9 replies to this topic

[Felix Muelas]

Back in March 2001, we could read in a thread about the Indy 500 editions of 1950 to 1960 the following :

Originally posted by fines
In fact, until September 1953, a Spanish GP for F1 cars was a scheduled round of the WC, it was only cancelled after the Italian GP of that year.

and

Originally posted by Ray Bell
Shame the Spanish never happened... Moss might have won in a BRM?
How about we have a hypothetical about this race, starting with the circuit and the then-current drivers and their then-current contracts?

Having remembered that an offcial poster for this race was produced and printed, I have just dicovered that we really know nothing about this race. Well, maybe Michael does -I was not even aware of the date of the cancellation- so, why don´t we try to put together the bits and pieces that might be known about this race?

As far as I can read in the poster, it was going to be the European Grand Prix of that year...

[Roger Clark]

Not much from me, I'm afraid. THese are from Autosport:

June 12 The auccess of the albi meeting in running the GP in F1 and F2 heats, with a "fastest cars" final, may persuade the organisers of the Penya Rhin race (Spanish Grand Prix) to follow suit on 26th October. This would mean BRM participation and a likely try-out for 1954 F1 machinery.

August 14 Suggested plan for Spanish GP next October is to run a Penya Rhin GP for F1 machines concurrently with the Grand Prix of europe (F2)

October 16 Grand Prix of Europe, scheduled for Barcelona on 25th October has been cancelled - possibly owing to the non-participation of Scuderia Ferrari.

Note the change of date between the June and October reports. The 25th was a sunday, so this may have been Autosport's mistake, unless the 26th was a holiday in Spain.

[Ray Bell]

This might be as tangled a web as the 1939 Championship!

First, we need to know why it was cancelled... by that I mean, why was the only F1 race scheduled to be a part of the World Championship in the two years wiped out?

Was it a lack of equipment? Did Maserati and Ferrari say, "No, we've scrapped our 4.5/1.5 cars and must run the F2 cars, so we won't come and look fools until the BRMs fall apart, and then Vandervell's Thinwall Special will beat our cars and we'll still look fools!"

Or was it (an outside chance?) the organisers' expectations not being realised? Had they hoped, for instance, that Alfa might come out of retirement, that some Indianapolis cars might come over or that Ferrari might just throw a 4.5 V12 into a F2 car for the day?

Had the event been run, I would say the most realistic expectation for cars from the two major combatants would be F2 cars fitted with bigger engines... 250F engines in the Masers, 3-litre fours in the Ferraris.

But, what about the FIA?

Could it have been them who put the kybosh on the whole deal. "We say what happens and this year F2 races happen! So like it or lump it, M'siers!"

Shame Hans won't be involved in this one...

What are the contemporary magazine notations about the cancellation then?

... Edited in: Can you believe this? This thread has sat here unanswered all day and we both post together!

[Rob29]

Finance most likely.It was also scheduled but cancelled in 1952,1955,1956,1957 & 1962.

[fines]

Fantastic poster!!

Sadly, I don't have the time to delve into my mags...

[Felix Muelas]

Michael,

[warning mode on]
You have exactly five days left to finish those lenghty preparations that you are making for your bithday and that are keeping you away from your duties!
By Thursday next we will witness an older fines posting back in some of the threads were we expect your contributions!
[warning mode off]

Un abrazo

Felix

[Marcor]

The RACB, the organisers of the Belgian GP, also planned to run the 1952 Belgian GP with the F1 and were among the last to switch to F2 regulations. RAC was one of the first to choose the F2 and to drop the BRM dream...

And the last round of the championship was planned in Brazil (La Gavea), also cancelled.

[Marcor]

Oops; Sorry I'm very inatttentive. You spoke about 1953 and I post about 1952....

[fines]

Sorry Félix, forgot about your birthday this year!

I'll try to find some time next week about the Spanish GP. Remember, this weekend's

CARNeVAL!!!!!

[fines]

Heck, why won't it work???