammate: Brian Shawe-Taylor, Car: Jaguar XK120S)
• Mille Miglia (Brescia // Teammate: Joe Fry, Car: Jaguar XK120S)
• British Grand Prix (Silverstone)
• Grand Prix des Remparts (Angouleme)
• British Empire Trophy (Douglas)
• 24 Hours of Le Mans (Le Mans // Teammate: Ken Penberthy, Car: Jaguar XK120S)
• Ulster Trophy (Dundrod)
• German Grand Prix (Nurburgring)
• Goodwood Trophy (Goodwood)
• Circuito del Garda (Salò)

Entrant: Tiger Racing
Car: Ferrari 166 F2 #1

Please stick to the drivers' respective schedules until they run out of money

[Bleu]

Event(s): Grand Prix de Pau, Großer Preis der Schweiz, Grand Prix Automobile de Belgique, Grand Prix de l'ACF, Grote Prijs van Nederland, Nottingham Trophy, Ulster Trophy
Entrant: Grüne Hölle Motorsport
Driver: Leopold Raeder
Car: Maserati 4CLT/48 #1

Raeder has contacted Johnny Claes in order to participate 24 Hours of Le Mans together.


Event(s): Grand Prix de Marseille, Grand Prix des Frontieres, Prix de Berne, Grand Prix des Remparts, Coupe des Petites Cylindrées, Großer Preis von Deutschland
Entrant: Euskal Herria Motor
Driver: Albi Ayatsbehers
Car: Gordini T15 F2

[Frogfoot9013]

Driver: Manon Martel

• April 2: Targa Florio (Teammate/Entrant: C.K. Chung, Vehicle: Talbot-Lago T26)
• April 10: Grand Prix de Pau
• April 23: Mille Miglia (Teammate/Entrant: C.K. Chung, Vehicle: Talbot-Lago T26)
• April 30: Grand Prix de Paris
• May 13: British Grand Prix
• May 21: Grand Prix de Monaco
• June 4: Großer Preis der Schweiz
• June 18: Grand Prix Automobile de Belgique
• June 24: 24 Heures du Mans (Teammate/Entrant: C.K Chung, Vehicle: Talbot-Lago T26)
• July 2: Grand Prix de l'ACF
• July 16: Grand Prix de l'Albigeois
• August 12: Ulster Trophy
• September 3: Gran Premio d'Italia

Entrant: Manon Marine Martel
Car: Talbot-Lago T26C #1

[kevinbotz]

Grand Prix Entries

Events:

Grand Prix de Pau
Grand Prix de Paris
British Grand Prix
Grand Prix de Monaco
Großer Preis der Schweiz
British Empire Trophy
Grand Prix Automobile de Belgique
Grand Prix de l'ACF
Grand Prix de l'Albigeois
Grote Prijs van Nederland
Grand Prix des Nations
Gran Premio d'Italia
Goodwood Trophy

Entrant: Ecurie Joueur
Driver: C.K. Chung
Car: Talbot-Lago T26C #2

Sportscar Entries

Events:

Targa Florio
Mille Miglia
24 Heure du Mans

Entrant: C.K. Chung
Drivers: C.K. Chung / Manon Martel
Car: Talbot-Lago T26

[Nessafox]

Event: Grand Prix de Pau / Pau, Gran Premio de San Remo / San Remo, Grand Prix de Monaco / Monaco, Grand Prix de l'Albigeois / Albi, Grand Prix des Nations / Geneva, Gran Premio d'Italia / Monza, Gran Premio de Penya Rhin / Pedralbes, and if any money is left Gran Premio del Presidente Arturo Alessandri Palma / Valdivia Norte, Santiago
Entrant: Ecurie Andes
Driver: Ariel Gomez
Car: Maserati 4CL #1

Event: Grand Prix de Pau / Pau, Grand Prix de Paris / Linas-Montlhéry, Grand Prix de Monaco / Monaco, Großer Preis der Schweiz / Bremgarten, Grand Prix Automobile de Belgique / Spa-Francorchamps, Grand Prix de l'ACF / Reims-Gueux, Grote Prijs van Nederland / Zandvoort, Gran Premio d'Italia / Monza, Other entries TBA
Entrant: Ecurie Francorchamps
Driver: Michel Coopmans
Car: Ferrari 125 F1 #1

Sportscar entries: Targa Florio / Sicily, Mille Miglia / Brescia-Rome-Brescia, 24 Heures du Mans / Le Mans
Entrant: Ecurie Francorchamps,
Driver: Michel Coopmans with Charles De Tornaco
Car: Ferrari 125 sportscar

[Hermann95]

Grand Prix Entries:
Event(s):
British Grand Prix
Grand Prix de Monaco
Großer Preis der Schweiz
Grand Prix Automobile de Belgique
Grand Prix de l'ACF
Gran Premio d'Italia
Entrant: Equipe Huber
Driver: Hans Huber
Car: Talbot-Lago T26C #3

Event(s):
Gran Premio dell'Autodromo di Monza
Gran Premio di Roma
Gran Premio d'Italia
Circuito del Garda
Entrant: Scuderia Gabelloti
Driver: Riccardo Gabelloti
Car: Ferrari 166 F2 #2

Sportscar Entries:
Targa Florio (Entrant: Scuderia Gabelloti, Drivers: Riccardo Gabelloti/Hans Huber, Car: Ferrari 166 MM)
Mille Miglia (Entrant: Scuderia Gabelloti, Drivers: Riccardo Gabelloti/Hans Huber, Car: Ferrari 166 MM)
24 Heures du Mans (Entrant: Charles Pozzi*, Drivers: Hans Huber/Eugène Chaboud*, Car: Delahaye 175CS)
24 Heures du Mans (Entrant: Scuderia Gabelloti, Drivers: Riccardo Gabelloti/André Guelfi*, Car: Ferrari 166 MM)
*Real Teams and Drivers

[tommykl]

Events
Richmond Trophy
Gran Premio de San Remo
Grand Prix de Paris
Grand Prix de Monaco
Großer Preis der Schweiz
Grand Prix Automobile de Belgique
Grand Prix de l'ACF
Grand Prix de l'Albigeois
Grand Prix des Nations
Gran Premio d'Italia
Gran Premio de Penya Rhin

Entrant: Robert M. Reed
Driver: Bob Reed
Car: Talbot-Lago T26C #4

[_gg_]

Event(s): Gran Premio d'Italia / Grand Prix de l'ACF / Großer Preis der Schweiz / Grand Prix de Monaco / Grand Prix Automobile de Belgique / British Grand Prix
Entrant: Scuderia Gionardo
Driver: Gennaro Giordano
Car: Ferrari 125 F1 #2

[Spooder918]

Andrew Cho
Event(s):
Grand Prix de Pau
British Grand Prix
Grand Prix de Monaco
Großer Preis der Schweiz
Grand Prix Automobile de Belgique
Grand Prix de l'ACF
Gran Premio d'Italia
Entrant: Ecurie Tomatilla
Car: Ferrari 125 F1 #3

Jonith Kidney
Event(s):
Richmond Trophy
British Grand Prix
British Empire Trophy
Nottingham Trophy
Großer Preis von Deutschland
BRDC International Daily Express Trophy
Goodwood Trophy
Entrant: Kidney's Beans & Toast
Car: HWM 50 #1

[HawkAussie]

Cyril Poole Entry lists

Richmond Trophy
British Grand Prix
British Empire Trophy
24 Hours of Le Mans
Jersey Road Race
Nottingham Trophy
Ulster Trophy
Sheffield Telegraph Trophy
BRDC International Daily Express Trophy
Goodwood Trophy

The schedule might chance but for now this is the schedule we might run with.

[pi314159]

Grand Prix de Marseille

Marseille, 15th March 1950

Spring is arriving in Europe, and with it, the new season of motorsport begins. Since 1946 Marseille has once again become home to one of Europe’s notable motor racing competitions. For the second time, the Parc Borély plays host to the best drivers of France and indeed the world to compete in a 130 mile race, held to Formula 2 regulations.
These smaller cousins to the famous Grand Prix racing cars are sure to put on a great show for the fans heading to the Parc Borély to see their heroes in action.

Held early in the year, the Grand Prix de Marseille is a great opportunity for the star drivers of Europe to prepare for the upcoming season, which for the first time will combine the Grandes Épreuves of past years into a single World Championship for Drivers. They will be joined by a host of local drivers eager to prove themselves against the best of the best.

Favourites for the win are the the rapid Ferrari F166 cars. Enzo himself brings four cars to Marseille. The effort will be spearheaded by champions Luigi Villoresi, who has won races all across the world in the past years, notably the 1948 British Grand Prix, as well as Alberto Ascari, son of the unforgotten Antonio. The other two Ferrari cars will be driven by Roberto Vallone and Giovanni Bracco. Last year’s winner Juan Manuel Fangio, back then driving a Gordini, will be back this year with a Ferrari prepared by the Scuderia Achille Varzi. His return to Marseille is very much in preparation for greater things, as he will join Alfa Romeo for the World Championship and pilot one of the three Alfettas that are favoured to win the world title this year. He will be joined here in Marseille at Varzi’s team by fellow Argentine José Froilán González, who will drive a Gordini. A final privately-entered Ferrari comes from Raymond Sommer. One of France’s leading drivers with the rapid Ferrari at his disposal, he is bound to be a favourite of the crowd come Saturday.
The strongest challenge to Ferrari will come from Gordini, with the “Three Musketeers” Maurice Trintignant, André Simon and Robert Manzon piloting the three factory-entered Simca Gordini T15 cars. Two additional T15 are brought to Marseille by private entries. The first is Roger Loyer, starting under the Écurie de Paris banner.
Another will be driven by a local from Southern France, Basque driver Albi Ayatsbehers. The 36 year old from Biarritz will make his first appearance on the big stage, but has proven his ability in various hillclimbs over the years.
Giuseppe Farina, curiously, has opted to drive an OSCA MT4. It will be interesting to see if the Maserati brothers can challenge the competition with a driver of Nino’s calibre.
Privateer Raoul Martin brings a Simca 8, and Ferdinando Righetti completes the entry list with his Stanguellini.



Marseille, 17th March 1950:

Alberto Ascari will start the Marseille Grand Prix from pole position after setting the fastest time in qualifying in his Ferrari 166 F2, almost a second clear of his closest competitor, José Froilán González in the Simca Gordini T15. The front row will be completed by Gonzalez’ Scuderia Achille Varzi team mate Juan Manuel Fangio in another Ferrari.
Apart from Gonzalez, the Ferraris very much had the upper hand in practice, the 166 F2 proving a formidable Formula 2 machine. The new Gordinis comfortably outpaced the older cars but had no answer to the performance of the red machines from Maranello.
Robert Manzon struggled for speed and was outqualified by the older, privately entered car of Harry Schell, while newcomer Albi Ayatsbehers impressed by qualifying ninth.



Marseille, 18th March 1950:

On a splendid day in early spring, perfect for motor racing, seventeen cars lined up in Marseille’s Parc Borély to begin the new season.
Ascari got a perfect start from pole position and defended his lead into Turn 1, as the two Argentines, Fangio and Gonzalez, battled for second place behind, Fangio taking advantage of the power of his Ferrari to overtake his compatriot. The Ferraris of Villoresi, Sommer, Vallone and Bracco followed, the red cars followed by the blue Gordinis of locals Loyer, Ayatsbehers, Simon and Trintignant. The rookie Ayatsbehers lost out to his more experienced competitors and lost two positions to Trintignant and Simon. Everyone got a clean start, and thankfully no accidents occurred.
Ascari was in a league of his own today, and quickly built a gap over the two Argentines behind. Unusually, Fangio had no answers to the hard charging Italian ahead. Behind the three leaders, a gaggle of Ferraris and Gordinis fought over the title of best of the rest. Giuseppe Farina in the OSCA failed to make an impression, which undoubtedly can be blamed on his car rather than the driver, who is considered one of the favourites for the inaugural World Championship.
On lap 37, disaster struck for Fangio, who, chasing Ascari, was caught out by Ferdinando Righetti’s Stanguellini he was trying to lap, left the track and bent his suspension, putting him out of the race. Fangio’s misfortune promoted Gonzalez to second and Villoresi to third.

With almost three quarters of the race done, Roberto Vallone and Harry Schell collided. Schell’s car veered off into the barriers, leaving the car badly damaged but the driver thankfully unhurt except for minor bruises. Vallone continued for another lap, but chose to retire after struggling with a bent steering.

Only minutes later, Raymond Sommer’s wheel started to come loose in a scary incident for the Frenchman, who was lucky to be able to stop the car and avoid an accident.

Afterwards, the race thankfully concluded without any further incidents, and Ascari brought home an impressive victory, having lapped the entire field. He shared the podium with González in second and Villoresi in third.