19 replies to this topic

[bobbo]

After reading remarks by Ron Dennis to the effect that three car teams might be allowed in F1 if the number of entrants drops below 18, I began to wonder how small were some of the grids in GP/F1 in the 1950 - present era. I am primarily interested in WC races, but I would like to hear what some other grids were like. Also, were any races in that period postponed or cancelled because of small number of entrants?

Bobbo

[Rob G]

The 1958 Argentine GP was slapped together at the last minute, resulting in a mere 10 entrants, only one of which was a British car, the Rob Walker Cooper of Stirling Moss. There was only one retirement though, and the winner was Moss.

There have been a few other grids in the 12-13 car range in the '50s and '60s. I believe 1969 had the fewest cars per grid on average. The 1982 San Marino GP only had 14 cars due to most of the British constructors boycotting the event, and that was by far the smallest grid since 1970 or so.

[jgm]

The all time record for a GP must be the 1926 French GP when three cars started a 500 km race at Miramas. By half distance two were still running. Fortunately these two kept running but at the finish there was 15 laps between them.

[Rob29]

Originally posted by Rob G
The 1958 Argentine GP was slapped together at the last minute, resulting in a mere 10 entrants, only one of which was a British car, the Rob Walker Cooper of Stirling Moss. There was only one retirement though, and the winner was Moss.

There were 13 entrants,3 were stuck in the docks at BA due to a strike.They made the BA GP 2 weeks later. The Walker Cooper was flown out at the last minuite otherwise there would have been only 9 starters!
Last year saw the the smallest average number of entrants since 1969.

[Lutz G]

Originally posted by bobbo
After reading remarks by Ron Dennis to the effect that three car teams might be allowed in F1 if the number of entrants drops below 18, I began to wonder how small were some of the grids in GP/F1 in the 1950 - present era. I am primarily interested in WC races, but I would like to hear what some other grids were like. Also, were any races in that period postponed or cancelled because of small number of entrants?

Bobbo

If my memory serves me well Barcelona '69 has to be mentioned. Can't get my hands on my '69 AMS but not many drivers on that grid IMO. I was really surprised when I saw this grid the first time...

Lutz

[Geza Sury]

Originally posted by Lutz G
If my memory serves me well Barcelona '69 has to be mentioned. Can't get my hands on my '69 AMS but not many drivers on that grid IMO. I was really surprised when I saw this grid the first time...

There were 14 starters there, five of them finished. However six drivers were classified as Ickx he had to retire with a broken wishbone just five laps from the finish.

[Graham Clayton]

The 1949 Buenos Aires Grand Prix had only 6 starters, with 5 cars completing the 35 laps. Reg Parnell was the only retirement.

[jj2728]

hmmmmm, somehow Indianapolis 2005 springs to mind.

[David McKinney]

The 1949 Buenos Aires Grand Prix had only 6 starters, with 5 cars completing the 35 laps. Reg Parnell was the only retirement.

That doesn't ring true...

Which of the three 1949 BA GPs are you referring to?

[Alfieri]

The 1949 Buenos Aires Grand Prix had only 6 starters, with 5 cars completing the 35 laps. Reg Parnell was the only retirement.

I fear somebody cannot count.......

The first 1949 BA race had 14 starters, the second had 13.
The subsequent Rosario race had 13 starters, and that at Mar del Plata 14.

[David McKinney]

and the one in December 1949 (part of the 1950 Temporada)?

[2F-001]

If my memory serves me well Barcelona '69 has to be mentioned. Can't get my hands on my '69 AMS but not many drivers on that grid IMO. I was really surprised when I saw this grid the first time...
Lutz

The 1969 World Championship races as a whole were a light on numbers. By the standards of more recent years, a relatively large number of drivers may have competed during the year, but even leaving out the F2 runners at the 'Ring, quite a few only did a handful - or just one - race (most notably, of course, the South African contingent).

I don't think any race had as many as twenty cars take the start (the German GP possibly, with the F2 cars added, but even with them the 'Ring must have seemed very empty**). A quick flick through MotorSport suggests that the French race may have had the smallest grid, with the German only beating it with the F2 cars added. There were eleven rounds and I think only five drivers started all of
them.


(** As an aside, the Nürburgring 24-hours has, in recent times, had over 220 starters. Economic constraints seem to have now cut the typical field to a paltry 160-170 or so.)

Edited by 2F-001, 21 June 2011 - 06:51.

[Michael Ferner]

and the one in December 1949 (part of the 1950 Temporada)?

More than twenty.

[Rob29]

More than twenty.

Not sure why this thread has been woken up after 8 years When I posted before I asumed it referred to the F1WDC.Im sure someone somewhere has startted a race with only 2 cars? Which race had the most starters? maybe Mille Miglia with 400+

[Graham Clayton]

That doesn't ring true...

Which of the three 1949 BA GPs are you referring to?

David,

The race held on the 30th of January, 1949:

http://en.wikipedia....ires_Grand_Prix


Is this incorrect, can you post the list of starters?

[stevewf1]

According to my database, the fewest average number of Grand Prix starters since 1950 *

1957 - 15.13
1959 - 16.22
1955 - 16.29
1956 - 16.50
1969 - 16.55
1950 - 16.57

* does not include the Indianapolis 500

[David McKinney]

David,

The race held on the 30th of January, 1949:

http://en.wikipedia....ires_Grand_Prix


Is this incorrect, can you post the list of starters?

That doesn't claim to be a full list of starters. It's the result

Someone else can probably find the full start-list more quickly than I

[Allan Lupton]

David,

The race held on the 30th of January, 1949:

http://en.wikipedia....ires_Grand_Prix


Is this incorrect, can you post the list of starters?

Typical example of Wikipedia dodgy information which in this case is the obvious bit where the first and second drove Maserati 4CLT in the result but Alfa Romeo when they set the pole position time, fastest lap and took their place on whatever podium someone thought he saw.

[Vitesse2]

Original race report (in Spanish) with grid, full result - seven finishers - and interim standings

http://www.hemerotec...o/22045/?page=4

Top left on the page. Click on the little square thing to expand the box a bit and the plus sign to enlarge (if you try to go too far, the box goes blank - click minus to restore)

[jj2728]

1969 starting grids:
South Africa 18
Spain 14
Monaco 16
Holland 15
France 13
Britain 17
Germany 13
Italy 15
Canada 20
U.S. 17
Mexico 16